3 Rare Timepieces Unveiled at Longines VIP Heritage Night

For watch-lovers around the world, the name Longines is synonymous with Swiss excellence. Over more than 180 years, the Saint-Imier born watch-maker has crafted exquisite timepieces that exemplify modern elegance and performance, without ever once losing sight of tradition, heritage or legacy.

Meticulously hand-crafted and expertly assembled, the Longines collection personifies supreme taste and sophistication. For the initiated, the appeal is simple; owning a Longines timepiece is a lifelong affair.

At an intimate event at the brand’s Sydney flagship on Wednesday night, more than 40 Man of Many readers, friends and Longines VIP customers got to experience that sentiment in person. A stunning evening of fine wine, whisky and watches, Man of Many‘s VIP Longines Heritage Night offered an exclusive look at the Swiss manufacturer’s pedigree line; the Longines Heritage Collection.

Inside the Heritage Night

Blending modern technology with classic Swiss detail, the Longines Heritage Collection is a fine example of contemporary ingenuity bolstering a classic icon. The Swiss watchmaker’s vintage-inspired series revisits the classic Longines collection, reimagining them for the modern era.

Over the course of the night, event-goers were treated to a one-of-a-kind experience, with the Longines team on hand to share exclusive insights, expert watchmaking knowledge and a detailed history of the Heritage Collection. Paired with a curated selection of delectable canapes and tastings from fine whisky makers Glenfiddich and The Balvenie, thanks to Prestige Whisky ambassador, James Buntin, the unique experience shone a light on the modern elegance of contemporary watchmaking, under the backdrop of vintage class.

Notable guests in attendance included Sydney Swans’ Callum Sinclair, My Kitchen Rules’ David Vu, stylist Jeff Lack, along with reality stars Femi Ogunsiji and Nick Evbuomwan. Between drinks, VIPs were invited to try on, test or view the Longines range, including the three of the reimagined styles.

But beyond that, attendees were also treated to an infinitely more exclusive surprise. A selection of the original pieces from which the new Longines Heritage Collection is based were flown in from the Longines museum in Switzerland explicitly for the event.

Key Pieces From the Longines Heritage Collection

Seated next to their vintage counterparts, the selection of revisited classics were not out of place, with the trio of contemporary additions oozing sophistication and subtle, understated style.

The Longines Heritage Classic

Similarly, the Longines Heritage Classic offers a nod towards the brand’s archetypal 1930s design. Characterised by the aesthetic of its sector dial, the Heritage Classic’s streamlined silhouette features a silvered opaline disk, complemented by a subtle balance of colours and lines. In an innovative move, the piece is driven by a new, exclusive calibre (L893.5) that sports a silicon balance spring. A less subtle salute to its previous incarnation sees the Longines Heritage Classic drop the date, in favour of a small seconds display under the central axis of the self-winding mechanical movement.

The Longines Heritage Military 1938

The final reimagined piece displayed on the night was the Longines Heritage Military 1938, which is also a reinterpretation of a 1930s design. Featuring a hand-wound mechanical calibre, the timepiece is numbered and limited to just 1938 pieces worldwide, making it one of the Swiss manufacturer’s most exclusive pieces.

The Longines Heritage Chronograph 1946

Echoing the quintessential style codes of the postwar period, the Longines Heritage Classic Chronograph 1946 is distinguished by its domed silvered opaline dial and minimalist leather strap. Within the 40mm stainless steel case, however, it’s a different story. The Chronograph 1946 boasts a self-winding chronograph movement developed exclusively for the brand, an ode to Longines’ iconic horological history.