Longines Quartz Ref 4898 | Octagonal Two-Tone | White Roman Dial | Integrated Bracelet

Longines Quartz Ref 4898 | Octagonal Two-Tone | White Roman Dial | Integrated Bracelet

Description

An honest piece of late 1970s design language. Octagonal case, gold bezel held down by eight exposed screws, integrated bracelet running straight out of the case with no lugs at all. Everyone was building this shape after 1972 and Longines built a good one.

The dial is where it separates itself. Crisp white, black Roman numerals at the cardinal points, and a stepped octagonal minute track drawn as a chain of small rectangles that follows the case outline inward. A date aperture sits between 1 and 2. The bracelet is a steel honeycomb link, flat and dense, that moves with the wrist. It is a replacement rather than the original Longines, made by Stelux of Hong Kong, whose clasp patent number is stamped on it. Stelux supplied bracelets to Bulova, Zodiac and Tissot among others, so it is a good band, just not the factory one. It fits wrists up to 8.75 inches.

The dial is coded 950 SWISS 48, the Longines convention of calibre number followed by case reference. That identifies it as the Longines L950.2, reference 4898, a 33 by 35mm men's octagonal quartz.

Key Features

• Longines octagonal quartz, reference 4898
• White dial with black Roman numerals
• Stepped octagonal minute track
• Gold bezel with eight exposed screws
• Steel honeycomb bracelet by Stelux, not the original Longines
• Date aperture between 1 and 2

Specifications

• Brand: Longines
• Case Reference: 4898
• Case: Octagonal, two-tone, steel with gold bezel and eight exposed screws
• Dial: White with black Roman numerals, stepped octagonal minute track, date aperture between 1 and 2
• Dial Code: 950 SWISS 48, the Longines convention of calibre followed by case reference. The final digits run past the dial edge in these photographs; the reference is identified as 4898 from the L950.2 model.
• Movement: Quartz, Longines calibre L950.2
• Bracelet: NOT the original Longines bracelet. A replacement stainless steel honeycomb link bracelet by Stelux of Hong Kong. Fits wrists up to 8.75 inches.
• Bracelet Clasp Marks: A raised six-pointed star and PATENT NO 1095455. That is British patent GB1095455, a bracelet clasp filed on 31 August 1966 by Stelux Manufacturing Co. Ltd of Hong Kong, which identifies the maker.
• Signed: Dial and crown
• Case Dimensions: 33 x 35mm, per the reference 4898 specification
• Lug to Lug:

Condition Report

• Dial: White dial clean and bright, numerals and minute track sharp.
• Case: Two-tone finish strong, light wear to the bezel high points consistent with age.
• Crystal: Good.
• Movement: Serviced and running properly.
• Bracelet: Honeycomb bracelet in good order. It is a Stelux replacement, not the original Longines bracelet, and is stated as such.

Historical Significance

The integrated-bracelet sports watch arrived with Gerald Genta's Royal Oak in 1972 and within five years every Swiss house had an answer to it. Longines brought its own, built on an octagon with exposed bezel screws and a bracelet that flows out of the case as one piece. What marks the Longines version is that it kept a proper dress dial, Roman numerals and a drawn minute track, instead of chasing the sports look entirely.

Offered by ReWrist. Each piece is inspected and photographed in-house. Vintage Luxury, Redefined.