The 5 best Longines watches released in 2020 (in a very good year)
Nick KenyonThis year has been a big one for Longines — for a couple of reasons. They have continued down the purist pathway of vintage reissues through their Heritage collection, as well as continuing to build their other enthusiast-favourite families such as the Record and HydroConquest collections.
But the biggest news from Longines in 2020 was the launch of the Spirit collection, an event that certainly doesn’t happen every year at the Saint-Imier based manufacture. For Longines, the Spirit collection represents the meeting of past and future for the first thorough and meaningful way, blending their important history as instrument suppliers to the pioneers of aviation with more contemporary design cues and modern watchmaking technology.
Longines HydroConquest Green
The HydroConquest collection is Longines’ approach to a no-nonsense, robustly built and affordable dive watch. We’ve seen it expressed in a range of forms, from on a steel bracelet to a full black ceramic case, but this year we got the same approachable design and functionality in khaki green. This particular shade of muted, almost military, green has been increasingly popular in recent years, offering a quenching tonic against the never-ending procession of black and blue dive watches.
At 41mm it is a feasible size for most wrists, and is secured with a comfortable rubber strap in the same tone as the dial and ceramic bezel. It’s powered by the in-house caliber L888, which is a proven workhorse within the Longines stable, and offers 64 hours of power reserve. For those like us in the Southern Hemisphere who are fast approaching summer, it’s a compelling option. Price: AUD$2400. For more, visit Longines right here.
Longines Heritage Marine Nationale
For frequent readers of Time+Tide, it should come as no surprise that Longines were a significant producer of wristwatches to the world’s militaries over the years. Longines continue to explore this highly collectible part of their history, releasing the Heritage Military COSD in 2015, followed by the Heritage Military in 2018. But while both of those watches were interesting reissues from the brand, it isn’t too bold a statement to make that the 2020 Longines Heritage Marine Nationale is the most exciting of the lot.
There are just so many details that Longines have successfully executed in this latest military-inspired watch, from the period correct 38.5mm case size, to the oversized crown and beyond. The case is elegantly stepped, leading to the domed sapphire crystal and highly legible dial, and even features a precisely engraved caseback and drilled lugs. Top marks all round. Price: AUD$3050. For more, visit Longines right here.
Longines Spirit 40mm
Who could forget the brand new Spirit collection when considering the crème de la crème of Longines releases this year? While the Longines Spirit collection is worth a closer look to fully understand the breadth of the collection, the Spirit 40mm with blue dial and blue leather strap is a standout member of the family.
Fully encapsulating the philosophy of the collection as it combines the visual cues of quintessential pilot’s watches alongside a couple of modern flourishes, this reference represents the new range well. The dial features legible Arabic numerals filled with Super-LumiNova, the five stars that Longines has historically reserved for their superlative watches, and the word CHRONOMETER that tells the story of the COSC-certified movement within. Price: AUD$3200. For more, visit Longines right here.
Longines Record Australian Limited Edition
The Record collection was the most recent collection launched before the latest Spirit range, and the contemporary styling is immediately obvious. It was also the collection that Longines decided to launch an Australian limited edition within this year, giving birth to the Longines Record Australian Limited Edition. It is an approachable size for both sexes at 38.5mm in diameter, and features a dial made from a single piece of stunning white mother-of-pearl.
Adorning the dial are 13 diamond hour markers, which subtly complement the 52 diamonds set around the bezel and confirm this as an elegant exercise in restrained luxury. If you — or a special someone — is looking for a little more sparkle in your life, this could be the answer. Price: AUD$6995. For more, visit Longines right here.
Longines Heritage Classic Chronograph “Tuxedo” Dial
If you needed any further evidence that the Longines Heritage collection is a space you should be paying attention to, the Longines Heritage Classic Chronograph with a “tuxedo” dial will seal the deal. Once again, the Swiss watchmaker shows just how valuable the depth of their archives is, with this attractive two-register chronograph. The 40mm steel case is well sized for modern tastes, and features a silvered dial with a black ring around the hour track in a play of contrasts that is striking. Around the outside of the dial is a blue tachymeter scale for the chronograph, which has been precisely printed and adds to a sense of the real care and attention to detail that was given to this watch.
The leaf-shaped hour and minute hands have been left visually unobtrusive in their natural steel tone, while the two chronograph hands and the running seconds hand have all been cleverly blued to match the tachymeter scale. This one is all about the details, and is likely to be very popular with collectors as a result. Price: AUD$4550. For more, visit Longines right here.
Made in partnership with Longines. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.