This is a watch presented this year by Longines, a new edition of a very rare 1940s watch known as the “Big Indian” of which just 200 pieces were made and sent to India for use by the British forces. That model had the manual Longines calibre 12.68 movement. The new watch is a classic pilot’s watch, with a 40 mm stainless steel case and the classic dial with 24-hour indications. available with canvas or leather strap, white or black dial, featuring the “broad arrow” that was used to denote government-property military watches. The mechanical automatic movement is the L619 (ETA 2892-A2), with 42 hours power reserve.
The reference of the white-dial model with black leather strap is L2.832.4.53.0, price €1,560; with the long green canvas strap, the price is €1,380.
Below, detail of the stainless steel caseback. The abbreviation COSD that appears in the watch name and on the caseback seems to be a subject for discussion, but is certainly is of military origin and could be something like “combined operations stores depot.”
Below, the watch is thick, with a large crown:
Dial of the white version:
Below, dial of the black version:
