Round-UpThe Mastery Within: Highlights Of The Longines’ Master Collection
The Master Collection is an all-mechanical line of watches by Longines ranging from extremely complicated timepieces to some fairly simple ones. The only things that are common between them is that they’re affordable, high in quality, and astonishingly good looking
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There seems to be a modus operandi subconsciously placed in our heads when it comes to buying new watches now. The general belief is that if you’re not an experienced collector, you must get a tool watch, because a tool watch is inherently tough and you’re presumably clumsy. Now, what if you didn’t want a big ol’ diver or pilot watch strapped to your wrist? What if you appreciate the fine art of watchmaking and its rich, illustrious past? Well, you’re not alone. There are people who still thoroughly relish a distinguished timepiece—something that looks like a million bucks, and yet manages to maintain an air of restrained elegance around it. These are watches that instantly pull respect when you enter a room. This group of people who buy these watches have deep-seated respect and adoration for mechanical watchmaking. They buy watches, not on the basis of what name the dial displays, but what values they reflect. And if all of this is a little too relatable to you, then the Longines Master Collection is a godsend.
‘Uncomplicating’ The Complication
Sophisticated complications come at a price. Logically that makes perfect sense. The greater the number of complications, the more parts there are to assemble and the more challenging it gets to bring it all together. A simple time-only mechanical watch is essentially a cocoon consisting of hundreds of tiny metal bits, measuring mere millimetres, transferring energy in perfect harmony. If a single piece isn’t where it’s supposed to be, the watch loses all its time-telling abilities. Now the addition of other measurable units comes in the form of different complications, such as a moon phase indicator or an annual calendar. This happens in the form of a module that usually sits on top of the original movement, which, as you guessed, means more parts, which further leads to an increase in the cost and assembly time for a watchmaker. Now when a fairly complex watch from an already established watchmaker hits the market, the prices are usually quite exorbitant for a beginner or a casual collector. This is where Longines, as a brand, comes through.
Just The Spot To Be In
Longines holds a sweet spot in the market right now, fitting snuggly between the trinity of quality, complexity and affordability. And the Master Collection perfectly exemplifies that. Making its debut in 2005, the Master Collection was launched to showcase the company’s longstanding expertise in automatic mechanical movements. And lest you forget, this company does know a thing or two about watchmaking. Founded in St Imier, Switzerland, Longines has been around since 1832, making it the oldest registered watch brand in the world. That, in itself, wins a lot of brownie points in the horological community. Throughout its lasting history, Longines has pioneered many advancements in watchmaking, making it one of the most important brands for watchmaking. So when you buy a Longines, you’re not just buying an excellent watch; you’re also buying into a story spanning centuries.
The Mastery Of The Master Collection
All Master models are equipped with self-winding movements, and some with sophisticated complications, such as moon phase indicators, column wheel chronographs and date displays. The designs are modern, unlike the Heritage collection by Longines, and all watches have an aura of understated elegance to them. For this list, we’ll cover most of the important timepieces in the collection, ranging from the supremely complicated to the simple and efficient.
The Longines Master Collection Moonphase Chronograph
This is a truly exciting watch. A timepiece full of vintage charm with its classic design that packs a heck of a punch in the performance department at a ridiculously affordable price when put next to its competitors. Not only is this an automatic watch a triple-date calendar, it also features a 24-hour indicator, a moonphase and a chronograph too. It’s important to note that the 24-hour indicator is essentially being used as a day/night indicator here, and not as an extra time zone as some might think. Despite the complexity of the dial, it still manages to look refined and not overly complicated or illegible. The barleycorn texture on the silver dial adds opulence to the watch, and what further elevates it are the eight hands (yes, eight!) made from blued steel. When you turn the watch over, you can catch a glimpse of the Longines calibre L678. This is a self-winding mechanical movement that beats at 28,800vph and provides 54 hours of power, which is rather impressive, considering the many complications it powers. With its traditional-inspired looks and excellent quality, this may be one of the best ways of getting a function-rich timepiece without cracking open your fixed deposit.
