ReviewElegance, Squared: Introducing The New Longines Mini DolceVita Timepieces

First introduced in 1997, today the Longines DolceVita collection has become a symbol of elegance. This dynamic series of watches, with their instantly-recognisable rectangular cases inspired by the Art Deco movement from the 1900s, has come to be appreciated as a modern classic. Now, reinterpreting this collection with softer lines, Longines release the Mini DolceVita series, with a more squared case profile, and new pastel hues on the dial with classic Roman numerals that define the line. An updated steel strap with 198 links takes the level of understated elegance up several notches, and when paired with the diamonds on either side of the case, this watch is a case study in contemporary sophistication.

A Shortened Rectangle: The Longines Mini DolceVita

Longines have been creating beautiful rectangular watches since the 1910s, but it was a 1927 watch that inspired the iconic DolceVita collection 80 years later in 1997. Named for the ‘good life’ in Italian, the DolceVita aimed at adding a touch of sophistication to the everyday. With the Mini DolceVita, the sharp, Art Deco-inspired lines make way for a much softer silhouette, even as the latest watches showcase complexity in even the smallest details.

Though technically not a square, the Mini DolceVita’s new case size of 21.5mm by 29mm is a much softer rectangle than the DolceVita’s proportions of 20.8mm by 32mm. The watches come with 38 IF VVS2 Top Wessleton Diamonds framing the rectangular case on either side—this basically means that the near-white diamonds are almost flawless and of very good quality.

Though technically not a square, the Mini DolceVita’s new case size of 21.5mm by 29mm is a much softer rectangle than the DolceVita’s proportions. Longines ambassador of elegance, Jennifer Lawrence is seen here wearing the mint green version with diamonds

The classic silver flinqué dial, its geometric patterns embossed on with a guilloche effect, now comes in a ‘mini’ version, with the iconic blued Roman numerals and hands, and a squared small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock. A second silver version features what that the brand call a ‘Cosmo circular’ dial. The sunray-brushed silver dial is disrupted by a white, hour track with Roman numerals painted on, and a matt, rounded sub-dial at six housing the small seconds, with contrasting blued timekeeping hands. It’s interesting how this Cosmo-circular layout of Roman numerals looks very different from, although just as elegant as, the flinqué version, where the numerals are arranged in a quadrilateral around the edges of the rectangular watch.

The new ‘Cosmo circular’ layout features a sunray-brushed silver dial, disrupted by a white, hour track with Roman numerals painted on

A matt white, rounded sub-dial at six houses the small seconds. Contrasting blued hands tell the time

Contemporary Colours Of The Mini DolceVita

Longines have also introduced four new pastel hues framing gilded Roman numerals on the outer edge of the dial. The inner squares are in a contrasting white with a guilloche pattern, with a matt white small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock. Crocodile leather straps match the pastel-hued background for the numerals. These new dial shades of ‘ivory white’, ‘mint green’, ‘blossom pink’ and ‘serene blue’ make the watches very relevant to colour trends in the horological world today.

Longines introduced four new pastel hues framing gilded Roman numerals on the outer edge of the dial of the new Mini DolceVita. Seen here is the 'mint green' watch

The 'blossom pink' version with an inner square in a contrasting white with a guilloche pattern, with a matt white small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock

Crocodile leather straps match the pastel-hued background for the numerals, as seen in this 'serene blue' timepiece

It’s interesting how the Cosmo-circular layout of Roman numerals looks very different from, although just as elegant as, the flinqué version

01

Bringing to life the modern sophistication of the Mini DolceVita watches is Oscar-winner and Longines’s ambassador Jennifer Lawrence. In a promotional campaign video, ‘J-Law’ walks her dogs in a city street, wearing the elegant Mini DolceVita with a silver Cosmo circular display, and later attends a red-carpet event sporting the same timepiece, obviously now paired with a dressier outfit. She takes the day and its obligations in her stride, her smile confident though it all. The strap on Lawrence’s timepiece is Longines’s new 198-link steel bracelet, whose small, square-shaped polished links add an extra level of sophistication, for how they evoke a bejewelled bracelet.

Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence sports the elegant Mini DolceVita with a 'Cosmo-circular' dial in silver and white

Lawrence’s timepiece features a new 198-link steel bracelet, whose small, square-shaped links add an extra level of sophistication, for how they evoke a bejewelled bracelet

Inside the updated case of the Mini DolceVita is a reliable and accurate quartz movement, the L178. There are also references without diamonds, which let the shape of the watch shine instead. The Cosmo-circular dial reference is paired with the new steel bracelet or with a black alligator leather strap, while the flinqué dial comes with a red or black alligator leather strap or the new steel bracelet. But there’s no need to be too committed—the straps are easily interchangeable.

The sophistication of the watch is in its detailing. Its versatility—much like that of the gorgeous person promoting it—is modern and relevant to the everyday. “Elegance is an attitude,” says Lawrence. “Of course it is!” Like, that’s a given. The Longines Mini DolceVita is an embodiment of the good life as we know it today.