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Thoughts on the Longines Heritage Collection?

WatchVaultNYC
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Having a Black Bay and an El Primero New Vintage 1969 (arriving today!), I understand the appeal of a vintage-inspired modern watch. While picking up one of these Heritage Conquest watches (amazing looks for cheap) I was introduced to the Longines Heritage line.

Longines_Conquest_YG_560.jpg

I mean look at these designs. And column wheel chronos for $2K street price?

6183050-9238979.jpg


Look at this squinty-eyed beauty!
Longines-Heritage-Diver-1967-1.jpg

I think they're amazing, and right up there with the Tudor Heritage line (in fact I suspect Longines is becoming Omegas's Tudor) Thoughts?
 
Syrte
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DirtyDozen12 DirtyDozen12
I always think of this post when "heritage" pieces are mentioned.
image.jpeg

https://omegaforums.net/threads/why-i-should-not-get-this-watch.30820/#post-347243
That's funny, I completely disagree with that. The reason Swatch Group is keeping Longines alive is to be able to make money off of Longines' magnificent past. We can regret and feel sorry that they have made the choice to bring it to a mid-range level -- and believe me I do. (If there were crimes in watch-land this one would rank as a felony).
But if some people like to enjoy those beautiful designs with modern quality and a relatively reasonable price, why not?

Also, and much more selfishly I'll admit -- the heritage line is known to be Longines' core activity these days-- the only thing that's really working well.
And I want it to stay alive because that's what's keeping their history department running efficiently.
Why do you think they have historians working for free at your beck and call answering queries in two week's time? Not for charity obviously.
That's because that's what's feeding the buzz about the history of the brand-- and their whole "heritage" business leans on it.
So I'm all for the heritage line-- I personnally prefer the actual vintage ones, but can understand why one would be tempted by that beautiful "big eye" red bezeled chronograph which has become totally unaffordable for regular people- and if the heritage line is key to their survival, so be it.
Edited:
 
DirtyDozen12
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I should have been more clear and stated that when I view the watches above in isolation, purely as objects, I see them as @LouS so aptly described them, "soulless imitations". However, as you have lucidly stated, their significance goes far beyond their object-ness.

I also realize that if I were truly viewing the watches above in isolation, I would not be comparing them to their vintage counterparts and therefore struggle to deem them soulful or soulless. Furthermore, if I was viewing them purely as objects, untethered to their human designers, it would be difficult to even consider the question of a soul.
Edited:
 
WatchVaultNYC
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DirtyDozen12 DirtyDozen12
I should have been more clear and stated that when I view the watches above in isolation, purely as objects, I see them as @LouS so aptly described them, "soulless imitations". However, as you have lucidly stated, their significance goes far beyond their object-ness.

IIRC @LouS did get himself a heritage-styled El Primero (I also got my hands on one recently). So clearly, it's not a black/white issue.

Here's the pic:
dsc_0013adj-jpeg.26330

Here's the thread:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/2020-update-looking-for-20th-zenith.7215/page-2

Both the "Camaro Longines" and "Skin Diver" models are pretty scarce (the Conquest not so much, and I have a matching vintage '67 Conquest full kit obtained incredibly cheap), and if you find them, expensive. It's not just a matter of choice, it's also a matter of availability and price. Sometimes you can't have something even if you can plunk down the dough to buy.
 
Modest_Proposal
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I approve and can appreciate these "homage" watches for one simple reason.

They are built with modern materials and thus can be worn every day without worry of water resistance, excessive wear, part replacement. You also don't have to worry about scratching that mint case or those sharp lugs.

Heuer made some excellent Carrera homages and companies like Longines and Omega also make very faithful remakes.
 
WatchVaultNYC
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DirtyDozen12 DirtyDozen12
@WatchVaultNYC Interesting... this could be the beginning of a good discussion.
In defense of where you got your quote from though, those "ye olde tyme" style heritage watches that Longines first put out were really atrocious. I think they got their act together and realized that reproductions were not the way forward - its bringing a vintage vibe to a modern style, which I think works really well.
 
Syrte
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The comparison with Tudor is an interesting but a revealing one.
There are noteworthy differences between Longines and Tudor.
Of course Tudor was always a sub-brand of Rolex whereas Longines was not a sub-brand, it was a prime brand which had exploits and patents to its own name.
But Tudor, while a subrand, managed to create at least one original design-- the beautiful "snowflake" hands which were designed especially as part of their contract for the French national navy and which Rolex did not have.
Another major difference is that Tudor's heritage lines are not mere reproductions of the old models, as for Longines -- they are creative modern takes on the old models. The colors of the Black bay and Pelagos lines are completely different from the original Tudor snowflake. It is a smart choice -- because it caters to the tastes of people who like @LouS do not want something that's just a slavish reproduction, but resolutely modern.
Edited:
 
Larry S
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I think taking design cues from vintage is great. Classic design with modern functionality. I agree however that making limited runs of a vintage knockoff to create a "collector piece" in bogus and soulless.
 
GregH
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I think it's hard to get the right mix of vintage design cues and modernity, @Larry S but when it works, it's fun. I posted this photo in a Zodiac thread, but am reprising it here because of this thread and @Syrte 's threat about mixing vintage and water. I love these little Zodiacs, but don't really wear them in the rain. The modern version has enough of the vibe of the vintage for me to enjoy wearing it, but is a modern robust piece that I don't fear wearing.
image.jpeg


Larry S Larry S
I think taking design cues from vintage is great. Classic design with modern functionality. I agree however that making limited runs of a vintage knockoff to create a "collector piece" in bogus and soulless.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/are...ches-non-diver-wearable-when-its-rainy.43780/
 
Larry S
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GregH GregH
I think it's hard to get the right mix of vintage design cues and modernity, @Larry S but when it works, it's fun. I posted this photo in a Zodiac thread, but am reprising it here because of this thread and @Syrte 's threat about mixing vintage and water. I love these little Zodiacs, but don't really wear them in the rain. The modern version has enough of the vibe of the vintage for me to enjoy wearing it, but is a modern robust piece that I don't fear wearing.
image.jpeg




https://omegaforums.net/threads/are...ches-non-diver-wearable-when-its-rainy.43780/
Are these recent? Went to zodiac website and all they seem to have are diver watches. Were these special runs of production?
 
Syrte
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Larry S Larry S
Are these recent? Went to zodiac website and all they seem to have are diver watches. Were these special runs of production?
Top one is recent. Others 1960s-1970.
 
alam
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@WatchVaultNYC I'd like to see in the flesh the first model you showed; looks like a decent-looking every day/dress watch option...I'm sure vintage purists or those searching for the most unusual haute horology piece will disapprove.... 😁
 
GregH
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Syrte Syrte
Top one is recent. Others 1960s-1970.
@Syrte is correct @Larry S The top one is the heritage version and the other three are vintage. The modern one is a bit larger but not crazily so and wears well. The two in the middle are 35mm vintage to the39mm modern. The bottom one dates to the mid 70s and is intermediate in size.
 
Larry S
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Love those Zodiacs. Interesting watches. Here is classic but modern watch @ 38mm ...Enamel dial ... I will be one of 2-3 owners when mine arrives. Dial was made for another client but they made several. I really wanted a chrono that was an everyday wearer. All mine as basically fair weather friends. Was going Zenith or Omega till I saw what Mr Murphy had made.
image.jpeg image.jpeg image.png
 
Larry S
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And my WW1 inspired RGM 801 COE.

image.jpeg image.jpeg
 
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