For sale we have a 1926 Longines 9ct rose gold trench style gents watch. It has a retailers co-signing for M. Rhodes & Sons LTD, Bradford. It has a circular 9ct rose gold case with hinged front, double hinged case back and gold wire lugs. It has a bright white enamel dial, with roman numerals and red 12. It has a sunken sub-second register, with the Longines name above and the retailer signing below 12. It has British hallmarking from 1927, with the Arthur Baume makers mark. Inside is the beautiful Longines calibre 12.92 movement, which has been recently serviced. 
 
M Rhodes & Sons LTD, Bradford:
Alderman Manoah Rhodes JP, was born in Morley, Yorkshire on the 7th March 1810. On the 9th November 1822 he was indentured to the Bradford silversmith John Allott, to whom he was to remain with for 14 years. In 1936 he set up his own business in Bradford, which grew into one of the largest jewellers in the North of England. 
 
A noted freemason and devout Wesleyan Methodist, Rhodes was known as an honourable and generous man, held in high esteem. He served in people of Bradford in many positions, including being the Mayor of the Corporation of Bradford from November 1873- November 1874. 
 
Manoah died in March 1881 and in 1888 the firm became a limited liability company, Manoah Rhodes & Sons LTD. Ackroyd Rhodes took over and when he passed in 1915, the firm was under the control of F.C.M.S. Rhodes. 
 
The jeweller produced very fine pocket watches in the later period of the 1800s, including chronometers and pieces certified by Kew Observatory. As a large jewellery store in the North, they will have retailed many top Swiss brands watches by the early 1900s, with Longines being one such example. 
 
This example:
The dial is bright white, with classic railroad minute track around the exterior. The Roman numeral hour markers are in black, with the red 12 aiming to standout. It has an inset sub-second dial, with clear single second graduations. It is signed with the Longines name above the sub-dial, with the retailer signing below 12. This was common place during the period, with the retailers seeking to promote themselves first and the brand second. 
 
The case is formed of 9ct rose gold and measures 31mm x 31mm, with a lug-to-lug measurement of 33mm, with a depth of 9mm. It is of smaller proportions by modern standards but is originally a gents watch. It has the hinged front, with double hinged back. The centre piece has the fixed gold bar lugs attached. To the right is the coin edge crown. 
Inside, the back is signed with British hallmarking for 9ct gold, dating to 1927. It has the Arthur Baume makers mark, who were the UK importers of Longines at the time. It has further hallmarking and matching serial number on the inner case back. 
 
The movement is a Longines calibre 12.92. It has a jewel count of 16 and a frequency of 18,000 BPH. It has gilt finishing and has an underslung ratchet wheel. It is a thin and high-grade movement for the era, with a beautiful finger bridge design.  The movement has been recently serviced. It’s keeping time to within +50 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 280 degrees.
 
A good inter war example of a trench style watch, from a top brand, retailed by an historically important retailer in Bradford. Combined with the lovely rose gold tone and high grade movement, there is a lot going for this piece.
 
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.
 
Dial: 
The dial is formed of enamel and is original. It is in decent condition for the age. It has a series of hairline fractures stemming from the edge at 1 O’clock. The tone is bright white, with the original railroad track and roman numeral hour markers. The sub-second is inset with clear seconds track. The retailer name is below 12, with the Longines signing above the sub-second dial.
 
Hands: 
The hands are of spade and whip style and are original. They are a rose gold tone and are in decent original condition. They have some corrosion associated with age. The sub-second hand is original. 
 
Glass: 
The cut glass has a bevelled edge and appears original. It has some light marking.
 
Crown: 
The gold tone crown appears to be a later replacement but is in good condition.
 
Case:
The case is 9ct rose gold and is in good condition for the age. It has a hinged front, with solid centre piece holding the movement with the fixed bar lugs, and the double hinged case back. There is only light surface scratching. The rose gold tone is good and even. The fixed bar lugs are strong with little wear. 
 
Caseback:
The hinged case back is formed of 9ct gold and is in good condition for the age. It has a polished finish with light surface scratching. It has a dimpled dent to the top middle. 
Inside it has British hallmarking for 9ct gold. 
 
Inner back:
The inner hinged back is good and closes tightly. It has a polished finish with only light surface scratching. Inside it has British hallmarking for 9ct gold.
 
Strap: 
The watch comes on a new genuine leather strap for fixed bar lugs, which is non Longines. 
 
Movement: 
The movement is a Longines calibre 12.92. It has a jewel count of 16 and a frequency of 18,000 BPH. It has gilt finishing. 
 
The movement has been recently serviced. It’s keeping time to within +50 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 280 degrees and a beat error of 0.7m/s.
 
Case dimensions:
Case width: 31mm
Case width with crown: 32.75mm 
Case length: 31mm 
Case length lug to lug: 34.5mm
Case Depth: 8.8mm
Lug width: 11mm