Vintage Longines Admiral Hi frequency Automatic Wristwatch 2305-1 cal. 430 circa 1960s

SPECIFICATION

Reference: Longines 2305-1
Movement: Automatic cal. 430
Age: circa 1966-1969
Case Size: 35mm
Case Thickness: 11mm
Lug to Lug: 40mm
Lugs: 18mm
Box & Papers: No
Case Material: Stainless steel
Warranty: 12-Months Warranty

POINTS TO MENTION

• In great preowned condition, with light signs of wear
• Case has some light scratches and marks
  
• brushed dial
  
• Fully serviced hi frequency automatic movement
  
• 36000 BPH
• Signed Longines crown
  
• Paired with an unworn black leather strap
  

THE 2305

The Longines 2305 HF Automatic is a very interesting late-1960s Longines, particularly because of its calibre 430 high-frequency movement.

The 2305 is part of the Longines Admiral HF family. Examples are documented from around 1966–1969, with both 2305-1 and 2305-2 variants appearing during this period. 

The 35mm stainless-steel case is fairly slim and understated, with short, slightly faceted lugs that flow naturally from the case. The bezel is narrow, leaving plenty of room for the dial, which gives the watch a larger presence than the dimensions suggest. It has that clean, slightly formal profile that you also see on period Omega Genève and Seamaster models.

The 2305 is that it isn't overly decorated. The simple round case, slim bezel and restrained lugs give it a very balanced appearance. It's very much a product of the 1960s — elegant but still practical.

The real star of the watch is the Longines calibre 430. It is an automatic, 17-jewel high-frequency movement running at 36,000 vibrations per hour — effectively 10 beats per second. That was a significant technical feature for the period, designed to improve timekeeping precision.

The “HF” stands for High Frequency, referring directly to this 36,000 vph movement. The calibre 430 is therefore quite an important part of Longines' history, representing the company's push towards high-frequency mechanical movements in the 1960s. It's also worth noting that the later calibre 431 became particularly famous as the Ultra-Chron movement, so the 430 sits within an important family of Longines high-beat calibres.

A BIT OF TRIVA

Longines was founded in Saint-Imier in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz, a Swiss watchmaker and brother of biologist Louis. Auguste had two partners, lawyers Henri Raiguel and Florian Morel, the company's original name was Raiguel Jeune &amp: Cie. Several years later, Agassiz brought in his bright, enterprising nephew, trained economist Ernest Francillon into the business. Francillon was the mastermind behind several impressive innovations that would distinguish the company from its competitors. Under Francillon, the company began to move towards more modern production methods. Francillon solidified his firm's progression to mass production in 1867 by establishing his first factory, & Its location, an area in southern St. Imier known locally as Les Longines (long meadows), which gave rise to the Longines name. It is also where they still produce their watches from today.

Longines is the oldest watch brand trademark in the international registry, spanning more than 130 years, the Winged hourglass Longines logo has changed throughout the years with 15 different logo, even moving away from the winging hourglass from a period in the early 1900s, but it came back in 1942 and is still there today

OUR THOUGHTS

For a vintage collector, I think the combination is what makes it special: a 1960s Longines Admiral, an automatic high-frequency calibre running at 36,000 vph, and the understated design of the period. It isn't simply an old automatic Longines — it comes from the period when Longines was actively competing at the forefront of high-frequency mechanical watchmaking.