Basel 2018 - New Longines Military Watch

Syrte

Why? Why? Because they know they have two potential clienteles. The first half are the people who buy and love the Hydroconquest and the Equestrian lines, and who could not care less about the Heritage line.
And then the people who might like the Heritage line.
Except when their historians talk to vintage lovers, those vintage lovers tell them: forget about us so long as you create those shiny cold things with date windows; we like watches that have traces of life in them, color, scratches and banged up straps.
Who send them pictures of the JLC Homage to Deep Sea alarm as a model of a modern reeditiion which vintage lovers will actually buy.
So if this is a reedition it will be an interesting test.
And I'm curious how well the Heritage 1945 worked out, that so called salmon dial 'calatrava" style watch modeled after Ben Clymers watch. But I somehow doubt whether the Swatch Group would reveal sales figures.

Modest_Proposal

Basel 2020: Watch comes in a faux uncle's tin can.

Tet

Basel 2024, watches come not working requiring a service and replacement parts which are optional extras.

Mr.Cairo

Isn't the aim of vintage collectors, ultimately, to get as clean examples as they can get? Of course, if the best preserved example of a 1940s watch is one with spots and discoloration, as opposed to other examples that are totally degraded, that is considered a great and rare find.

But this is not a rare vintage watch. They nailed it with the Conquest and Flagship Heritage in the sense that you could get a brand new watch that was (almost) the same as 60 years ago -- how it must have felt for someone in the 50s to buy a Conquest then. My question was, why would a collector want a new watch (not rare, not special) with dirt on the dial... It's just bordering on the Emperor's clothes to me. Hadn't expected this from Longines.

Nobel Prize

I’ve always been on the fence about faux Latona and aging. I find it visually appealing but conceptually gimmicky.

So I don’t know where my mind will land on long term but purely as a reaction to the visual....Well done!!

Modest_Proposal

Basel 2019: Faux case scratches, cracked crystals, and replaced crowns.

Tet

Basel 2024, watches come not working requiring a service and replacement parts which are optional extras.

jljl123

LOL

I’ve never had a problem with faux patina, I see it simply as a nice color. But the spotting is a little too much for me.

jljl123

LOL

I’ve never had a problem with faux patina, I see it simply as a nice color. But the spotting is a little too much for me.

gophishin

^ I go back and forth on this. I'm pretty vintage loyal, but some of these are either really expensive, tough to find, or both. And I think for the majority of buyers (i.e. not OF types), the vintage world and how to find, authenticate, and complete the transaction is daunting. All for a watch that they may not be confident in wearing everyday or would sleep better at night knowing had a warranty since they don't have a trusted watchmaker, or really even understand or want to understand all that (should) go with vintage ownership.

And from that standpoint, Longines is executing these very well and delivering to that segment perfectly.

watchos

I totally agree with you here. Several brands have been talking out certified pre-owned. If you look at last years Big Eye, this one, the Seamaster 1948, etc it almost seems like Swatch Group's answer to the certified pre-owned might be to release more vintage styled watches minus all the initial barrier to entries for a newcomer. The industry's objective right now is to try to get as many people back into watches in any way possible. Making the leap from no watch, to a fine watch as easy as possible is probably critical. Once buyers are hooked, comfortable with the ownership of a fine watch, all sorts of posssobilities open up for the brand.

I for one have been hesitant to pull the trigger on a my first vintage buy for the same reasons you mentioned. I do plan to do one this year, but after rummaging through the forums for a almost a year now.

jljl123

I think it’s great that you’re biding your time. Not only will you be more informed, but I’ve found my tastes have evolved more as I’ve seen more of what’s out there, seeing things later that fit me better.

Some unsolicited advice, try on as many watches as you can as well if you aren’t already, see what works for you in the metal.