Longines Master Collection
In 2005, Longines introduced a new collection of watches that demonstrated the watchmaker’s commitment to the history of mechanical horology: the Master Collection. To understand the Master Collection, it helps to understand the history of Longines, and of watchmaking itself. Longines was founded in 1832 and has a long tradition of innovation. It is important to remember that in 1832, watchmaking was decidedly mechanical. Electric watches wouldn’t be introduced for 100 years.
In 1969, the first battery-powered quartz watch was introduced, and the world quickly gravitated to electric watches. Eventually, timekeeping preferences shifted again, as the mechanical watch went from obsolete technology to luxury item. Longines decided to embrace this global trend with their new Master Collection and resurrected their historical expertise. In doing so, the Master Collection would be dedicated entirely to mechanical watches.
An Interesting Number Four in the Longines Master Collection
The Longines Master Collection (L2.628.4.51.7) has a beautiful black dial with Roman numerals. The number four is particularly striking in that it is written as IIII instead of IV. There are a few theories as to why, though there is not one definitive answer. One of the more interesting stories is that the French King Louis XIV objected to part of his name being used on clock and watch dials. Another theory is that the subtractive notation of IV may have been too advanced for the general public to read, so the more ancient notation of IIII was used instead. From a design perspective, the answer could simply be that the IIII looks more balanced on a clock or watch dial compared with the IV. If you think about the layout of a dial, you can imagine the number four being directly across from the number eight. IIII and VIII could be considered more balanced than the alternative of IV and VIII. The next time you look at the dial of your Longines Master Collection (L2.628.4.51.7), pay special attention to the number four.
How Does a Power Reserve Work?
The Longines Master Collection (L2.908.4.92.6) features a retrograde power reserve indication at six o’clock. This useful complication indicates to the watch wearer how much energy is left in the movement. Think of it like a fuel tank indicator in your car or a battery-strength indicator on your smartphone. You may ask, how does a power reserve indicator work on a mechanical timekeeper? To indicate the power reserve of a watch, the watchmaker first needs to know how many complete turns the barrel can make before being wound up all the way. With this number in mind, a set of gears is placed between the barrel and the indicator on the dial. The indicator is calibrated to move as the barrel unwinds, and the watch loses its energy. This is a valuable complication to have, as it prevents the wearer from forgetting to wind their watch and needing to reset the time. The retrograde version of the power reserve indicator on the Longines Master Collection (L2.908.4.92.6) makes it even easier to read. A cam mechanism beneath the dial allows the hand to accurately move just like the fuel indicator on your car.
Longines Master Collection Chronograph: A Stopwatch on Your Wrist
The Longines Master Collection (L2.759.4.78.6) features a chronograph mechanism, which is one of the most popular watch complications available today. A chronograph allows the wearer to measure individual segments of time. It is a complication that you may find useful in unexpected times. How about timing how long your pasta is cooking? Or how long your parking meter is active? The word “chronograph” is derived from “chrono,” meaning time, and “graph,” meaning to write. The first chronograph used an inking mechanism, which dropped a bit of ink onto a dial when a button was pressed (hence the writing aspect). This interesting mechanism was primarily used to time horse races. An interesting origin, but it would have been challenging to constantly replace inked dials!
Longines Master Collection Pricing and Availability
The Longines Master Collection boasts a wide range of styles, sizes, and complications. In 2021, a Longines Master Collection Moonphase Automatic 40mm (L2.909.4.78.3). For a simpler watch in the Master Collection, consider a Longines (2.893.4.78.6). Longines Master Collection Moon Phase Automatic 40mm watch with blue dial (L2.673.4.92.6) sells in the $1,000-1,500 range. If you are looking for a dial that will really stand out, consider a guilloche dial, such as a Longines Master Collection Moon Phase (L2.773.4.78.3), which sells in the $1,000-1,500 range.