lhooq Posted July 23, 2012 Report Share Posted July 23, 2012 Last month I bid on, and won, this watch: A 1969 Longines Ultra-Chron Super Compressor. Winning that auction wasn't the culmination of a long and difficult search. This was no "Grail"; to the contrary, I was only vaguely aware that it even existed prior to finding that auction's listing. However, this Ultra-Chron represented an intersection of interests that, in the middle of June, meant that I had to have it. In the past, I've sought out specific watches to add to the collection. Pieces like my Longines Legend Diver or my Heuer Carrera would grab a hold of my imagination and drive me to find them. This is the first time I've acquired a watch on the basis of broad themes—of boxes that I wanted to mentally check-off. And I find that a bit weird. Don't get me wrong: This is a remarkable watch that I like a lot, but the path that led me to owning it was new and surprising. So what were those themes that led to this Longines? Let's examine my meandering thought processes: 1. High-Beat Since around February of this year, I've been on a high-beat kick, and wanted a watch with a 36,000 bph movement. A 1969 Zenith El Primero is one of my dream watches, but I don't have that sort of cash lying around. I started looking into Seikos—specifically, vintage Grand Seikos, King Seikos, and Lord Marvels of the 1960s and 1970s. I learned a lot about Seiko's history during that time, but was unable to find a specific GS or KS that called to me. From there, I moved onto the Longines Ultra-Chron. Not this dive watch, but the more common dress watches from the mid-1960s. These Ultra-Chrons popularized high-frequency movements, and I hoped to snag a good one for a few hundred bucks. But my auction luck was poor. After several losses, I finally found –and won!– a mid-70s Ultra-Chron with a handsome blue dial. As soon as I got the watch, I gave the crown a few turns, set the time… and saw the familiar strobing of a 28,800 bph sweep hand. The most celebrated Ultra-Chron movement was the 36,000 bph Cal.431, but many other Ultra-Chrons came with the slower-beating Cal.6651. Nuts! By May, I had lost interest in the Ultra-Chrons, and was set on winning an El Primero. No, I still didn't have the funds for a Zenith. I was after the more modest prize of a 3019 PHC-powered Movado Datron HS360. And here's where my eBay luck turned ugly: First, I forgot to bid on an early-70s Datron that ended up going for just over a thousand bucks. From that point on, it was one loss after another, until the only vintage Datrons left were in gold, or were massively overpriced. That state of affairs is unchanged as of today, so Movado remains off the table. 2. Longines I've been a fan of Longines ever since it released the Legend Diver, a model that encouraged me to study the brand's history in greater depth. After my first discouraging experience with Ultra-Chrons, I nevertheless started to become more interested in other old Longines pieces—high-beat or not. Yet more losses, as I failed to win a Conquest, an Admiral, and two separate "Munich Olympics" monopusher chronographs. 3. Super Compressors I love Super Compressor dive watches. So much, in fact, that I search for them on a regular basis. After not winning all those Movados, I checked to see what Super Compressors were available. The usual Hamiltons and Fortises showed up, but so did this Longines Ultra-Chron diver. And there was that confluence of ideas I talked about at the top of the page. It felt as if the stars had aligned, and that all of my eBay losses had been for the greater purpose of winning this Longines. Apparently, that's what losing a bunch of auctions does to my mind! Onto the actual watch, then? The 44mm case is big for its time, but this Ultra-Chron actually wears smaller than the 42mm Legend Diver, due to the latter's long lugs. Twin crowns? Check. Internal bezel? Check. But lots of non-Compressor watches had these features. How do we know that this is really an EPSA Super Compressor case? Oh, it says "SUPER COMPRESSOR" right there on the caseback. Also note the "4-69" engraving at the bottom. I'm not sure if the "4" refers to April or to the fourth quarter of 1969. For a mass-produced movement, the Cal.431 is a very pretty one. The strap is a 22mm Swiss Tropic in silver, from my big collection of old rubber. There's a peculiar symmetry between the shape of the caseback and the shape of the bezel. Fourteen sides make a tetradecagon, incidentally. (I had to look that up.) Longines buckles old and new and NOS. My Longines trio. Not quite a Symphonette. Ten ticks per second and a smooth sweep. That's what high beat is all about. Don’t worry: I haven’t turned into a gen-only snob, and will resume writing about reps and franken builds shortly. Stay tuned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted July 23, 2012 Report Share Posted July 23, 2012 Its a very unusual shaped watch for the era... but I really like it.. Thats a great share mate and really nice pics... Thanks for taking the time. Whats the lume like on that age... I like the bezel I must say ... it makes me think I should unscrew it.... Is the strap original? It looks sort of tacky for this watch... not the style more the finish... I say that because of the plasticy thread look.. maybe its the pics.. The CB makes an ineresting read too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted July 23, 2012 Report Share Posted July 23, 2012 Very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted July 23, 2012 Report Share Posted July 23, 2012 Very cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted July 23, 2012 Report Share Posted July 23, 2012 Amazing review. Thanks for sharing! You have a PM about the Movado as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrgod Posted July 23, 2012 Report Share Posted July 23, 2012 Thanks for the read! I recognize a lot of the same descision-process before buying a watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted July 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 Thanks, all! PeteM: The lume is kaput. I have a couple of older watches that still give off a faint glow, but not this one. The strap is a period-correct Tropic, but yeah, I might swap a black Tropic onto this one. The silver rubber give the Longines a futuristic appearance, if your idea of the future is Logan's Run. I recognize a lot of the same descision-process before buying a watch. It's a mess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiman12 Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 SUPER....eeeerrrr.....COMPRESSOR M! I think you now have siblings for every single watch you own. Nice catch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 Cheers LH I like it more coming back to it.... It really reminds me of a watch I had a few years back... lower end brand... but it escapes me what it was.... only reminds now... not looks like Wear it well mate... now and again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellons Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 beautiful... now to get one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoever Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 M, even if this is not my favourite vintage longines, you are a man of taste! Longines is still the most understated and yet most elegant brandmark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 I keep coming back to this ..... !! Just when I thought I was out......this pulls me back in !!!..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted July 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Noted, Pete. You're now on the "If I ever sell" list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Oooo you are are a tease Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazed7 Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Beautiful super compressor! I am quite jealous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted July 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 Should I be honored that Drummond Jewelers is stealing my photos for its listing? (321165848224) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 Now isn't that a kick in the teeth! Sorted yet, or would you like some more voices added to the cacophony?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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