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This exciting new auction is for a very rare Vintage Wittnauer - Longines "Caravelle Diamond" Bulova Wrist Watch. I have the ORIGINAL receipt from Forsons Jewelers in Brooklyn dated July 15, 1972. I also have included the original box and warranty info. Please view our detailed pictures! Be sure to check our other auctions for more RARE and UNIQUE antiques and beautiful jewelry. We are offering this piece at NO Reserve! Good luck on bidding!
Manufacturer: Wittnauer - Longines [ Bulova ]
Retail: Priceless $
Circa: Early 1970s
Case Width: (Not including crown) 14 mm
Case Height: 23 mm
Case Thickness: 7mm
Dial Condition : Excellent
Dial Color : White
Prominent Logo / Marks on Dial: WITTNAUER
Numerals: Bulleted Marks
Hands: Index
All words on case back: "10K B.G.F. BEZEL" ;
"STEEL BACK"
Movement Type: Mechanical
Movement Condition: Runs Well
Crown: Excellent
Band and Total Watch Length: 7.5”
Band: Kestenmade
Band Material: 1/20-10K GF
Band Condition : Very Good, Normal Wear (ie: a few tiny scratches)
Band Clasp or Buckle: 10K GF Folding Clasp
Bezel Shape: Oval
Bezel Metal : 10K Gold Plated Stainless
Bezel Metal Color : Yellow Gold
Total Watch Weight: 80.1 grams
Warranty: Original warranty from 1972 included
Battery: n/a
Box and Papers: Original Box and Receipt included
Approximate size of packaging (inches): 12" x 12" x 6"
Approximate total weight of package : 1.6 lbs
The Swiss Wittnauer Watch Company has an unusual and original history, from its start-up to its high success today, this company was started by a young boy who immigrated from Switzerland to New York City in 1872. Albert Wittnauer had an amazing ability to create and design quality watches and timepieces at the young age of 16. When he came to the United States, he worked with his brother-in-law in a small watch shop that imported Swiss watches. After working with his relative for a few years, young Wittnauer begins to design watches that he feels will please the American consumer. These unique watches were designed by this young man to include durability and the functions that the public was demanding at that time. His designs were a success within the shop, and the regular clients were impressed and pleased.
Wittnauers brother-in-law, J. Eugene Robert, decided to give the store to him, and in 1890, the A. Wittnauer Company opened its doors, selling these high quality watches to American buyers. Wittnauer employed the help of his siblings to run the family business that was quickly gaining recognition and rising to success. The company later employed highly skilled engineers to design future watches. This was a successful business decision and Wittnauer became a well-known name among the exploration world. The company was now making timepieces that were being used by navigators, astronomers and
explorers. The company also became involved with the U.S. Navy during preliminary aviation testing. Making marks in history, the Wittnauer Company was becoming the leading manufacturer and designer of watches, timepieces and navigational aids.
Longines Watch Company was started in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz. Agassiz opened a workshop in St Imier, Switzerland. He operated what today would be called a "Home Business". Workers would work on watches out of thier own homes, which Agassiz would later sell.
Sometime between the years of 1854 and 1866 Agassiz handed down over the operation of the watchmaking business to his nephew Ernest Francillon. Realizing the lack of consistant quality coming from the manufacture of watches in so many locations, Francillon soon built a factory in Les Longines near St. Imier and consolidated all of the areas watchmaking under one roof. The Longines name was born.
The company began producing chronographs in 1879. They later produced aviator watches and cockpit instruments.
The company registered its "Winged Hourglass" trademark in May of 1890.
In 1912 the company produced the first automatic timekeeping device. From that day Longines has long been associated with time-keeping at major sporting events.
In the 1950's, Longines purchased the Wittnauer watch company and marketed a number of very similar lines of watches in the US under both brand names.
In this authors opinion, Longines Wittnauer is one of the finest watches a collector can find. The classic designs are fantastic. The accuracy and reliability is amazing, and each piece is a treasure to last generation after generation.
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