RARE LONGINES LED WATCH 48611 CA. 1978
450,00 €
The watch presented here is a rare 1978 Longines LED reference 48611, a digital model with LED display designed at a time when electronic watches were beginning to transform traditional watchmaking. It belongs to the L.E.D. (Light Emitting Diode) range developed by Longines, which was one of the first major Swiss manufacturers to incorporate electronic technology into its high-end timepieces.
This type of watch appeared in the early 1970s, a period marked by the quartz revolution and the rise of digital displays. Several major brands such as Omega, Pulsar, and Hamilton explored the possibilities offered by light-emitting diodes. LED watches displayed the time in bright red digits only when the user pressed a button, a system necessary to limit energy consumption, as the first LEDs were particularly battery-intensive.
The case features a very slim octagonal design, characteristic of the futuristic style of the 1970s, often referred to as "techno-design." It is available here in 18k electroplated bezel, with its original Duchess Goldfilled 10K bracelet, which was used by Bulova, Wyler, and Omega at the time. The overall aesthetic is deliberately minimalist: no hands, no traditional hour markers, just a dark screen that lights up on demand.
Inside, the watch is powered by a fully electronic quartz movement, without a traditional mechanical escapement, guaranteeing excellent accuracy for its time and simplified maintenance, without the need for regular lubrication as with a mechanical watch. The watch has a few micro-scratches from use, particularly on the glass, which has lost its Longines lettering, still visible to some extent in a photo. However, overall it is in very good condition for its age and works perfectly.
A precursor to the luxury Apple Watch, with nearly fifty years under its belt. Rare.
Manufacturer: Longines
Model: Led
Reference: 48611
Year: Circa 1978
Materials: Gold-plated steel
Dimensions: Case width 33 mm Height 36 mm
Caliber: Quartz, Longines
Bracelet: Width 20 mm
Box/papers: No
