Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

When it comes to watch design, vintage has been the magic word for quite some time. Call it a re-issue, a modern re-interpretation, or simply an updated version of a classic. Its hard to think of a watch industry without vintage-inspired pieces. One of the brands that has mastered the art of vintage-inspired timepieces superbly is Longines. The brands Heritage collection is full of great watches that link to Longines estimable past. We dived into the collection to find out why the designs make them such great pieces.Retro design is here to stay. Its hard to think of a watch industry without newly introduced watches inspired by the archives of all the illustrious brands. It has been a great s [...]

Earlier this year I shortly briefed you about the new Longines Spirit Chronograph. In this article, we go hands-on with the 42mm Spirit Chronograph with silver dial and leather strap, my favorite of the collection.The new Longines Spirit Chronograph is part of the Sport collection. That surprised me a little bit, but it is indeed a sports watch. I have selected the 42mm version on a leather strap. Although I like the quality of the stainless steel bracelets of the Spirit collection, the leather strap gives it a bit more of a vintage look. Its a very personal choice, of course, and I can imagine there are many of you out there that prefer a bracelet. Without further ado, lets have a closer lo [...]

Weve covered the new new Longines Spirit collection ad nauseum since its recent release, but were not quite done with it yet. I have been keen to get my hands on one of the three handers since they hit the market. Finally, I got my chance with the Longines Spirit L3.811.4.93.6.For those wondering what that reference number stands for, it equates to a blue dial and a metal bracelet. In my opinion, this is the most handsome iteration of the new collection, but my favorite feature is one shared by all the Spirit models. Youve probably seen it already, but lets take a few minutes to focus on its uncommon harmony. Im talking, of course, about the interaction between the seconds hand and the minut [...]

Recently, we did a hands-on review of the new Longines Spirit watches. It is a pilots watch, new to the Longines Sport collection. We talk to Longines Head of Product Development Xavier Ligero about the Spirit and how it came to life.Our Fratello on Air podcast is available via Buzzsprout, Soundcloud, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Deezer,? Stitcher, and Spotify.Talking to Xavier LigeroThe Longines Spirit is a watch that looks so familiar, yet it is new to its collection. The pilot watch DNA is clearly visible, which also derives from the Ministry of Defence specifications for pilot watches. In this podcast, I talk to Xavier Ligero, head of product development at Longines since 2014. We disc [...]

The Longines Spirit in 40mm, otherwise known as the L3.810.4.53.0, is our favorite pick from this new collection. Time for us to do a hands-on video with this pilots watch.In our recently published hands-on review on the Longines Spirit, you can read about the background of this watch, the importance of the 5 stars on the dial, and the L888.4 movement. However, we also think it is a good idea to publish more videos of the watches we receive for review. So heres the video review of the Longines Spirit L3.810.4.53.0. It is a five-minute breakdown on the Spirit collection and this matte black dial version in particular.Weve said it before, but it is worth saying again: seeing a watch in the met [...]

Were back with Wrist Game or Crying Shame and this week we take a look at the Longines Legend Diver no date. But firstLast week, we featured another twin crown diver (thats blatant foreshadowing) with the IWC Aquatimer Cousteau Divers. Despite its rough and semi-ready appearance, apparent mechanical foibles, and overt branding, the watch resurfaced with a 71% Wrist Game win. As I hinted above, were staying the course on our underwater voyage. This time, we go retro with the Longines Legend Diver No Date.The Longines Legend Diver No DateThe Longines Legend Diver No Date first came ashore back in 2007. Thinking about it, thats a hell of a long time ago For the youngsters out there, this watch, [...]

We introduced to you the Longines Spirit collection last June, an important new collection for the brand from Saint-Imier. Today, we go hands-on with the three-handed Longines Spirit L3.810.4.53.0.If youd like some more background information on the Longines Spirit collection, please click here for a recap. This review is about the watch itself, how it looks on the wrist, and basically what youll get for your hard-earned money. Without further ado, lets have a closer look at the Flieger from Saint-Imier.Longines Spirit L3.810.4.53.0The new Longines Spirit collection consists of a number of variations. Besides a Longines Spirit version with a chronograph, the three-hander comes in both 40mm a [...]

