As a watchmaking brand, Longines has an incredibly rich history spanning over 190 years since its founding in 1832. During that time the brand has strived for precision with an unmistakable aesthetic that still underpins its identity today. Centuries-old craftsmanship forged in tradition, elegance and performance has raised Longines to the ranks of the great watchmakers. To celebrate Longines' 190th anniversary, the brand has released an exciting new collection, dubbed the Longines ‘Master Collection’ comprised of three elegant dress watches.
The Longines Master Collection 190th Anniversary - Image credit Longines.
The Longines Master Collection
The three new watches in the Longines Master Collection are available in stainless steel and gold. The 18-carat yellow gold and rose gold versions are presented in a limited, numbered edition of 190 pieces to mark their anniversary and underline their exclusivity.
The Master Collection offers three dial colours to choose from: grained anthracite, brushed grey and a sandblasted silver dial. Each dial is distinguished by a unique finish and delicately engraved Arabic numerals. Elegant pink, gilt or blued steel hands mark the passing hours, minutes and seconds, highlighting the dials’ refined design.
The Longines Master Collection 190th Anniversary - Image credit Longines.
The 40mm round case, with classic lines, houses the Longines exclusive calibre L888.5. This movement benefits from a silicon balance spring, guaranteeing high-precision and a long-lasting power reserve of 72 hours. The corrosive-resistant properties of the balance spring enhances the movement's life, according to Longines, which allows them to give the collection a warranty of a generous 5 years.
All the meticulous craftsmanship of this movement can be admired through the sapphire caseback, which features a commemorative engraving. A soft, anthracite grey alligator leather strap completes the style of the Master Collection pieces.
The Longines Master Collection 190th Anniversary - Image credit Longines.
The fact Longines opted for different dial textures really makes each model feel unique, rather than just a collection, though they all share an unmistakable family resemblance. For me, the winning model has got to be the grained anthracite dial, with its ruggedly deep grey matte dial that really makes the engraved Arabic pink gold numerals and slender 'feuille' hands pop from the watch face. It really highlights the sheer craftsmanship that went into the dial’s design.
The Longines Master Collection is now available at Longines, limited to 190 pieces per model with prices starting from £2,050.
