For sale is a highly coveted vintage masterpiece and a pioneer of the tool watch era: the Longines "Tre-Tacche." Produced during the late 1930s and 1940s around the World War II era, this exceptional timepiece represents a golden age of Longines manufacturing, featuring a robust design that rivaled the finest Swiss Maisons of the time.
Measuring a historically accurate 30mm, this case retains its sharp, original stepped bezel and thick, solid lugs. The name "Tre-Tacche" (Italian for "three notches") refers to the three distinct indentations on its innovative screw-down caseback, a major technological advancement for water and dust resistance. The underside of the lug features the factory assembly stamp (116), corresponding sequentially with the caseback (117)—a true hallmark of Longines' hand-finished production in this era and a guarantee of the watch's honest originality.
The dial is the undeniable star of the show. It has aged untouched over decades into a stunning, heavily patinated tropical mustard tone, perfectly contrasted by the original gold colored leaf hands and Breguet numerals. Powered by a legendary Longines manual-wind workhorse movement, this watch is a testament to enduring quality and purpose-built design.
Key Features:
Brand: Longines
Model Nickname: "Tre-Tacche" (Three Notches)
Era: Late 1930s – 1940s (WWII Era)
Case Size: 30mm (Historically accurate military proportions)
Case Style: Stainless steel stepped case with thick solid lugs and three-notch screw-down caseback
Dial: Unrestored "tropical" golden-mustard dial with heavy patination and Breguet numerals
Hands: Original leaf hands
Movement: Manual Wind Mechanical (Likely Caliber 10.68Z or 12.68Z)
Why Collectors Love It: The Longines Tre-Tacche has cultivated a massive cult following among vintage purists. While 30mm is smaller by modern standards, it is the historically accurate size for a mid-century military tool watch, designed to avoid snagging on equipment in action. This aesthetic perfectly aligns with the current neo-vintage trend favoring understated proportions.
Furthermore, collectors covet honest originality. The sequential assembly batch numbers (116 on the lug, 117 on the caseback) are a famous quirk of 1940s Longines production, proving these parts sat next to each other on the watchmaker's bench and have remained together ever since. This watch is a highly significant, battle-tested classic that adds immense historical weight and rugged appeal to any serious collection.
Return Policy All watch purchases from Arrows Vintage Watches include a 48-hour return window. If you’re not fully satisfied, you may return the watch at your expense using the same insured shipping method it was sent with, and in the same condition it was received. Once the watch is returned and inspected, refunds will be issued within 7 days via the original payment method.
All returns and cancellations will be charged a restocking fee around 3% of the total item price. This is the cost of using a payment processor on the site.
For sale is a highly coveted vintage masterpiece and a pioneer of the tool watch era: the Longines "Tre-Tacche." Produced during the late 1930s and 1940s around the World War II era, this exceptional timepiece represents a golden age of Longines manufacturing, featuring a robust design that rivaled the finest Swiss Maisons of the time.
Measuring a historically accurate 30mm, this case retains its sharp, original stepped bezel and thick, solid lugs. The name "Tre-Tacche" (Italian for "three notches") refers to the three distinct indentations on its innovative screw-down caseback, a major technological advancement for water and dust resistance. The underside of the lug features the factory assembly stamp (116), corresponding sequentially with the caseback (117)—a true hallmark of Longines' hand-finished production in this era and a guarantee of the watch's honest originality.
The dial is the undeniable star of the show. It has aged untouched over decades into a stunning, heavily patinated tropical mustard tone, perfectly contrasted by the original gold colored leaf hands and Breguet numerals. Powered by a legendary Longines manual-wind workhorse movement, this watch is a testament to enduring quality and purpose-built design.
Key Features:
Brand: Longines
Model Nickname: "Tre-Tacche" (Three Notches)
Era: Late 1930s – 1940s (WWII Era)
Case Size: 30mm (Historically accurate military proportions)
Case Style: Stainless steel stepped case with thick solid lugs and three-notch screw-down caseback
Dial: Unrestored "tropical" golden-mustard dial with heavy patination and Breguet numerals
Hands: Original leaf hands
Movement: Manual Wind Mechanical (Likely Caliber 10.68Z or 12.68Z)
Why Collectors Love It: The Longines Tre-Tacche has cultivated a massive cult following among vintage purists. While 30mm is smaller by modern standards, it is the historically accurate size for a mid-century military tool watch, designed to avoid snagging on equipment in action. This aesthetic perfectly aligns with the current neo-vintage trend favoring understated proportions.
Furthermore, collectors covet honest originality. The sequential assembly batch numbers (116 on the lug, 117 on the caseback) are a famous quirk of 1940s Longines production, proving these parts sat next to each other on the watchmaker's bench and have remained together ever since. This watch is a highly significant, battle-tested classic that adds immense historical weight and rugged appeal to any serious collection.
Return Policy All watch purchases from Arrows Vintage Watches include a 48-hour return window. If you’re not fully satisfied, you may return the watch at your expense using the same insured shipping method it was sent with, and in the same condition it was received. Once the watch is returned and inspected, refunds will be issued within 7 days via the original payment method.
All returns and cancellations will be charged a restocking fee around 3% of the total item price. This is the cost of using a payment processor on the site.