The Heritage Military Marine Nationale is the latest retro release from Longines. We take a closer look.Longines has been on a roll for the last year or so with continuous additions to its Heritage collection. The brand has added pieces with complications as well as simple three-handers. My favorite releases, though, have used the now-familiar 38.5mm diameter stainless steel case. Todays Military Marine Nationale is the newest introduction and it just might be my favorite. Before we break it down, lets quickly review the other available 38.5mm pieces.Longines kicked things off in early 2019 with the Heritage Military. That piece celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the RAF and is notable for [...]

Its This Week in Watches for June 27, 2020 the variety edition. Weve got serious diversity this week, so without further adoTAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited EditionOur first entry in this variety edition comes from TAG Heuer. I got a bit excited when the press release came in and I saw a 1972 Montreal chronograph. Well, it turns out that were getting a 39mm Carrera with the familiar Glassbox construction in the guise of a Montreal. This 1,000-piece limited edition features blue, yellow, and red highlights on its dial and a blue leather alligator strap. The in-house Calibre 02 automatic powers the three-register chronograph. The 6,400 watch will begin hitting boutiques and online [...]

Welcome to This Week in Watches for June 13, 2020, the Innovative Edition. Weve got quite the smattering for you this week.Omega De Ville Tourbillon Numbered EditionThis weeks first watch happens to be innovative and expensive. The 43mm Omega De Ville Tourbillon Numbered Edition is the first-ever Master Chronometer manual wind central tourbillon. Honestly, Id bet there are a lot of firsts in there, but this watch is robust enough to withstand a magnetic field of 15,000 gauss. Appropriately, the watch is beautifully finished with a Sedna gold case and Canipus white gold. Interestingly, this new alloy is extremely bright and tarnish resistant. Caliber 2640 is viewable from the front and more f [...]

Just a few days before traveling became impossible, we saw the new Longines Spirit collection. Under embargo, of course. So we are happy that its now finally time to show you the pictures we took during that appointment.To me, it seems that Longines is taking a new direction with the Spirit collection. Although weve seen and still see some heritage-inspired watches from Saint-Imier, this Longines Spirit collection is different. It combines heritage and modern watchmaking, with a very attractive price tag.Longines Spirit CollectionEvery new watch needs a story. For this collection, Longines has dived into its archives and come up with tales of more than 20 pioneers as well as some extraordina [...]

Twenty-eight and one. In grim times, influenced by the Coronavirus, well try to cheer you up with some good news on this bissextile day. Amidst cancellations of Time To Move, the Grand Seiko Summit, Watches Wonders, and the latest victim Baselworld, we delve deep to help the watch industry survive. Heres what we picked up for you this week.Urwerk UR-111C Two-ToneOne of the most conceptually adventurous watches on the market, the Urwerk UR-111C, now comes in a striking two-tone, black physical vapor deposition?(PVD) and brushed steel. The UR-111C TT comes with three innovative constructions in watchmaking. 1) A?retrograde linear minute display, with?numerals set in a 30? diagonal slant for g [...]

Longines Conquest 1972 is a truly symbolic watch that stands out on so many levels.Oversized pre-1950s Longines dials have always fascinated me with their simple beauty. They might seem generic to an indifferent eye, but a trained collector can recognize them in a heartbeat. However, Im not quite as enthusiastic about the bulky and over-stylized indexes that you can find on some mid-fifties Longines models. Namely on the Longines Conquest, that in 1954 started a new model naming product strategy.My conquest conquered meTo keep the story short, let's fast forward two decades ahead when Longines introduced the Conquest 1972 Munich. It was a watch to celebrate their achievement in becoming the [...]

