With a history that spans across two centuries, Longines is one of those Swiss watch brands we always look out for when the season of spring comes around. Like the rest of the luxury watch manufacturers in the world, Longines wasn’t able to attend any formal exhibition in person this year, but instead still managed to amaze with a stunning new selection of timepieces. From vintage limited editions to sporty models for the modern wrists, Longines have delivered something for everyone. Let’s take a look at all the new Longines 2021 watch releases…
Longines Spirit Watches in Green
Launched during the summer of last year, the Longines Spirit collection is designed as a modern interpretation of the vintage instruments worn by aviation pioneers like Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes, Elinor Smith and Paul-Emilie Victor. Rather than become a limited edition series like so many of their other vintage-inspired watches in their Heritage family, the Longines Spirit better suited a permanent core collection hosting a nice balance of historic references with modern mechanics. For 2021, Longines have expanded the family with four new green-dialled references to choose from. The Longines Spirit Green is currently offered in both 40mm and 42mm sizes with a choice of a stainless steel bracelet or brown calfskin leather strap. All four feature sand-blasted green dials with beige coloured Superluminova, polished stainless steel cases and anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass. They are all also powered by the L888.4 automatic winding movement which ensures hours, minutes, seconds and date function.
Longines Silver Arrow Limited Edition
One of our favourite Longines 2021 watch releases was the unveiling of their Longines Silver Arrow Limited Edition. For this model, the Swiss watch brand journey back to 1955 when the brand held an in-house competition with its employees to find the name for a new timepiece with an innovative design. Out of 450 suggestions, the Silver Arrow stuck out. The design is revived for 2021 with the same crisp silver dial accented by a sloping outer segment with a silver polished ring and a crisp white minutes scale. Also around the edge are twelve striped indexes, just like that of the original, which instantly brings to life the playful era of the 1950’s. The case of the Longines Silver Arrow Limited Edition remains engineered from stainless steel and measures to 38.5mm in diameter, a little larger than the 35mm original, and is powered by the modern day L888.5 automatic calibre.
Longines Avigation BigEye Titanium
Another piece part of their Heritage collection launched for 2021 is the Longines Avigation BigEye Titanium. Its design takes inspiration from a historic watch from the brand’s archives designed for military and aviation professionals and although its blue dial and titanium case are new, the design has in fact been seen before in a previous re-edition launched in 2017. This time, the Longines Avigation BigEye watch features a stunning petrol-blue gradient dial framed by a lightweight 41mm titanium case equipped with a coin-edged bezel, screw down crown and smooth light brown calfskin leather strap. Housed within is the L688 automatic winding movement which delivers a power reserve of 54 hours and a column wheel clutch operated chronograph. The chronograph complications are presented beautifully on the dial with the petrol blue colour contrasting beautifully against the “old radium” Superluminova and trio of black coloured subsidiary dials.
Longines HydroConquest 41mm Two-Tone Collection
Lovers of the brand’s sports watches will be delighted to know that the Longines 2021 line-up has introduced a series of new Longines HydroConquest watches with 41 millimetre two-toned cases. Since its release in 2007, the HydroConquest has come in many colourways including yellow gold PVD, black ceramic and classic stainless steel. Today, Longines extends this portfolio further with two-toned versions in steel and yellow gold PVD and steel and rose gold PVD with a choice of green, blue, black and grey dials. As always, the new Longines HydroConquest 41mm watches promise all the key qualities of a classic divers watch including a 300m water resistant rating, screw down crown and straps with double folding clasps and integrated diving extensions. Currently, the stainless steel and yellow gold PVD versions are available with a blue, black or green dial and bezel, while the stainless steel and rose gold PVD options are available in the blue, black or grey colours. Black, blue, grey and green rubber straps are also available for matching with their respective dial colours. Each model is powered by the self-winding L888 calibre with an improved 72 hour power reserve and delivers exceptional legibility with Superluminova on the hands and indexes.
Longines Legend Diver in Blue and Brown
Next up for Longines’ 2021 collection is an instalment to their Legend Diver family. The Longines Legend Diver may be one of their most iconic watches to date, based on a historically important dive watch from the 1960’s. Its design has been revived several times over the past few years but for the first time introduces two new coloured dials: a gradient blue dial and a gradient brown dial. Both models opt for a classic 42 millimetre stainless steel case, a thin bezel and highly domed sapphire crystal glass for the ideal embodiment of a vintage timepiece. Two screw down crowns ensure a water resistant rating of 300 metres with the one at 4 o’clock used to wind the movement and the 2 o’clock crown linked to the internal rotating bezel. The internal bezel remains dressed in black and circles the brown or blue dial decorated with Superluminova hands and indexes. The hours, minutes, seconds and date are powered by the well-known calibre L888.5 with a power reserve of 64 hours. Depending on which Longines Legend Diver watch you choose, it secures to the wrist by a brown leather or blue leather strap.
Longines Heritage Classic in Black
Last but not least in our run down of Longines 2021 watch releases is the Longines Heritage Classic watch in black. Another piece issued under their Heritage collection, this watch plays on 1930’s inspirations with a compact and elegant design and follows in the footsteps of the first Heritage Classic watch with a silver dial released in 2019. Instead, the silver dial is now replaced with a handsome ink-black finish. Matte black coating decorates the hour chapter ring while a circular brushed charcoal colour captivates at the centre. Powering the hours, minutes and small seconds is the L893 automatic winding engine hidden within the 38.5mm stainless steel case. The shape of the case is reminiscent of 1930s Calatrava watches, with straight lugs, a stepped bezel and a box-shaped sapphire crystal while the choice of a vintage-brown leather strap or beads-of-rice style bracelet completes the retro vibe.
