Because STARS man! It's all about the STARS!

You're question is akin to asking why detergents always have NEW & IMPROVED on the label.

Answer: MARKETING.

 

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/longines-three-stars-2522914.html

 

Hello @Seiji,

I would like to inform you, and others reading this for that matter, that there is a sticky thread on Longines chronographs. If you have any further questions or points of discussion, I would suggest that you post them here (https://omegaforums.net/threads/13zn-chronographs-inquiries-and-information.32929/) rather than creating new threads. If the topic of discussion merits a new thread then go ahead but in the name of organization, consider the sticky.

For the record, stars appear on Longines dials with other movements as well so I think you can broaden your question.

 

Thanks for this. I had assumed it was some equivalent to Rolex world where depending on tuning, some Oyster Perpetual were Precision grade while a few where Officially Certified Chronometers for the same reference and movement grade. Was wondering if Longines put stars only on chronometer grades.

 

Those three stars appear on a number of French watches including Type 20 chronographs; and I seem to recall they refer to testing done by a French certification institute whose name currently escapes me; MWR member Stiocour had indicated their meaning in an MWR thread if you want to go search for it.

 

I am skeptical that these stars indicate anything more than the watches' original market, let alone "high quality movements". Here are two other Longines with stars on the dial. Both contain regular Longines calibers.

http://www.horol.com/items/cat6/0381.html

http://www.watchnet.co.jp/p-eyes/products/detail.php?product_id=3465

 

Some Admirals had 5 stars on them, but were certainly not better watches than their 3 star Conquest brethren.

Members are reading too much into this. They're just stars. Marketing departments LOVE stars because the public loves them too.

 

Since the stars were not consistently used for the same exact model for the same exact year, I was trying to figure out if related to quality or market. Even similar dial can be with or without the stars. I thought better ask the members.

 

Good point against quality.

 

When I make my watches at my watch factory, I'm gonna make them better than 3 stars. Past 5 stars. Chronometer? Pffft, that's kid stuff. Mine will be even better than an OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER, and even past an Observatory Chronometer.

Yes sir, my watches will be Hubble Telescope 10 star Chronometers! They'll be the first watches worn on Venus! ...... and Uranus!

 

Okay, well those three stars were used on dials by other brands, eg Pontiac:
http://forum.horlogerie-suisse.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14037

The French "CETEHOR" (Centre technique de l'Industrie Horlogère in Besançon) did use a three star logo at the back of watches (with a sort of emphasis underneath) to indicate a certain type of controls were passed -- and that was indeed a marketing tool for the watches in question.
And those logos do appear at the back of some Type 20 chronographs, but they look different from those three stars on the dials.

See the materials, logos and advertisements under the links below (along with a note by MWR member Stiocour highlighting those tests did not amount to chronometer certification):
http://forum.chronomania.net/mix_entry.php?id=40943#.V8L95YWCIg4
http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/show...sancon-three-stars-engraved&highlight=CETEHOR

 

Well, of course, someone allergic to moonwatches would for sure aim for something completely over the top.

 

Rolex clearly understood the power of the star.

 

1109 stars on the dial


http://www.ablogtowatch.com/citizen-astrodea-stargazing-watch-collection/

 

Yeah...let's not mix up designs with branding. Successful product development always begins with a clear objective proposal.

 

...... and STARS. Lotsa STARS.

 

Stars rocks, however Fairground was the first one I heard. I might be 27, but boy does this song ring in my head...

 

Somebody on the Italian forum posted another Longines watch from Peru with three stars underneath and said they were for the South American market. Thought that was an interesting coincidence.
Do we know where those other gold chronographs were from?