Pulsographs or pulsometers could be found not only in chronographs but also on classy three-handers. So lets dive into some of the best vintage pulsation watches on the market.Most vintage watches have a rate of five beats per second or 18,000 beats per hour. When you consider that, it seems amazing that a physical object can operate for such a long period of time. 18,000 beats per hour equate to 432,000 beats per day, and a gob-smacking 157,680,000 per year. Thats nearly 160 million opportunities for something to go wrong. And yet they beat on. Well-made movements continue to function for decades after the balance wheel was set on its way. And since these mechanical marvels are working so h [...]

Entering in a new decade always breeds predictions of what well see and experience for the next ten years: New technologies, new entertainment, new world events. At least one thing that carries over from the last decade is the vintage re-edition trend from luxury watch brands.Longines Heritage 1946Fresh from Longines is the Heritage Chronograph 1946. The 1946 pays tribute to a watch from the Longines archive.Although vintage fatigue set in for me towards the end of the last decade, Ive always felt that the Longines Heritage collection has existed outside of the fauxtina fad. Possibly down to the everlasting designs of Longines that the timepieces seem contemporary yet classic in any era.The [...]

It is never too late to give yourself a nice present. If you order a vintage watch today, you know, you can pay FedEx to arrange for a little miracle and have it delivered to your doorstep (or shall I say under your Christmas tree) the next few days.So, if you haven't spent all of the savings on the ones you love the most, here is the December selection with watches from my never-ending vintage watches wishlist.Heuer Autavia 73363 Orange Boy StyleAfter the hype on vintage Heuers in the last few years, it is relatively quiet these days. Which is not bad. You have time to think twice and not to make impulsive purchases driven by fear of loss. I thought it might be the right time to talk about [...]

We take a look at the new, limited edition Longines Heritage Military 1938.It was truly a month ago that we were right here talking about the newest addition to the Longines Heritage collection with the sector-dialed Classic model.? That 38.5mm model proved to be a popular watch with our readers and the comments were quite favorable.? I had the chance to pen that article and I walked away suitably impressed with the fact that the watch lacked any extraneous writing on its dial about the movement, etc and declared it a positive change in direction for the brand that once adorned every vintage-inspired model with both a date window and an automatic movement.? Todays model is one such example a [...]

With the Longines Heritage Classic, the brand pays tribute to a 1934 classic with sector dial.Before delving into the new Longines Heritage Classic, Ill go ahead and admit something: Ive long followed Longines and its Heritage collection.? As a watch collector and admirer who truly enjoys vintage watches, what could be better than one of the industrys most storied brands deciding to recreate some of its most famous models?? Well, it sounds fantastic but if Im being honest, models within the Longines Heritage collection have always left me just a tad cold.Ill share a personal analogy but hopefully youll be able to follow.? I, like so many others, dont eat red meat with the frequency that I on [...]

Earlier this year, we teamed up with Longines to find the oldest Longines watch in The Netherlands.Speaking of the oldest Longines watch, it has to be a pocket watch, of course. Although Longines dates back to 1832, their first pocket watch with in-house movement (caliber 20A) was produced in 1867. This is also the year that Longines starts to record their production in their archives. All Longines watches from that moment on, carry the brand name, and have the hourglass engraved in the watch.But lets face it, only a few of those early watches probably survived. Pocket watches made way for wristwatches a few decades ago, and a lot of these old watches are long gone and forgotten. It makes yo [...]

There wasnt much Longines news this year. After their move from Baselworld to somewhere else, it remained very silent and the somewhere else is yet to be discovered.Instead of somewhere else, we received an e-mail with some novelties: the new Master Collection. Downloading the press kit in English leaves us with a technical specification sheet in Turkish (bravo!). As I can read some German, Ive tried that one instead, and it worked. Enough with the complaining, but it just baffles me how a brand like Longines gets surpassed in professionalism by the average Kickstarter brand when it comes to these things.We received two new models, but apparently, there are quite some references available. T [...]