One of the most sought-after of the twelve watches now known to collectors as the ‘Dirty Dozen’, this Longines Greenlander was supplied for British military use at the end of the Second World War.

The stainless-steel case retains its original military engravings, including the Broad Arrow, W.W.W. – ‘Watch, Wrist, Waterproof’ designation and military issue number "F675x". The black military dial is equally purposeful, with bold Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, outer minute track and Broad Arrow marking, together with wonderfully aged luminous hour plots and hands.

Power comes from Longines’ manually wound calibre 12.68Z, housed within the substantial 37mm stainless-steel case with fixed military strap bars. It is fitted here to a khaki fabric NATO-style strap, perfectly in keeping with its military origins.

Importantly, the watch is accompanied by a Longines Extract from the Archives, dated 10 March 2022. Longines confirms serial number 6’940’311, reference 5707 and order number 23088, together with its calibre 12.68Z movement. Their records further confirm that the watch was invoiced on 18 August 1945 to Baume & Co., Longines’ agent for the UK at the time.

A particularly charismatic example of an important British military wristwatch, retaining the honest patina and military markings collectors look for, and further supported by valuable documentation from the Longines archives.