It looks like the guy who designed this elegatn replica Longines Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece Chronograph 180th Anniversary Limited Edition automatic timekeeper was so impressed with the original 1913 Longines model (it was the world’s first chronograph that was from the ground up designed as a wrist watch) that the final product looks more like a faithful reproduction rather than a respectful tribute. Compare the original model with the new 180th Anniversary Limited Edition and you will immediately notice that the two timekeepers have much in common.
The similarities start with almost identical wire-style lugs and continue with the same font face used to paint the bold Arabic numerals, the same red color for the “12”, the same minute track and, of course, the same disposition of counters where the 30-minute chronograph totalizer stays at 3 hours, while the small seconds sub-dial is placed at 9 o’clock.
If you would take a moment to search the Internet, you will probably find a photo or two depicting one of a few 1913 monopusher chronographs that still remain in museums and private collections.
Well, the blued hands are shaped differently: while the original sported Breguet-type hands, the new one has them changed in favor of less trade mark-infringing job.
Oh, and since the rose gold Longines copy watch is powered by a new Longines Caliber L788.2 (also known asETA A08.261 automatic ebauche,) the new timekeeper also has a small rectangular date aperture at 6 hours!
The only thing that I don’t like here is the lack of grand feu enamel on its milky white dial. But that probably has something to do with the trinket’s cost.
According to the official press release, the new watch will be shipped in a medium-sized rose gold body only 40 millimeters in diameter, which is smaller than the case of the original.
As it is common for vintage-styled watches, the new Longines Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece Chronograph offers highly-legible, easy to read dial layout that, while definitely “historic”, looks very fresh and entertaining. Frankly, this is the last thing that I could expect from Longines. Congratulations are in order.
The watch was officially revealed during Baselworld 2012 trade fair and will be issued in a limited edition of just 180 individually numbered pieces. The price for the watch is currently set at $10,750 (just a trifle higher than MSRP for a non-limited version of the timekeeper,) which seems to quite reasonable to me. Its 18-carat rose gold case is massive, the movement is actually quite good and is assembled of high-grade components, and, of course, the fact that it is limited to such a small lot (compare it to brands like Breitling that like to churn out thousands of Longines chronograph copy watches that only different from base ones with color of their dials and call them “limited editions”) will probably make them highly sought-after rarities in just a couple of years thus significantly increasing their resale value.
