The Wind Up: Hands-On With Longines’ Master Collection Chrono Monopusher

Hello, watch lovers! Welcome back to another instalment of The Wind Up. This is Man of Many’s weekly wrap detailing the horological encounters, events, and releases that have caught our attention over the past seven days. I’m Rob, someone for whom one more watch is never quite enough, and it’s my pleasure to be joining you once again.

This week, I’ve had the pleasure of getting around Sydney with Longines’ new Master Collection Chrono Monopusher on my wrist. I have to say, doing so has only reinforced that there’s something special happening with that brand in 2026. We also have the latest Presage Cocktail Time references from Seiko, a pair of jaw-dropping releases from the wizards at Jaeger-LeCoultre, and more.

As always, there’s no time like the present and not a second to waste. So, let’s crack on with the latest edition of Man of Many’s The Wind Up.

On the Wrist: Longines Master Collection Chrono Monopusher

It goes without saying that Longines is having one hell of a year. Following the March release of the HydroConquest and the subsequent shockwave it sent through the watch industry, you’d forgive the maison for resting on its laurels. However, a refresh of the Master Collection followed soon after, with a further expansion a couple of months later. This included the watch we’re talking about today: the Master Collection Chrono Monopusher.

For my money, this is the most enticing reference Longines has produced since the HydroConquest I ordered (ref: L3.779.4.70.6). From the dial’s shade of frosted blue to the multifunctional but elegant crown, it continues Longines’ hot streak and arguably even raises the temperature.

I mean, just look at that dial. I love the combination of its barleycorn-patterned centre, the snail-engraved sub-dials, and the sandblasted outer edge, where you’ll find a pulsometer scale. This last element is a nod to the vintage watches made for medical professionals that inspired this release. Originally developed for doctors and nurses in a time before electronic heart-rate monitors, the pulsometer enabled quick pulse readings using wrist- or pocket-watch chronographs.

Of course, this too is a chronograph, but you might find yourself wondering, “Where are the pushers to activate it?” Their function has been cleverly integrated into the crown, which is oversized, but not conspicuously so. You simply press it once to activate it, a second time to stop it, and a third time to reset. It has a firm resistance to it and an enjoyable snap when enough pressure is applied. Other than that, the crown works as you would expect. You simply pull it out to adjust the time, or leave it pushed in and turn it clockwise to wind the watch.

You’ll need to do that fairly regularly, as this watch is powered by a Longines-exclusive manual-winding L799.5 movement that’s equipped with a silicon balance spring, beats at 28’800 vibrations per hour, and delivers a power reserve of up to 68 hours. I’ve long been a fan of manual-wind watches. There’s something more personal about the relationship between watch and wearer when you have to engage with it in this way. And when the watch is as beautiful as this’ Chrono Monopusher from Longines, well, it’s even better. The movement is visible through the watch’s display case back, and I appreciate that you can view the start, stop, and reset functionality of the chronograph when manipulating the crown, too.

Finally, the anthracite leather strap is a perfect complement for that blue dial. The fact the buckle even has a handy micro-adjust function is just another deft touch from a maison that’s well and truly on a roll. The only problem is that this watch is making me consider whether my HydroConquest needs another Longines to keep it company.

Longines Master Collection Chrono Monopusher Key Specs:

• Reference: L2.960.4.93.2
• Case: Stainless steel
• Diameter: 41 mm
• Thickness: 12.6 mm
• Water resistance: 30 metres
• Dial: Frosted Blue “barleycorn”
• Bracelet: Anthracite alligator leather
• Movement: L799.5
• Power reserve: 68 hours
• Price: AUD$5,825

Seiko Serves Up Two New Cocktails

I’m a fan of Seiko’s Presage Cocktail Time releases (in fact, I picked up the Manhattan Cocktail Time SRPE43J for a steal just a few days ago), and I’m always happy to see new additions to the range. This time, Seiko has added a couple of GMTs to the line, paying tribute to the Daiquiri and the Corcovado.

