Longines Sei-Tacche (Ref. 23059), 1945

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

Longines is one of the oldest continuously operating watch manufacturers in the world, with roots dating back to 1832. Over that immense period of time, the brand has crafted some truly incredible—and incredibly accurate—timepieces. In fact, it's one of the reasons Longines is the official timekeeper of the Kentucky Derby, where accuracy is paramount. Among vintage Longines, few models capture the imagination of collectors quite like the “Sei-Tacche.” Produced in the 1930s and 1940s alongside the earlier “Tre-Tacche,” these watches earned their names from their distinctive casebacks—six notches for the Sei-Tacche, three for the Tre-Tacche—engineered for a tighter seal and requiring specialized tools to remove. Beyond this functional innovation, the Sei-Tacche has become a cult favorite, celebrated for its uncompromising simplicity and its place as one of the earliest true “tool watches” before the category even had a name. This 1945 example ref. 23059 brings all the hallmarks that collectors seek: a 33mm stainless steel case with drilled lugs, a warm silver dial with bold radium lumed Arabic numerals, a red 24-hour scale for a touch of color, and a refined blue steel handset. The six-notched caseback and rugged construction speak to Longines’ wartime focus on reliability and resilience, making these pieces both historically significant and incredibly wearable today. For collectors, the Sei-Tacche represents more than just a vintage Longines—it embodies the brand’s legacy of precision and durability, qualities that established its reputation in both civilian and military circles. With its understated aesthetics, robust build, and undeniable historical importance, the Sei-Tacche remains one of the most compelling entry points into serious vintage Longines collecting. SPECS Stock # LGSST23059 Brand Longines Style Sei-Tracche "WWII Military" Model 23059 Serial 69XXXXX Size Men's / Unisex Material Stainless Steel Dial Silver "Aged" Millimeters 33 Strap 2pc Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The excellent case features long lugs extending its size beyond its diameter measurements and retains crisp finishing and edges throughout, showing no notable wear and only nominal evidence of being previously polished. The distinctive 6-notch case back is also in very clean condition and retains its original factory engravings. Additionally, the back of the top left lug bears a matching engraving to the case back, corroborating the originality of the watch. The watch comes supplied on a 2pc black canvas strap. DIAL & HANDS The original satin silver featuring large radium lumed numerals and a red 24-hour scale is beautifully preserved, especially for the age of the watch, with no notable damage and only minor elements of age present. The radium lume numerals have achieved a charming beige patina and exhibit no degradation when inspected under UV light. The original blued-steel radium hands are in near-perfect condition, showing no degradation under UV light, and have aged a few shades darker than the dial. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is keeping time; the service history is unknown. A movement service can be provided upon request.