Longines 4278 ‘Stop Second Chronograph’ Worn during WW2 in 1939-1944

This Longines Stop Second Chronograph Ref. 4278 carries one of the most compelling provenances we’ve encountered—a rare tool watch directly connected to the battlefield. Inherited by Anders Hove, the watch originally belonged to his father, Annti Aslak Härmäläinen, a Finnish soldier who served from 1939 to 1944 during the Second World War. After the war, he moved to Sweden and changed his name to Alex Hove. He received this watch from his parents in 1938 and wore it throughout his wartime service on the Karelian Isthmus, where Finland fought against the Russia. Anders Hove provides a signed statement and period photographs detailing his father’s service and the story of the watch.

Beyond its historical weight, the watch features a medically purposed dial—engineered for battlefield diagnostics. Around the periphery of the dial are two functional scales: a red ’30 Pulsations’ track used to calculate heart rate (start the chronograph, count 30 beats, and read the BPM from the red scale), and a black ‘5 Respirations’ track to monitor breathing rate using the same method over five breaths. These tools allowed medics and field personnel to assess a soldier’s vital signs in the absence of modern medical equipment.

This exceptional provenance is further validated by the Longines Extract from the Archives, included with the watch. It confirms that the piece, with serial number 5’684’489 and reference 4278 was invoiced on 14 December 1938 to Benoit, the official Longines agent for Sweden and Finland at the time. The delivery date, recipient region, and serial match perfectly with the account given by Anders Hove, cementing the authenticity of this watch’s military heritage.

Included Items

• Longines Extract from the Archives (dated 1 Sept 2017)

• Signed provenance letter by Anders Hove (dated March 2025)

• Two period photographs of original owner in uniform

• Military-style strap