Sometimes, a bit of mystery is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Such is certainly the case with this stunning, manually wound watch from Longines, anyway. As Longines — a company dating back to 1832 — has a detailed, robust archive, we were able to ascertain that this unusual timepiece was invoiced in 1957 by Longines-Wittnauer Watch Co, the company’s agent for the USA, and that it’s powered by the Caliber 25.17ABC, also known as the 9LT. 

Beyond that, its other parts were produced under license from Longines — a common practice in mid-century watchmaking. Though certain other vintage Longines models from the Great War through the 1940s have surfaced with red crosses on the dial, we don’t have detailed information as to why this model in particular features such a large example of the Swiss national symbol. We can say, however, that it makes for a bold, attractive dial!

This particular Longines is housed in a 26mm x 50mm oversized stainless steel case with a snapback, a smooth bezel, an unsigned crown, and an acrylic crystal. It features a non-luminous black dial with printed, wildly cool Art Deco Arabic indices, subsidiary seconds, an inner ‘railroad’ minutes/seconds track, an oversized ‘Swiss Made’ signature, and an oversized ‘red cross’ symbol. Showing light patina, the sum of these parts makes for one of the most unique Longines models we’ve ever seen.

Whether you’re looking for an oversized watch, a vintage watch, a Longines watch, or any combination of the above, this special model from the late 1950s is not to be overlooked.