If the brown strap-silver dial combination is a little too neutral for your liking, a blue dial variant presents a more vibrant option, and is available with either a leather strap or a stainless steel bracelet. These watches come in very accessible 40mm or 42mm case sizes that look great on all wrists, big or small.
The Longines Master Collection Moonphase
As one of the top performing brands of the Swatch Group, Longines truly does cater to what people want. The ability to deliver real value and quality is rare in the saturated world of Swiss watchmaking, and this is where Longines manages to impress time and again. Take the newly launched Master Collection Moonphase for example. The new Longines Master Moonphase models are offered in either 40 or 42mm cases, with a range of dials—black or blue, and this version—silver barleycorn—a fine textured pattern that is a hallmark of the Master line. The highlight of the watch is the charming moon phase indicator, a complication that traces the monthly cycle of the moon.
A ‘moon phase’ is the bright area of the moon visible to us as it travels around the earth. Going from new moon to full moon and back again takes 29 and a half days. The purpose of a moon phase complication is to show the current phase of the moon as we observe it in the sky. Practically speaking, this isn’t a particularly useful complication, but anyone with a penchant for the night sky and our natural satellite is sure to appreciate it. More than that, however, this is also an exercise in watchmaking as these models are powered by the brand new L899 mechanical movement, which is a moon phase calibre developed especially for this collection. This self-winding movement offers a 64-hour power reserve. The moon phase indicator at six o’clock is surrounded by an Arabic numeral date ring and features a hand that points to the current day.
The Longines Master Collection Date
For the refined gentleman that yearns for a simple but astonishingly stylish timepiece, Longines has got you covered. These extremely well-proportioned timepieces are available with the L888 calibre, a self-winding mechanical movement beating at 25,200vph that provides a 64-hour power reserve. The lesser the complications, the more affordable the watch gets, and the more accessible the watch becomes to new enthusiasts and seasoned collectors. These watches are available in the usual variations found in the Master collection. The combination of a classical case shape, in a very current case size, and housing a dial featuring contemporary treatments add up to a watch that has a lot going for it already, especially considering the overall quality of Longines’ watches in terms of movement and construction.
Special mention: At some point in our lives, we are attracted to things that have a bit of bling. When you’re going through that phase, you can do one of two things—splurge on an ostentatious bejewelled gold watch, or go the refined route with some discreet bling. For the gents that prefer just a little bit of bling in their lives, Longines has a variant with tasteful diamond hour-markers that are subtle, but dashing enough to make a statement.
The Master Collection, Not Only For The Misters
When it comes to the world of watchmaking, sometimes it seems that the ladies finish second. A largely annoying trait seen throughout the industry is that women’s watches are generally scaled down, quartz powered variants of the men’s mechanical counterparts. However, there are some brands that are crafting timepieces that specifically cater to the needs of the modern woman, and Longines is one of them. The Master Collection only consists of watches with a mechanical movement, and the same motto is carried over to the women’s timepieces as well. In short, what that means is that the female horologist can finally rejoice. The watches are mostly constructed in steel and have a diameter of 29mm. The design language follows the Master Collection guidebook, and the same elegance trickles down to these watches as well. The watches are powered by the calibre L592 that beats at 28,800vph and gives the watch a 40-hour power reserve.
Our pick: You can’t go wrong with a bit of glitz. So why not choose the two-tone stainless steel and 18 karat pink gold case variant, with diamonds as the hour markers, and an elegant mother of pearl dial? It has the same mechanical goodness of the other models in the collection, but with a bit more flair.
These are just some of the many intricate, finely crafted timepieces from the, frankly, extensive Master Collection. The head honchos over at Longines have smartly created a colourway and strap choice for all kinds of refined tastes, meaning that whatever your personality, there will be a Master model for you, regardless of your gender. Summing things up, I’d say Longines’ Master Collection is a boon for the budding horologist. No other Swiss manufacturer can even dream of coming anywhere near Longines’ affordability, craftsmanship and complexity. And when you factor in this Swiss manufacturer’s illustrious past, everything else loses its lustre.
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Impressed with the master collection of Longines brand of watches. It truly displays the elegance and craftmanship of watchmaking.