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| Longines “Sympathie” Ref.846 — The Quiet Origin. 1970s / Sterling Silver/ Manual Wind / 30mm Before Roger Dubuis redefined the word “Sympathie” with his bold architectural design, Longines had already whispered the idea—decades earlier. This Longines “Sympathie” Ref.846 is not merely a timepiece; it is a memory of form — a glimpse into an era when design began to transcend pure function. At first glance, the 30mm case appears classic. But look closer and you’ll see the subtle undulation at each corner, where straight lines dissolve into soft curves. This delicate tension between order and irregularity would later become the very language of Roger Dubuis — the beauty of “perfect asymmetry.” In the 1970s, Longines stood alongside Piaget and Cartier as one of the few houses willing to experiment with elegance. The Sympathie’s softly contoured octagonal case captures light from every angle, its reflections shifting like ripples across gold. It’s less a watch than a sculpture of light and shadow. On the dial, Roman numerals and a small seconds subdial rest upon an ivory canvas. The Breguet-style hands float delicately above, quiet yet sensual — a reminder of the French refinement that runs through Longines’ veins. Inside beats a hand-wound movement, preserving that tactile intimacy that only mechanical winding can offer. This example has been recently serviced, accompanied by its original buckle and box. Even the non-original strap blends naturally into the watch’s gentle aura, as if it had always belonged there. During the 1970s, as Swiss watchmaking turned toward quartz and efficiency, Longines continued to pursue the poetry of mechanics. The Sympathie became its statement of faith — a design that reached toward the future while anchored in tradition. When one looks at this piece today, it’s hard not to think of the early Roger Dubuis Sympathie models: the curved lines, the pronounced lugs, the tension between structure and grace. Both share the same philosophy — to treat a watch as architecture, not ornament. The Longines Sympathie is silent. It doesn’t declare; it simply exists. But the more you observe it, the more you realize how far ahead of its time it truly was. Long before Roger Dubuis, the word “Sympathie” had already taken form — quietly, elegantly — within Longines. Two eras, one spirit. A conversation across time, spoken in the language of design. Ref. 846 1970’s Girard-Perregaux 30mm Original buckle, non-original strap Serviced Manual winding |
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