Longines WWW "Greenlander"

During the last half of 1945, the British Ministry of Defence mandated new standards for watches intended for military issue. Twelve companies met these standards and manufactured the watches that would be dubbed the "Dirty Dozen" and fascinate collectors for decades. They were: Buren, Cyma, Eterna, Grana, JLC, Lemania, IWC, Omega, Record, Timor, Vertex, and Longines. Of all these, only Longines produced a watch with shock-protection. 

Collectors have given the Longines Reference 23088 the nickname "Greenlander" due to its purported involvement in the 1952-54 British North Greenland Expedition. This was recently proven to be false (much like the "Steve McQueen Explorer"). But even though the "Greenlander" never made it to Greenland, many Longines did in fact make it on other expeditions in extreme cold weather conditions. So when you consider that these watches were meant to go to war, this fact doesn't take away anything from the watch's lineage. Whether worn in war or on an expedition in the farthest reaches of the Arctic, the "Greenlander" was meant to withstand it all. 

At 38mm and all stainless, it's a good size to suit modern tastes. This particular watch is in excellent condition, perhaps the most superlative example of this watch that we've carried. The case back is stamped with the model number "23088" and "477," the case number, on the case back. Though obscured slightly by wear, "477" is repeated on the top right lug, guaranteeing the watch's complete nature. Already rare, this watch's lovely condition makes this watch very desirable.  

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.