Longines - D. Original 1944 WWII Ref. 22880 Luftwaffe Watch

This Longines “D” marked German Luftwaffe wristwatch dated to 1944 stands at the intersection of Swiss craftsmanship and military specification

Commissioned by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) for Luftwaffe use, its a very rare watch as approximately only 500 pieces were produced between 1943 and 1945, making this model one of the very few survivor of its era.

The watch has a stainless steel 33 mm case (excluding the crown), showing only light signs of wear appropriate to its age. The screw-down caseback offered a modest moisture resistance and it bears a clean “D” marking with a low serial number, aligning with similar documented military-issued warches.

Under the domed plexiglass crystal sits the original black glossy silver gilt dial, with large Arabic numerals and a snmall seconds counter at 6 o’clock. The dial is in a very good condition, it shows only a light patina with no significant discoloration or deterioration evident.

Powering this piece is the Longines Caliber 12.68Z, a manual wind movement first introduced in 1938 and which has remained in production until the early 1960s, serving as one of the brand’s most versatile and reliable manual-winding movements of the time.

With a diameter of 27 mm and a height of 4.5 mm, it was engineered for both civilian and military use, offering a robust architecture capable of withstanding the demands of field conditions. Known for its long-term reliability, the architecture of the 12.68Z is characterized by its balanced layout and ease of servicing, making it a favored choice among military contractors during World War II.

The watch is paired with a new leather strap.

Recently serviced in-house, it is now in sound mechanical condition. The offering includes a six-month mechanical guarantee and certificate of authenticity.

For historians and collectors of WWII military timepieces, this Longines D exemplifies authentic German contracted Swiss engineering applied to german milspecs: historically significant, technically durable, and preserved in original form.

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