A Personal Review of Longines Watches
I have long been a fan of Longines watches. Longines are elegant and impeccably manufactured watches. Longines watches are affordable Swiss watches for the average consumer, but being affordable doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality.
Longines has been manufacturing quality timepieces since 1832. In 1912, Longines made sports history by introducing the concept of an electrical cable that, at the start and end of a race, activated and stopped a timing mechanism. This innovation in Longines timekeeping has ensured that Longines has been appointed Official Timekeeper at many of the world’s major sporting events. Longines sports watches reflect this sporting history. But Longines also makes many elegant watches for men and women; I think Longines women’s watches are especially beautiful. The current collection of Longines watches reflects this.
The Longines DolceVita collection has a simple and elegant design. The face is rectangular with simple hour markers. The DolceVita dial comes in black, white or pink mother-of-pearl. The case comes in stainless steel, although you can purchase a gold case set with 32 Top Wesselton diamonds (0.32 ct), which comes with a matching gold bracelet. Stainless steel versions can also be purchased encrusted with diamonds and come with stainless steel bracelets or a black or white lacquered leather strap. Some versions of the Longines DolceVita can be worn by men, but it’s as an elegant women’s watch that the Longines DolceVita really stands out.
Longines claims that the Evidenza evokes the 1920s. I feel there is some justification for this, as the watch face appears to be old fashioned, but not out of date. The tonneau shape of the case harkens back to a Longines model dating from 1911; the barrel shape being an oval with flattened ends. The Longines Evidenza is suitable for both men and women. The case is made of stainless steel, although there is a gold version for women set with 44 0.22-carat diamonds. The Longines Evidenza comes with a quartz or automatic movement. My favorite Evidenza is the one that comes in a stainless steel case with a dark brown alligator strap, enhanced by 12 blue painted Arabic numerals. This model also features a moon phase display with a 31-day calendar at 6 o’clock, as well as day of the week and month apertures at 12 o’clock – a very nice watch.
The Longines BelleArti is a truly elegant women’s watch. I am lucky to have been able to buy my wife a Longines BelleArti watch for her birthday. The BelleArti range is simple and understated, evoking memories of the Art Deco movement of the 1920s. The dial comes in black, silver or mother-of-pearl. All dials feature 11 Arabic numerals, a second sub-dial at 6 o’clock, and “Cathedral” hands. Some models are available with diamond encrustations; My wife’s watch doesn’t have it. The case of the Longines BelleArti is rectangular with a curvature when viewed from the sides, giving the entire watch a very feminine feel.
The style of La Grande Classique de Longines draws heavily on Longines’ earlier design traditions. The case is a simple circle and comes in stainless steel or gold; some models come encrusted with diamonds. Unsurprisingly, for this classic watch style, the dials come in black, white, or mother-of-pearl. The Logines Grande Classique is definitely for those who prefer the look of a more traditional watch.
The Longines LungoMare is for those who like a more modern looking watch. There is a women’s version of this watch. The case is round and comes only in stainless steel. The LungoMare is also water resistant to 100 meters. I really like the LungoMare. It is pure understated style. Avoid stylistic tricks, such as large crowns, oversized hands, and messy faces. This watch competes with brands like Breitling, Tag Heuer, and Rolex, but is more realistically priced for consumers.
Longines also makes the Lingbergh watch. Commemorates the first flight across the Atlantic by Charles Lindbergh. I personally don’t like commemorative watches and I’m not a big fan of the design of this watch either.
The Longines Master collection appeals to those seeking maximum functionality in their watch. Most of the watches in this collection come with complicated, self-winding mechanical movements that beat at 28,800 vibrations per hour, with a nominal 42-hour power reserve. Many also come with a chronograph function. I feel the Longines Master Collection is for those who want the best of what Longines has to offer.
All Longines watches come with sapphire crystal and magnificent movements. And Longines offers a wide range of designs to choose from, unlike other Swiss watch manufacturers. I like Longines watches: Longines makes owning a quality Swiss watch affordable for the average consumer.
