Founded in 1832, Longines has always played a great role in the watchmaking industry for its watches and movements which, even today, are considered as some of the most reliable and precise.

The ‘Dirty Dozen’ – a name for a group of 12 watches commissioned by the British Ministry of Defence to be durable, accurate and reliable – were produced by 12 different Swiss manufacturers for use by the armed forces in World War II. A specification sheet was issued but manufacturers had enough liberty to produce watches that were, in the end, quite different, in sizes, case material, and design.

Among them, the Longines model, nicknamed “Greenlander”, is probably the most desirable and really stands out thanks to distinctive design choices. It is the only one (with the Cyma) to come in a 38mm stainless steel case. The case is also showing nice finish, with a distinctive bezel, that makes it unique among the pack. The cathedral hands are also only featured in the Greenlander. All in all, this is not the rarest, but in our opinion the most interesting and visually pleasing.

Coming in superb original condition, it is a no-brainer for any serious vintage collector.

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