Longines wows with reinventions of old classics
Swiss heritage watchmaker Longines wows with reinventions of old classics in this year’s collection of novelties
Avigation BigEye
A re-issue of a 1930s design, the Longines Avigation BigEye is now available in titanium with a petrol blue dial and vintage-looking natural brown leather strap. It joins a version of the Avigation BigEye in steel with black dial launched in 2017.
It sports a 41-mm titanium case which encloses a column-wheel chronograph movement fitted with a silicon balance-spring for accuracy and enhanced resistance to magnetic fields. Adorned with sand-blasted black hands and luminous Arabic numerals, its grained and shaded petrol blue dial features a sub-dial, a 12-hour counter and an oversized 30-minute counter — a unique look that inspired the model’s name (BigEye).
A box-shaped sapphire glass with multi-layered anti-reflective finish and screw-down engraved case back also attest to the advanced technology of this piece.
DolceVita
Inspired by a model from the 1920s and characterised by a rectangular case, the Longines DolceVita line has been extended through the years without ever losing its identity or the popularity that it has enjoyed since its launch in 1997.
This year, the new novelties for this dress watch channel the elegant stylings of the Art Deco period with subtle geometric lines and soft curves on the dial. The steel case is crafted with a silvered dial adorned with Arabic numerals driven by quartz movement.
While the women’s range sports diamonds on the bezel and “flinqué” detailing, the men’s collection showcases a new sectorised dial that subtly combines geometric lines with soft silver tones. These timepieces come with interchangeable straps in new leather variations of white, blue or golden hues.
Longines Legend Diver Watch
An emblematic timepiece from the brand, the Longines Legend Diver Watch retains the clean lines of the original timepiece but sports a classic bronze look with a retro green dial. Set in a 42mm bronze and titanium case, the timepiece houses an automatic movement with silicon-balance spring.
The lovely lacquered green dial is set with luminescent markers and numerals sealed in a sapphire crystal box. Just like the original, the screw-down case back is embossed with the diver’s emblem. This model is paired with a brown leather strap finished with beige topstitching, and also includes an alternative strap in a sporty green nylon fabric.
Other colour offerings in the Longines Legend Diver Watch series include a navy blue dial with matching textured leather strap, or dark brown dial with a tanned soft leather strap.
HydroConquest
The performance-driven line for Longines, HydroConquest diving watches are distinctive for their bold style and functional characteristics for water sports enthusiasts. Features include water-resistance to 300m, unidirectional rotating bezel, screw-down crown and case back, and double security folding clasp with an integrated diving extension-piece.
This year the collection offers a diverse array of aesthetic permutations, from matching bezels and dials to new colours and finishes for straps. The green, black and blue variations are now available in twotone steel and yellow PVD, while the grey, black and blue ones are available in steel and rose PVD versions. These sporty pieces are also available on a black, blue or green rubber strap.
Each two-tone variation is equipped with an exclusive self-winding movement featuring an anti-magnetic silicon balance-spring to guarantee high precision and a longer life span.
Silver Arrow
Inspired by race cars and aeronautics, Longines created the Silver Arrow in 1956 known for its case back engraving of a supersonic plane flying through the stars. Today, the Swiss brand brings the model back to life with an understated elegance and distinctive silhouette characteristic of the 1950s, powered with cutting-edge watchmaking technology.
Driven by an exclusive self-winding movement fitted with a silicon balance-spring, the timepiece is built in a 38.5mm steel case and box-shaped sapphire glass with a multi-layered anti-reflective finish. At the back, you will find the classic Silver Arrow emblem engraved into the screw-down back case.
Just like the original version, this elegant timepiece paired with a soft matte brown leather strap is resolutely minimalist with its silver opaline dial features, striated indexes, sword-shaped hands and absence of a date display.
La Grand Classique
Launched in 1992, Le Grande Classic de Longines is immediately identifiable by its very slim profile that comes from the unique construction of its case, whose back also serves as the bracelet’s lugs. Its classic spirit and timeless style have very quickly made this collection an unfailing pillar for Longines.
Cased in steel, sometimes set with diamonds, or made out of yellow or pink PVD, this collection comes in six different sizes (Ø 24, 29, 33, 36, 37 and 38mm) to suit every wrist and style sensibility. The dial too offers an array of options: White mother- of- pearl, black, blue, brown, silver or gold with sunray or even lacquer or flinqué and decorated with Roman numerals, diamonds or painted indices.
To complete the classic aesthetic of this timepiece, a white, black or blue leather strap adds a finishing touch to the elegance of the case. Steel, yellow, pink or a combination of steel and PVD bracelets hug the curve of the wrist perfectly thanks to their supple, fine links. Quartz or automatic movements drive this range’s models.