INTRODUCING: Longines Heritage Classic with "Sector Dial"
Amidst the morass of vintage reissues that almost all brands seem to have tried their hand at recently, Longines has been successfully combing their archives for the best examples that translate to current tastes, and have done so with good success in recent years. Even in the context of their well-executed reissues of military, chronograph and diving watches of their past, their latest dip into the history books has to be one of their best, as well as one of the nicest looking watches of 2019. I would like to introduce you to the Longines Heritage Classic with a “Sector Dial”. The design is based on a watch that Longines is reported to have produced in 1934, an example of which is housed in the Longines Museum in Switzerland. What is most exciting about this watch for the watch-collecting community, however, is it shows that a large brand like Longines is listening to the suggestions of enthusiast groups, not just producing watches that will appeal to the mass market. The reason the Longines Heritage Classic “Sector Dial” hits the nail on the head so successfully is because it expresses the answer to pretty much all the frustrated (putting it politely)…
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Maybe I’m going colourblind or maybe it’s becoming more prevalent – either way, I’m spotting more and more panda dials out there on wrists. Actually, who am I trying to kid — it’s definitely a trend, a flow-on from the overwhelming vintage onslaught that has dominated watch design over the last decade or so. In case you’re not au fait with the nomenclature, a panda dial refers to a white dial with black sub-dials resembling, you know, a panda. With that in mind, here are eight of the best … The Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN Yeah, we had to include this. The latest gen-Daytona is still one of the hottest properties in watches, even though it was released in 2016. And while we’re fully aware this model is stretching the panda definition thanks to its black rim only sub-dials, thanks to Rolex’s huge panda legacy we can’t not include it. The Omega Speedmaster CK 2998 Omega has made a few impressive panda takes on the Speedmaster over the years, and the CK 2998 is no exception — with its high-contrast design, petite case size and subtle red pops, it’s hard not to fall in love with it. Seiko Automatic Chronograph 50th…
We knew it was coming. To paraphrase former PM Paul Keating, this is the upgrade we had to have. The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph. But before we dive into (sorry, can’t help it) what makes this watch special, a quick update for those not up to date with the news from Biel. Last year, at what would be their last Baselworld, Omega announced a major upgrade to the (genuinely) iconic Seamaster Diver 300M, AKA the James Bond watch, with an evolved, refined case, a new dial and a host of other crowd-pleasing bells and whistles. For me this watch was one of 2018’s standouts, and we knew it was just the beginning. We were right. Earlier this year, much ink was shed extolling the virtues of Omega’s Apollo 11 anniversary pieces, and rightfully so. Alongside these limited edition Speedmasters we were treated to a chrono of a different flavour – the mighty, and muchly anticipated Omega Seasmaster Diver 300M Chronograph. And the best part is that at Time to Move, where this watch was announced, we weren’t drip-fed a single model but rather a full range, from precious metals to steel, with bi-metal in between. So, we were spoiled…
Fifty years ago, Seiko released one of the first ever automatic chronograph movements in a watershed moment in watchmaking. To mark the occasion, Seiko has released the Seiko Automatic Chronograph 50th Anniversary SRQ029J, a watch that smartly dances the line between heritage and modern. We got a chance to take a closer look at the new anniversary piece, with all the details in the video below. If you love sporty chronographs that have a historically significant place in the history of watchmaking then this could be the piece for you. It’s well-sized at 41mm in diameter, features a movement with a vertical clutch and column wheel, and looks fantastic with the high contrast panda dial. Seiko Automatic Chronograph 50th Anniversary SRQ029J The SRQ029J has an RRP of $5950 AUD. Made in partnership with Seiko. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
Editor’s note: Believe it or not, earlier this year I spent my first serious time with a Speedmaster on the wrist, in particular the Omega Speedmaster CK 2998. This is how I went … As far as famous watches go, the Speedmaster is way up there. And aside from its famous extraterrestrial exploits, it’s also a real staple of the watch world, which is why a Speedy was a natural choice of wrist wear for my recent Swiss trip. The fact that this trip included spending some quality time with Omega only sealed the deal. The next question was: which Speedmaster? Well, in the end, my decision wasn’t too hard, because even though you’re spoiled for choice, I wanted a more classical iteration, and one with a mix of personality and versatility. So I plumped for the 2018 limited edition, the CK 2998. Once I put it on, it felt … pleasingly petite. It measures 39.7mm across, so it’s not really too small, but thanks to that broad black bezel, it wears smaller than you’d expect. It’s also, thanks to the manual winder inside, thinner than the automatic chronographs I typically road test. It’s a nice-feeling watch; present, but certainly not…
I know, it’s a horrible prospect, and one that we don’t really want to seriously consider, but you know what, it makes an excellent proposition for a hypothetical, something that flies around the office a fair bit. Only this time, I took some notes … Nick’s choice – Cartier Why? Cartier looks good in any situation, and they’ve got a very consistent design language. On top of that, the brand has an incredible amount of history, and the depth and variety that comes with that. And for me that means I’m confident that there’s a Cartier out there that suits any mood or occasion. What would be your go-to daily wearer? It would be hard to go past this vintage Tank Américaine. James’ choice – Rolex Why? Obvious choice, I know, but I would argue that every single wristwatch you see today looks like it does because of Rolex. Hans Wilsdorf was an incredible businessman and marketer who played a significant role in popularising the watch being worn on men’s wrists. And then there’s all the innovations — the automatic, the date complication, the Oyster case — so many firsts. What would be your go-to daily wearer? That is a…