INTRODUCING: The Longines Heritage Military 1938
James RobinsonLongines is on an absolute roll in 2019, and it seems like only yesterday that we were treated to one of their hottest watches of the year – the sector dial Longines Heritage Classic.
Not wanting to rest on its blue-handed laurels, Longines has just dropped this bombshell of a vintage reissue, and they’re calling it the Longines Heritage Military 1938.
Based on a Longines military watch that was made on the cusp of the Second World War in 1938, this homage piece is ticking all the right boxes of a great mil-spec wristwatch.
The case is hewn from stainless steel and takes several styling cues from the original Swiss military watch, such as a bevelled bezel and quintessential onion-shaped crown.
And unlike the aforementioned Longines Heritage Classic, the new Heritage Military 1938 is not a small watch, measuring in at a sizeable 43mm across, ensuring wrist presence.
The dial has been given the same aesthetic treatment as the original, and features creamy baton hands and yellowed Arabic numerals, both of which are covered in a coating of Super-LumiNova, and set against a granular black background.
There’s a simplistic and period-correct running seconds sub-dial located at six o’clock, and a simple yet effective yellow chapter ring that runs the circumference of the black dial.
The case is capped off by a multilayered, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and when paired with the restrained dial design, should make for optimum levels of legibility.
Inside the old-school case you’ll find Longines Calibre L507.2, which is based on ETA’s venerable 6498.2. The manual winding movement benefits from 17 jewels, 53 hours of power reserve and an operating frequency of 21,600 (3Hz) vibrations per hour.
Lucky owners will get the choice of two straps to fit to their Heritage Military 1938 – an anthracite grey painted leather band, and a cognac leather NATO strap. Longines will also provide a tool with the watch, ensuring owners can easily switch between bands.
Now, for the sad part, and there’s no easy way to say this … the Longines Heritage Military 1938 is limited to just 1938 pieces.
And if you’re one of the lucky people able to get your hands on one, we can’t think of many better watches to pair with khaki green chinos and a white-tee.
The Longines Heritage Military 1938 has an Australian recommended retail price of $3350.