Longines is celebrating its 190th birthday making it one of the oldest Swiss watch manufacturers in the world. To mark the event, the Saint-Imier-based brand is launching a trio of designs into its Master Collection, two limited edition gold models and a permanent piece in stainless steel. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Longines Master 190th Anniversary watch collection…
The Case
The Longines Master Collection has no shortage of designs to choose from, offering timeless time-and-date dress watches, complex moonphase complications, and sportier-looking chronographs. On the more traditional side of the spectrum is the new range of Longines Master 190th Anniversary watches offering a round, fluid profile, polished surfaces and relatively short lugs. The design comes in stainless steel, yellow gold or rose gold – the two latter models limited editions – all measuring to 40mm in diameter with a height of 9.35mm. Take our word for it when we say these watches wear superbly; it is the perfect size and shape for purists who want a contemporary dress watch for the everyday.
The cases continue to retain elements of previous Longines Master watches with an unadorned and fixed bezel with a polished finish. The bezel drops down onto an insert of sapphire crystal glass on the front treated with anti-reflective coating for easy legibility of the dial beneath. Each Longines Master 190th Anniversary watch also boasts a knurled, non-screw locked crown at 3 o’clock offering a simple water resistant rating of 30 metres and an exhibition case back. Surrounding the sapphire crystal at the back is an engraving onto the case metal honouring the watch’s launch for the Swiss watch brand’s 190th birthday.
The Dial
Contrasting beautifully to the gleaming polish of the cases is a matte dial adopted in a choice of three colours. The Longines Master 190th Anniversary Steel watch opts for a sandblasted silver-coloured display set with not printed or applied numerals but unique engraved Breguet numerals beautifully showing off the shining metal beneath. In contrast, blue leaf-shaped hands are selected for the hours, minutes and seconds.
Meanwhile, the Longines Master 190th Anniversary Rose Gold Limited Edition watch comes adorned with a gorgeous granular-effect anthracite coloured dial. It also boasts engraved numerals but these are lined with gold plating for clearer readability. The hands are also gold plated. Similarly, the Longines Master 190th Anniversary Yellow Gold Limited Edition watch features gold-filled numerals and golden hands but opts for a lighter brushed grey backdrop. All three dials present the Longines logo and the ‘Automatic’ lettering in a vintage typeface and with a sigh of relief, we’re pleased to report there’s no date complication in sight!
The Movement
The beating heart of the Longines Master 190th Anniversary watches is the Longines calibre L888.5, an automatic winding movement based on the ETA A31.L11. It boasts 21 jewels, a frequency of 25,200vph and a power reserve of 72 hours. Plus, like many of Longines’ watches, there is a silicon balance spring for increased accuracy. As mentioned, you can admire the Swiss made movement through the exhibition case back and enjoy traditional decorations like Côtes de Genève stripes and perlage on the mainplate and the striped oscillating rotor. The latter is also uniquely designed with a special cut out to replicate the shape of the legendary winged hourglass logo.
The Strap
Completing all three Longines Master Collection 190th Anniversary watches is an anthracite-coloured alligator leather strap. The strap closes by a triple folding clasp with a push-piece opening mechanism engineered from the same material as the case.
Price & Availability
The Longines Master Collection 190th Anniversary Steel watch is a permanent piece in the Master Collection and retails at £2,050. The two Longines Master Collection 190th Anniversary Gold watches are limited editions of 190-pieces each and retail for £10,190. All three are available to order now with delivery expected imminently.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Longines Master 190th Anniversary watch collection and shop the range for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
