Longines Watches for Women | The Gilded Hour

Longines vintage watches for women in New Zealand: a collector’s guide to Swiss history, design, fit and condition, with individual pre-owned watches curated by The Gilded Hour.

THE GILDED HOUR · COLLECTOR’S GUIDESAINT-IMIER / 1832

A Swiss house, considered at the wrist

Longinesvintage watches for women

A clear-eyed guide to the winged hourglass house: its Swiss beginnings, the silhouettes that reward a closer look, and how to assess an individual pre-owned watch before it becomes yours.

Explore the Longines edit Read the Longines story
Longines Conquest women's watch with pale dial and two-tone bracelet, photographed for The Gilded Hour
A Longines from our edit
01

Start with the house

A name with a place behind it

Heritage is a beginning.
The watch is the evidence.

Longines traces its story to Saint-Imier in 1832. The winged hourglass carries that history forward, but the name alone cannot tell you when an individual watch was made, what movement it carries, or how it has been cared for.

That is why our guide begins with the object itself: its case, dial, movement, bracelet or strap, measurements and condition. A vintage Longines is best understood as a particular watch with a particular story—not as a promise made by a logo.

Four useful markers

A concise Longines timeline

These are milestones in the brand’s documented history. Use them as context, not as a date estimate for a watch without reference-level evidence.

1832

Saint-Imier beginnings

Auguste Agassiz establishes a watchmaking concern in Saint-Imier, the starting point Longines gives for its history.

1867

Les Longines

Ernest Francillon builds a factory at a place known locally as Les Longines and adopts the name for the manufactory.

1889

The winged hourglass

The Longines name and winged-hourglass emblem are registered together as the company’s trademark.

1992

La Grande Classique

Longines launches La Grande Classique, a line that helps shape the brand’s modern dress-watch identity.

Primary references: Longines’ Museum history, corporate chronology and La Grande Classique history. For research on a specific older watch, start with Longines’ official watch-history service and the evidence available for that exact piece.

02

Read the proportions

A collector’s field guide

Choose the silhouette that feels like you.

01

Round and balanced

Start with the case diameter and length, then look at how the dial, bezel and bracelet share the space. A measured round case can feel quietly assured; the exact wrist fit matters more than the label.

Explore round Longines styles ↗

02

Rectangular and linear

Longer cases bring a more graphic line to the wrist. Compare case length, width and strap position, and check whether the crown and bracelet or strap sit comfortably where you wear a watch.

Browse the current edit ↗

03

Cushion and softened square

Curved corners give a square profile a gentler presence. Look closely at the transition from case to strap, the dial’s texture and how the full case footprint sits across your wrist.

See a cushion-case example ↗

The Gilded Hour edit

Real watches.
Individual details.

Our Longines collection brings together pre-owned pieces selected for their design and character. Each listing is for the pictured watch; open it to see its own photographs, condition notes and measurements where provided.

See the Longines collection
Longines Conquest women's watch with pale dial and two-tone bracelet

01 / Sport-influenced polish

Longines Conquest

A two-tone bracelet and light dial give this individual Conquest a composed, versatile look. See its listing for current availability and exact specifications.

View this watch ↗
Longines gold-tone cushion watch with a textured champagne dial

02 / Soft geometry

Gold Tone Cushion

A softly squared case and textured champagne dial bring jewellery-like detail to this Longines. The product page shows the watch and its own fit notes.

View this watch ↗

Pre-owned pieces are one-offs: stock can change. Product pages hold the current price, availability and watch-specific details.

From The Gilded Hour photographic archive

Longines, seen through the watches.

Twelve individual Longines watches photographed for our edit, including sold pieces. The images document real watches we handled; they are not current stock or a promise of availability. For pieces currently for sale, see the live collection above.

Browse the current Longines edit

01 / photographed examples

Flagship

Longines describes Flagship as one of its earliest collections, with roots in the late 1950s. These are individual Gilded Hour listings identified as Flagship; that label does not replace reference-level research.

Read Longines’ Flagship history ↗

02 / photographed examples

Conquest

Longines records Conquest as its first named collection, registered in 1954. These photographs show specific vintage listings from our archive; details belong to each watch, not every Conquest.

Read Longines’ Conquest history ↗

03 / photographed examples

La Grande Classique de Longines

La Grande Classique launched in 1992. Longines describes the line through its slim profile and sleek round case. Our archive titles follow the original Gilded Hour listings; exact vintage identification depends on the individual reference and watch evidence.

