Footnotes

A timepiece of extraordinary rarity and distinction, this Longines bracelet watch in 18K yellow gold, completed in 1931, was conceived at the very highest level of bespoke horology. Its design is at once refined and discreet: the dial concealed within the bracelet, its exterior enhanced by the finely chased royal crest of His Majesty King Alexander I of Yugoslavia. It embodies the discreet luxury of an era when watches were not only instruments of precision but also intimate statements of power, taste, and identity.

Acquired on 24 July 1931, the watch emerges from an unexpected provenance. Rather than being ordered through a traditional Geneva or Parisian jeweler, it was curiously commissioned via Hauser Zivy & Cie, the prestigious Swiss-founded retailer established in Mexico City. This unusual channel raises tantalising questions: was it facilitated by diplomatic connections, a personal gift orchestrated through international ties, or the cosmopolitan reach of European aristocracy in the interwar period? This mystery only heightens the allure of the watch, linking it not just to a monarch but also to a global network of refinement and exclusivity.

King Alexander I, born in 1888, ruled the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia) with a vision of unifying a young nation amid deep political tensions. His reign, however, ended tragically in 1934, when he was assassinated in Marseille, France, a victim of the violent turmoil that marked the Balkans in the interwar years. This watch, commissioned just three years prior, thus carries the weight of history: a royal artefact intimately tied to a life of ambition, turbulence, and untimely death.

According to the Longines Archives, only two examples of this exceptional model were ever produced; of these, the present watch is the only one known to survive in the market today. Its significance is further elevated by its publication in John Goldberger's landmark reference Longines Legendary Watches, underscoring its place not only as a royal commission but also as a watch of horological and historical importance recognized by leading scholarship.

As a creation, it stands as a testament to Longines' mastery in merging technical ingenuity with courtly elegance. As an object, it represents far more than a jewel of horology: it is a historical artefact, intimately connected to a monarch whose life and fate continue to fascinate. With its royal provenance, singular construction, enigmatic commission, documented scholarship, and unique survival, this watch transcends the category of collector's piece to become a true symbol of heritage, prestige, and the poignant narrative of a king's destiny.