Brand comparisons usually run on opinion. This one runs on settled transactions: 203 recorded sales of Longines and 102 of Hamilton, all in US dollars so the figures are directly comparable.
What each one actually costs
The median Longines result is $2,500. The median Hamilton result is $1,278. On typical examples, Longines carries roughly 2.0 times the price of Hamilton at auction.
Half of all Longines sales land between $1,250 and $6,875. For Hamilton the middle half runs $600 to $2,250.
Which one surprises the specialists
34% of Longines lots beat their high estimate, against 28% for Hamilton. The two are closely matched, which suggests both are priced with similar confidence.
Breadth of the record
Our archive covers 61 distinct Longines references and 4 for Hamilton, with results going back to 2004 and 2004 respectively. The top recorded result is $106,680 for Longines and $55,000 for Hamilton.
What this does not tell you
A median is not a verdict. These brands overlap heavily at the edges, and a well chosen example of the cheaper one will outrun a poor example of the dearer one. Condition, completeness and model matter more than the badge on the dial.
