Longines Watchmaking Tradition Collection

The Watchmaking Tradition Series by Longines offers an abundance of high-quality timekeepers, constructed in the spirit of the traditional horological values. All of the multitude of products are equipped with the high-frequency self-winding movements and constructed from top-quality materials, such as sapphire crystals that are featured throughout the lineage. These products are available in gentlemen’s and ladies’ editions, and are sometimes paired with interesting functions, with the most common being retrograde hand displays. The series is dived into three sub-sections: the Master Collection, the Evidenza series and the newly-established Saint-Imier Collection.

The Longines Master line of products was launched in 2005 and since then has offered a lot of tempting moments that sparked an interest of the watch aficionados. Initially made with only steel timepieces with silver dials, the series has broadened over time and Longines diversified the offer with the introduction of gold and mixed gold and steel cases, as well as watches with black dials and a wider selection of diameters. Some of the models are supplied with eye-catching retrograde displays (mostly for calendar indications), chronographs, GMT time zones or second time zones. Since these timekeepers are sometimes made for men and sometimes for women, the width of the round cases spans from 25.5 mm to 44 mm. The ladies’ models are in some instances made with additional decorative elements, such as mother-of-pearl dials or diamonds on the case or dial. This line features transparent case backs in all of the models.

The second sub-section of the Watchmaking Tradition series by Longines Watches is distinctive by the shapes of the timepieces. It is called Evidenza, and is exclusively made of watches in tonneau shapes. The entire line is inspired by the tonneau model of the Swiss watchmaker that was launched in 1925. By the way, the first watch with a housing that featured this shape was made in the workshops of Longines all the way back in 1911. The available materials are steel, gold or the combination of these two metals. The selection also includes models for both genders.

The Saint-Imier Collection, the final section of the series by Longines Watches, is the latest of all, and it is a homage to the birthplace of the famous Swiss watchmaker with the recognizable winged hourglass logo. Made in the subdued and classic watchmaking spirit, the sub-series includes subtle automatic timekeepers with modest diameters. The women’s models are between 26 mm and 30 mm, whereas the men’s models are in the range from 38.5 mm to 41 mm. A slightly larger width of 44 mm is present in the chronograph wristwatches from the series. This is probably the most interesting section of the Saint-Imier Collection, since these are either column-wheel chronos, or the ones made with retrograde displays. Some of the models in the lineage are also made with moon phase indications.