I have to say I have been quite impressed with the new Longines Column Wheel Single Push Piece Chrono (absurdly long name), ref.L2.800.4.23.2-4. I was also surprised to find out that it has been selected to compete in the 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève chrono category!
http://www.gphg.org/watches/en/content/longines-column-wheel-single-push-piece-chronograph
This new Basel 2015 release features the L788.2 column wheel calibre, specifically developed by ETA for Longines use only. So this calibre could, by a rather long stretch of the imagination, be almost considered "pseudo in-house"? Perhaps more so than the recent debacle from Bremont regarding the Wright Flyer LE "in-house" movement
Longines does have a very important history in chronos with their famous 13zn calibre, as well as a strong aviation tradition. This new watch from their Heritage line seems to tick the right boxes for me for a weekend chrono watch with a more relaxed vintage feel.
For 3-dial Speedy owners (me included) this new Longines could also fit-in within a collection as a 2-dial chrono option.
So, Omega (or Rolex) owners, would you consider buying this watch, or is the Longines brand not prestigious enough in your POV. Perhaps the ETA based movement is not good enough to justify the the US$4k price tag?
I do still own a rather cute Breitling SuperOcean Heritage (42mm silver dial), with an ETA movement, which I have held onto for sentimental reasons within my collection, as it was my first "nice swiss watch"
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So although I have adopted a personal rule not to purchase an additional ETA based watches for my collection, I could be inclined to pull the trigger on this new Longines and would certainly at least try it on (the white dial version with blue hands and brown strap).
Interested to hear what my forum colleagues have to say.
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