I have to say the latter is more my taste, as I’ve always found the pairing of a gold-coloured case and bracelet with a white dial either screams “old man watch” or looks like something one of the characters on The Sopranos would wear. But clearly that’s purely subjective.

Here, Seiko has opted for some nice details, including elegant curved Arabic numerals that sit alongside the indices to seve the GMT function, as well as a GMT hand that’s shaped like a cocktail glass stem. Each watch is powered by the Calibre 4R34 automatic movement, which serves up 41 hours of power reserve.

Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Daiquiri Key Specs:

• Reference: HCB004J
• Case: Stainless steel (gold colour)
• Diameter: 40.5 mm
• Thickness: 12.8 mm
• Water resistance: 50 metres
• Dial: White
• Bracelet: Stainless steel (gold colour)
• Movement: Calibre 4R34
• Power reserve: 41 hours
• Price: AUD$995

Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Corcovado Key Specs:

• Reference: HCB005J
• Case: Stainless steel (rose gold colour)
• Diameter: 40.5 mm
• Thickness: 12.8 mm
• Water resistance: 50 metres
• Dial: Blue
• Bracelet: Brown leather
• Movement: Calibre 4R34
• Power reserve: 41 hours
• Price: AUD$995

Jaeger-LeCoultre Introduces a Pair of Insane Pieces

Jaeger-LeCoultre isn’t a maison that does things by halves, and these two new releases help illustrate how the brand earned its title “the watchmaker’s watchmaker”.

First, we have the gorgeous five-piece limited-edition Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 945, which reinterprets the Master Hybris Artistica Minute Repeater Cosmotourbillon. It features a new 18K white gold case containing the Calibre 945 movement, which features a star chart indicating the Northern Hemisphere’s constellations moving in real time, along with a minute repeater and JLC’s unique flying Cosmotourbillon, which displays sidereal time. It’s a beautiful and exceptionally ambitious piece.

The second piece, JLC’s Duometre Grande Complication A Grande Sonnerie, doesn’t appeal to me quite as much on an aesthetic level, but that’s to take nothing away from it as a masterful piece of watchmaking. Boasting 15 complications in total, it offers Westminster-style chimes to mark the quarters and hours in a Grande and Petite Sonnerie and minute repeater, alongside a retrograde perpetual calendar and flying tourbillon. In total, the movement comprises a staggering 1,300 parts, a figure that’s difficult to fathom.

In Other Watch News…

If you’d like to explore some of the other watch stories that caught Man of Many’s attention over the last week, be sure to head over to our Man of Many’s Watches page. There, you’ll find our thoughts on a range of news and releases, including the following.

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Sport

Clearly, TAG Heuer doesn’t take a breath. One week after the Monza Flyback Chronograph, the maison released five new Carrera Chronograph Sport references (the blue-dialled model with a steel bracelet is not pictured above). Adopting a classic racing-watch aesthetic, these new timepieces make a strong case for being the perfect tool for drivers and crews alike (as well as an ideal accessory for those of us who are restricted to the stands).

Timex Atelier GMT Première M1a

The Timex Atelier family continues its momentum by shrinking its GMT offering to fit within a compact 38mm case. I’m sure I speak for all with a smaller wrist when I say it’s much appreciated. The watch still squeezes a Swiss-made automatic movement behind its black enamel dial, while the black-and-green 24-hour bezel provides classic GMT styling offset with gold detailing across the hands, crown and case.

King Seiko VANAC ‘Cosmic Tokyo’ (ref. HKF005J)

Following the relaunch of its VANAC collection earlier this year, King Seiko has added a new reference this week, which pays tribute to Tokyo’s city lights via a striking black glitter dial. The watch swaps out the titanium of those earlier releases for stainless steel, but it retains the same angular 41-mm VANAC architecture, as well as the Calibre 8L45 automatic movement with its 72-hour power reserve. Coming in at AUD$5,200, it’s also AUD$800 less than its titanium siblings, making it a handsome proposition.