Longines · ref Ultra-Chron
Longines registered the Ultra-Chron name in October 1966, and the first ones went on sale in the United States that December. The name is short for ultra chronometer, and Longines backed it with a guarantee of a minute a month, about two seconds a day, which was tighter than a COSC chronometer had to be. That accuracy came from the cal. 431, an automatic beating at 36,000 an hour with a patented dry lubrication to handle the faster beat. The watch itself is a quiet 35mm dress piece with a silver dial and a trapezoidal date window, so the movement is the reason to buy one. About two years later Longines put the same movement in the Ultra-Chron Diver, ref. 7970, a 41mm cushion case rated to 200m and billed as the first high-frequency dive watch on sale. Longines revived the name in 2022 with a new diver and later a Classic, so make sure the listing you're reading is the vintage one.
The caliber
Longines started on high frequency with the hand-wound cal. 360, conceived in 1958 and finished in 1959, which kept to about a tenth of a second a day in observatory testing in 1962. The cal. 431 brought that 5Hz rate, 36,000 beats an hour, to an automatic with a date, using a patented dry lubrication to cope with the speed. About two years after the dress watch, the Ultra-Chron Diver, ref. 7970, put the same 431 in a cushion case.
A high-beat movement wears faster when it runs for years without a service, so an Ultra-Chron that gains or loses a lot needs a watchmaker who knows the 431. Refinished dials and polished cases are the other common issues.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 1967 Ultra-Chron whose title names the cal. 431, a box and a service, at $721 delivered from the US, near the bottom of the band. There are about 172 for sale and most ask $675–1,625 delivered, with steel and gold-filled watches together in the lower half and solid 14k gold asking $1,600–3,000. Ask how much it gains or loses a day and for a movement photo showing the 431, since a tired 36,000-beat movement needs a watchmaker who knows it, and plan on a service for any watch without a service claim. Check the seller's feedback and return policy on the item page, since eBay's watch search doesn't show them, and skip anything dated 2022 or later, which is the reissue.
$418.05est. delivered
The lowest ask here with a running claim, a 1960s 10k gold-filled watch titled "Works." at $418 delivered from the US, about $260 under the band. Ask how much it gains or loses a day and for a movement photo.
Vintage 1960's Longines Ultra-Chron Automatic Date 10K GF 34mm Watch. Works.
$721.00est. delivered
Titled 1967 with the cal. 431, a box and the word "service", at $721 delivered from the US, near the bottom of the band. Ask what that service was and when, since a high-beat movement needs one more often.
EXCELLENT VINTAGE 1967 LONGINES AUTOMATIC DATE ULTRA-CHRON WATCH SERVICE 431 BOX
$587.00est. delivered
Titled serviced recently, a 34mm 10k gold-filled watch at $587 delivered from the US, under the band. Ask who serviced it and how it's keeping time now.
34mm LONGINES ULTRA CHRON - 10K Gold Filled AUTOMATIC WATCH - SERVICED RECENTLY
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 6, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 6, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$418.05est. delivered
$399.00 + $19.05 shipping
Buy It Now$399.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
1960s, 10k gold-filled, 34mm, titled "Works."
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$721.00est. delivered
$699.00 + $22.00 shipping
Buy It Now$699.00
Good buy
Titled 1967, cal. 431, with a box and a service.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Serviced$587.00est. delivered
$575.00 + $12.00 shipping
Buy It Now$575.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
34mm, 10k gold-filled, titled serviced recently.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$755.81est. delivered
$749.99 + $5.82 shipping
Buy It Now$749.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Our take
10k gold-filled, titled running. A second listing has the same title and price.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$807.13est. delivered
$799.99 + $7.14 shipping
Buy It Now$799.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Our take
Steel, in a presentation box.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$825.95est. delivered
$795.95 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$795.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
10k gold-filled with the cal. 431 and a date.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$934.35est. delivered
$925.00 + $9.35 shipping
Buy It Now$925.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled 1960s, ref. 8014 with the cal. 431.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$3,031.40est. delivered
$2,973.98 + $57.42 shipping
Buy It Now$2,973.98
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Solid 14k gold, c.1967, but about $1,400 over the band.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 6, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchA fresh strap, a set of spring bars and a spring-bar tool are the cheap part of making an old Longines Ultra-Chron wearable again. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
Search straps & tools ↗Amazon search
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