Longines Wittnauer Sidereal (Amy Johnson's Watch)

About this reference

The Longines Wittnauer Sidereal reference 38330 was produced during the late 1930s, specifically around 1938 to 1940. Collectors value this reference for its specialized sidereal time complication, designed for celestial navigation by measuring time relative to the stars rather than the sun. The watch features a 33mm silver case and houses the manual-wind caliber 10.68N, modified to run approximately 3 minutes and 56 seconds faster per day than standard solar time. The dial typically includes a central rotating disc for synchronization and distinct markings for degrees and arcminutes. Due to its technical niche and limited production run, examples are rare. On the secondary market, these timepieces generally command prices in the mid-to-high five-figure range, depending on condition. A notable example is the watch worn by aviator Amy Johnson during her 1941 flight, which sold at auction for approximately $75,000 in 2019.