Read Longines’ La Grande Classique history ↗

04 / photographed examples

More from the archive

Charleston, Laureate and other individual designs show the range of silhouettes that have passed through the edit.

Archive listings are linked for their original photographs and item-specific notes. Model names follow the original listing; age, reference, originality, service history and condition should be judged from evidence for the individual watch.

03

Fit before folklore

The details that change how it wears

Compare the watch, not the adjective.

What to compareWhy it mattersWhere to look
Case width and lengthTwo watches with the same width can wear differently when one has longer lugs or a broader case.Use the individual listing’s dimensions; compare them with a watch you already enjoy wearing.
Movement and serviceQuartz and mechanical watches have different routines and service needs.Check the movement named in the listing and ask about recent service or battery history.
Dial, case and braceletWear, repairs and replacement parts affect the whole watch, not only one component.Review every photograph and condition note; ask for clarification if an important detail is not shown.
Wrist fitBracelet length, clasp position and strap adjustment determine whether a watch sits securely.Compare the stated maximum wrist fit and use our wrist-measuring guide.
04

Buy intelligently

Condition before mythology

How to assess a vintage Longines.

A careful listing should help you understand the exact watch in front of you. Ask for clear evidence where a decision depends on a detail.

01

Read the whole watch

Look for consistency across the case, dial, hands, crown, movement and bracelet. A logo or serial number is a clue, not an authentication verdict.

02

Ask what is documented

Reference, movement and service records can help. For an important purchase, consult an independent watchmaker familiar with vintage Swiss watches.

03

Separate test from guarantee

The Gilded Hour states that watches are tested for at least 72 hours before dispatch. That check does not guarantee long-term accuracy or replace a service assessment.

Buying in New Zealand

Details first.
Romance alongside.

We curate pre-owned watches from New Zealand and photograph the individual pieces in our collection. Read the listing for that watch’s price, availability, measurements and condition before deciding; stock changes as one-off pieces sell.

Vintage watches are not automatically water-resistant. Unless a watch has been recently pressure-tested, keep it away from water and steam.

Shop Longines watches Measure your wrist
Close view of a gold-tone Longines cushion watch with a textured dial

Wear it with care

Let the watch keep its years.

An older watch can be part of everyday life, but it should not be asked to prove what it survived decades ago. Treat water resistance as unproven unless it has been recently tested.

  • Keep it away from showers, pools, steam and perfume.
  • Do not force a reluctant crown, clasp or bracelet adjustment.
  • Use a soft, dry cloth after wear and store it away from magnets.
  • Have battery changes and movement concerns handled by a watchmaker.
Read the complete watch-care guide ↗
05

Collector questions

Useful answers / no folklore

Longines vintage watch FAQs

01When was Longines founded?

Longines traces its history to 1832 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, where Auguste Agassiz established a watchmaking concern. That date describes the brand’s origins; it does not by itself date a particular vintage watch.

02What does the Longines winged hourglass mark mean?

The winged hourglass is Longines’ emblem. The company’s corporate history records the Longines name and winged-hourglass mark as a registered trademark in 1889. Check the exact watch and its documentation before drawing conclusions about an individual piece.

03Are vintage Longines watches a good choice for women?

They can be, when the case dimensions, shape, movement, condition and bracelet or strap suit the person wearing the watch. A model name or a label such as small or medium cannot replace the measurements and photographs for the exact piece.

04Do vintage Longines watches use quartz or mechanical movements?

Vintage Longines watches exist with different movement types. Check the individual listing for the movement specified for that watch, and ask about service or battery history if it matters to your decision.

05What should I check before buying a vintage Longines?

Read the listing for the exact reference where available, movement, dimensions, wrist fit and condition. Compare the dial, case, hands, crown and bracelet as one watch; for a significant purchase, seek an independent watchmaker’s assessment. A logo or serial number alone is not proof of authenticity.

06Can I swim or shower in a vintage Longines?

Treat water resistance as unproven unless the watch has been recently pressure-tested. Age, seals and previous repairs can affect resistance, so keep a vintage watch away from showers, pools, steam and water unless a qualified watchmaker confirms otherwise.

07Where can I find vintage Longines watches in New Zealand?

The Gilded Hour is a New Zealand-based curator of pre-owned watches. Its Longines collection links to individual pieces with their own photographs and listing details; stock changes as one-off watches sell.

The search is part of the pleasure

Find a Longines with
a clear story.

Vintage Longines watches for women, considered for design, condition and the way each one sits on the wrist.