George Pakkos knew he was smitten with Longines as soon as he acquired his first 35mm time-only Tre Tacche, which led him down the path to chronographs, particularly the waterproof variants. He quickly discovered the vast breadth and variation in vintage Longines models from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.
Over the past decade he has attended many private Longines Collectors meetings in St Imier and around the world. He has established a warm and strong relationship with Longines who have allowed him access to their archives, enabling him to write authoritative in-depth articles on vintage Longines. His passion for the history and beauty of the watches has led him to establish the “Longines Icons” website, where he plans to collaborate and continue to uncover and document the history of the brand.
Eitan Arrusi has been collecting and studying vintage watches for over 25 years. Initially he was bitten by them through the hours he spent in London’s Portobello Market. His taste is wide-ranging, with a particular passion for professional watches, especially early 20th century pieces. His greatest pleasure on this journey is the friends that he has made, and you can often find him sharing a meal and watches with them.
Andy Tolley is a world-class collector who has a special fascination in pre-1950s aviation watches. He has spent decades creating one of the finest collections of pilot watches ever formed, with potentially half of the market’s surviving Lindbergh and Weems watches in his care.
His fascination lies in the remarkable history and development of these watches, and the incredible characters who shaped aviation’s golden years. Andy traces his passion to his grandfather’s purchase of a Longines time-only piece in Palestine in 1942.
Through meticulous research documented at Flightbirds.net, Andy has become the leading authority on early Longines navigation watches and aviation instruments.
Guido Hamacher keeps the paper soul of Longines alive. An amazing archivist, he has built an astonishing collection of ephemera, original postcards, letters, retailer paperwork, and advertisements, that is second to none.
Where others focus solely on the watches themselves, Guido understands that human stories are key. His incredible correspondence and documentation help stitch watches back to their original owners and bring the watches into living history. His meticulous research is generously shared with other collectors and underpins our knowledge of the brand’s history.
Beyond his archival work, Guido’s deep expertise allows him to remain an active hunter in today’s market. He continues to track down rare, museum-quality timepieces that others might overlook, using his vast knowledge to meticulously reconstruct their detailed history and provenance. For Guido, the thrill of the find is always the hunt, not the have—and it is consistently matched by the depth of the research that follows.
Roberto Randazzo, also known as ‘Jatucka’, is one of the most respected figures in vintage watch collecting. He is celebrated for his expertise in military and vintage watches, known for his honest and passionate approach to sharing knowledge. As a longtime dealer, researcher, and moderator on multiple forums, Roberto has built an international reputation for integrity and connoisseurship. His energy, humour, and unending curiosity bring depth and humanity to every discussion.
This website wouldn’t exist without our incredible group of friends and contributors. We owe special thanks to Roberto Randazzo, whose generous contribution of high-resolution images has made this website possible. Most of the stunning photography you’ll see throughout these pages comes from Roberto’s exceptional work. Without his dedication to capturing these watches in all their detail, Longines Icons simply couldn’t exist as it does today. We’re also deeply grateful to Andy Tolley, Adonya Ourshaliman, Glenn Maraconda, and Guido Hamacher, each of whom brings their own expertise and passion to our collective understanding.