INTRODUCING: The Longines Elegant Collection is a modern ode to simplicity

Fergus Nash

Longines is a brand that knows how to use their heritage, which you would expect from the company with the world’s oldest active registered trademark in the iconic winged hourglass. Even when a design is completely new and modern, their logo on the dial is just instantly tied to a lineage of watches that seems more integral to Longines than many other brands. The Longines Elegant collection has never been about vintage reissues, but more about tapping into that old-world charm which once adorned pocket watches and mechanical clocks all over Europe. These newest references are odes to that simplicity, married with modern practicality and sensibilities.

With a variety of dial choices, each of the new references plays into the realm of classic-meets-modern. The inclusion of Roman numerals is a must-have for antique style elegance, but the use of a sans-serif typeface makes it feel like it’s truly of its time rather than a kitsch imitation of the old ways. The hands are as simple as you can get, with silver batons of differing lengths being somewhat tricky to read on the white dials, but accuracy of reading isn’t the main objective with a watch like this that doesn’t even have individual minute markers. The vertically brushed black dial looks especially smart carrying a seemingly 1960s charm. The most modern feature on this dial is the date window, which neatly slots into place at the tip of the 3 o’clock numeral.

The case is a simple, polished circle, and the lugs are short and reminiscent of antique wire lugs. It’s hard to say much more about its design, such is its simplicity, but it certainly achieves the splendour that it reaches for. Available in 34.5mm and 39mm options, all bases are covered between a vintage-standard and vintage-jumbo diameter to ensure that the Longines Elegance watches can be worn by absolutely anyone.

Although minimalism has been applied to the ethos of the watch’s exterior, the movement is extremely refined. The calibre L891.5 developed exclusively for these Longines watches is just as impressive on the spec sheet as it is through the sapphire caseback, with a rarely-seen 25,200vph beat rate, massive 72 hour power reserve, and a silicone balance spring. Both case sizes also come in at 9.75mm thick, for that ultimate feeling of slimness you would expect from a dress watch.

Longines Elegant Collection pricing and availability:

The Longines Elegant Collection is available now, pricing TBC