Longines 22709 108

Longines WWII period 'Sei Tacche' stainless steel gentleman'

Longines WWII period 'Sei Tacche' stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch, reference no. 22709 108, serial no. 6707408, circa 1943, 'tropical' silvered dial with Arabic numerals, outer minute track and centre seconds, blued steel hands, signed cal. 12.68N movement, case lug no. '108', expanding bracelet, 35mm. The vendor's father, Jim O'Brien, bought this Longines watch in the port city of Alexandria, Egypt, when he was serving as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers as part of Montgomery's 8th Army in 1942-1943. As a young man from the East End of London at the age of 22 he was called up to serve his country. Prior to Egypt, he served in the Royal East Kent Regiment on the Kent coast when in 1940, following the fall of France, a German invasion of Britain was imminently anticipated. Private provenance. Movement - currently functioning. Dial - features a nice tropical appearance. Glass - good. Hands - light oxidised wear. Case - typical light marks as expected for the period. Crown - adjusts correctly. Bracelet - later expanding bracelet.