Longines – Tre Tacche Breguet-Numerals 1938 Mid-Sized Steel Watch – Cal. 12.68Z

The “Tre Tacche”, Italian for “three notches”, is a collector name coined by the Italian watch community for the Longines models whose screw-down casebacks are opened with a tool engaging three notches cut into the back.

The system was one of the earliest approaches to water resistance in a production wristwatch, contemporary with the Rolex Oyster. Designed in the late 1930s at Saint-Imier, the Tre Tacche combined a robust stainless steel case with a stepped bezel, a domed waterproof crown, and a dial designed for legibility above all else.

Today, the Tre Tacche is one of the most sought-after vintage Longines references, a watch that allows collectors to access pre-war build quality and in-house movement finishing at a fraction of the cost of equivalent Rolex or Patek Philippe production.

The stainless steel case with stepped-rounded bezel is in very good condition. The case and caseback share the same last three digits of their serial numbers. The case and movement serial numbers are slightly mismatched, both date to the same period but do not correspond exactly, suggesting the movement was switched during an earlier service. The acrylic crystal is in perfect condition.

The black embossed dial with applied Breguet numerals and subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock is in superb condition. Given the quality of its preservation, this dial has most likely been professionally restored. The hands are original.

The the Longines Calibre 12.68Z, an in-house manual-wind move ment. It has been serviced and is running strong.

The movement is Longines Calibre 12.68Z, an in-house manual-wind movement produced entirely at the Saint-Imier manufacture. The first version appeared in 1929; a slightly revised version was introduced in 1938.

The watch is fitted with a vintage bamboo steel bracelet.

This watch has been serviced in-house and is in good working order. It is delivered with our six-month guarantee and our originality certificate.

Worldwide shipping is available and inquiries are welcome.