Longines Tre-Tacche

Regular price
$9,850
Regular price
Sale price
$9,850
REF 4142
Manual
35 MM
– Show less
SKU AS04407
Article Number 40990184
ref 4142
case size 35 MM
movement Manual Winding
approximate age 1940s
dial color White
material Stainless Steel
style Field
category Vintage
bracelet Leather
lug width 18 MM
Includes Brown 'flip-tab' leather strap with stainless steel pin buckle. Also includes extract from the Longines archive confirming original sale in 1941.
overall condition The case is in excellent condition overall showing normal signs of wear consistent with age and use wiht no signs of previous refinishing. Satin silver Radium dial with 'Arabic' indices is in good condition showing light, even patination throughout with evenly patinated luminous elements. Blued-steel handset shows minor lume loss. Unsigned crown.
REF 4142
Manual
35 MM
– Show less
SKU AS04407
Article Number 40990184
ref 4142
case size 35 MM
movement Manual Winding
approximate age 1940s
dial color White
material Stainless Steel
style Field
category Vintage
bracelet Leather
lug width 18 MM
Includes Brown 'flip-tab' leather strap with stainless steel pin buckle. Also includes extract from the Longines archive confirming original sale in 1941.
overall condition The case is in excellent condition overall showing normal signs of wear consistent with age and use wiht no signs of previous refinishing. Satin silver Radium dial with 'Arabic' indices is in good condition showing light, even patination throughout with evenly patinated luminous elements. Blued-steel handset shows minor lume loss. Unsigned crown.

Why We Love it

In our opinion, Longines doesn't quite get the respect that they deserve.

That is not to say that they aren't held in high regard. But the level of innovation, craftsmanship, and design that Longines has demonstrated over the course of their existence simply cannot be understated, and certainly extends to a wide variety of timepieces across the board.

These "Tre-Tacche" watches from the late 1930s and 1940s, however, have developed a cult-like following amongst vintage enthusiasts. The name references its unique 3-notched caseback which requires a special tool to remove, but the watch itself is perhaps the most pure execution of a no-frills robust "tool" watch before there were tool watches. 

In excellent condition throughout, this Reference 4142 features a blued steel handset, luminous Arabic indices, a large winding crown and a stunning dial that has turned to a light-champagne color. But the case is perhaps the greatest component of this watch... the combination of a 35mm "stepped" case with fixed bars hammers this piece home as a no-frills daily wearable vintage piece. Additionally, this watch includes an extract from the Longines archive, confirming the watch was originally sold to South Africa in 1941. 

In terms of elegant design and horological prowess, this a watch that ticks many boxes in the eye of the vintage enthusiast.

Brand Story

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Founded in 1832 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, Longines was at the sharp end of the watchmaking spear during the beginnings of modern horology. Constantly innovating, the company devised some of the most important wristwatches of the 20th century. Indeed, by 1919, Longines was the official supplier of timepieces for the International Aeronautical Federation, working to develop highly accurate navigation chronometers for many of the era's great aviation pioneers.
Most famous among Longines' forays into navigation pieces is the Lindbergh Hour Angle watch, a wristwatch designed by famed aviator Charles Lindberg in conjunction with the brand to allow aviators to calculate, with the help of a sextant and a known latitude, their exact geographic location.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, Longines also released a series of stunning time-only watches. Often referred to as “Calatravas” after the iconic model by Patek Philippe, most of these watches had thin stainless steel cases at 32-35mm, standard sizes for the time. Like the Patek Philippe Calatrava, these timepieces were known for their perfect proportions and the elegant simplicity of their designs.

But it wasn’t just time-only watches that drew the attention of clients the world over — particularly in the Americas: The company’s caliber 13ZN, first released in 1936, is widely regarded as one of the finest chronograph movements ever devised by any brand. This development would form the basis of work in sports timing, in which Longines developed timepieces with flyback functionality as well as 1/100th-second counters.

Today, Longines produces a remarkable number of watches annually — over 1.5 million of them — and rakes in over $1B in annual revenue through the sale of everything from simple quartz watches to sophisticated moon phases and chronographs. Incredibly, they produced their 51 millionth timepiece in 2019 and in some ways, it feels like the brand is just getting started.

A:S Guarantee

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Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

Shipping & Returns

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All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

Make it yours will fit standard 18mm watches

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Longines Tre-Tacche

Longines Tre-Tacche

Regular price
$9,850
Regular price
Sale price
$9,850
Longines Tre-Tacche

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