Tre Tacche

The Longines Tre Tacche is prized for its connection to early 1940s military and tool watch design, named after the distinctive three notches (“tre tacche”) cut into the caseback for improved water resistance. Originally produced for demanding environments, these watches embody Longines’ technical innovation during a pivotal era, making them especially appealing to collectors who value both heritage and utility.

Reference numbers such as 2329 and 2382 are most commonly associated with the Tre Tacche, each featuring subtle differences in case proportions and dial layouts. Most house the manual-wind caliber 12.68Z, a movement celebrated for its reliability and smooth operation. Case sizes typically range from 32mm to 35mm, with screw-down casebacks and thick acrylic crystals contributing to their original water resistance, though these features are now more about historical value than practical use.

Dial originality is a major driver of price variation—look for untouched radium numerals, crisp railroad minute tracks, and the correct “Fab. Suisse” or “Swiss Made” signatures. Replacement crowns or refinished dials are common and can impact value considerably. The Tre Tacche’s market is nuanced; small details like font style, case finish, and matching hands influence desirability, so a careful eye for originality pays off when selecting the right example.