If you?re up on the watch releases this year, you?ll realized that the Longines Heritage Classic actually came out a while ago. Well, I happened to be out on an extended holiday at the time, but when I saw the news about it, I knew it was a watch I wanted to cover. Better late than never, yeah?
What drew me in about the Longines Heritage Classic is the very thing the watch is going for – it looks like a piece from another era. And, in fact, it is. This watch is inspired by one from 1934 that is in the Longines catalog (or was, I suppose) and is on display in their museum. This is most evident – to me – with it?s sector dial and very narrow case sides. When you realize that it?s only 38.5mm in diameter, you see another nod to the past. Yes, that would have been large for the time, but feels diminutive by today?s standards – ergo, more vintage.
Spinning over that dial you?ve got an interesting (to me) choice of handset on the Longines Heritage Classic. These are simple, blued sticks over the dial. On one hand, this gives things a dressier vibe (no lume) but that is contrasted by what looks to be a lack of polish on the handset. So, what it boils down to, in my book, is an exercise in simplicity. The hands are there, present a contrast against the dial, and it will get the job done.
While the overall look of the watch is something that is clean, simple, and retro, the movement inside is definitely fully modern. In fact, the balance spring itself is made of silicon, which has it?s own benefits when it comes to accuracy and resistance to magnetism. This ETA-based movement also brings another thing the 1930s version wouldn?t have even dreamed of – a 64 hour power reserve.
So, yes, I do very much like the looks of the Longines Heritage Classic. It scratches that modern vintage vibe, while keeping things clean and practical. You can pick one up yourself, with either a blue (my vote) or black leather strap, for $2,150 direct from Longines. longines.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Longines Heritage Classic
- Price: $2,150
- Who we think it might be for: You want something unobtrusive that draws from the past on your wrist
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Mix in a dressier variant, that has the case and handset getting polished
Tech Specs from Longines
- Reference Numbers
- L2.828.4.73.0
- L2.828.4.73.2
- Calibre
- Mechanical self-winding movement
- Calibre 893 (ETA A31.501)
- 11 1/2 lines, 27 jewels, 25200 vibrations per hour
- Power reserve: 64 hours
- Functions
- Hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o?clock
- Case
- Round, 38.5mm, stainless steel
- Dial
- Silver 2 zones
- Painted Arabic numerals and indexes
- Hands
- Blued steel hands
- Water Resistance
- To 3 bar (30 meters)
- Glass
- Box glass sapphire crystal with multi-layered anti-reflective coating
- Straps
- Black leather strap and NATO blue denim-effect leather strap with buckle
- Blue leather strap and NATO anthracite denim-effect leather strap with buckle
