2012 180th Anniversary Longines Heritage, Column wheel single pusher Chronograph Reference 2.776.4.21.3 - With box, certification and warranty card.
This is an excellent watch, in near new condition, having had very minimal wear. It has only light surface scratches on the case and the strap has seen little wear. It has its boxes, inner and outer, certification and warranty card.
This is a watch that punches high in quality compared to cost. They also rarely come up pre-owned, so don't miss the opportunity to purchase this quality watch.
A brief introduction to the watch:
The Heritage range in my eyes, is the most appealing of the more recent Longines catalogue. This specific watch, the 180th anniversary Column-Wheel Monopusher Chronograph, is a highlight. Based on the companies first Chronographs in 1913, the watch treads the line between new and old well. The thermally Blued hands are deep in colour, and the gloss dial has an attractive shine to it that contrasts against the black printed numerals. The dial is not actual enamel, but that’s probably a plus point for wearability.
Inside is the calibre L788, based on an ETA A08. It’s a bi-compax design, leaving space at six for a date window and keeping the dial balanced. Personally a date is an unwelcome addition as it strays from the original, but it’s fitting to a modern tribute. Activation of the chronograph is via a single pusher on the crown, which starts, stops and resets in that order. The L788 itself uses a column wheel to manage the chronograph function. It is beautifully finished and really highlights the beauty of such a movement.
It’s a large piece at 40mm in Stainless Steel, but it’s an everyday wearer which still packs the vintage aesthetic. That to me, is the really enjoyable aspects.
In depth review:
This watch has the classic aesthetic that one would expect from the Heritage collection. The round 40 mm stainless steel case with flexible, 1910s style lugs, is strapped to your wrist with a dark brown alligator strap.
The crisp and clear white dial features Black Roman numerals for hour markers and red 12. The dial has a railtrack for the minutes and chronograph seconds and the dial has a bi-compax configuration for the chronograph’s 30-minute counter and the small running seconds.
The watch comes in a beautiful and heavy wooden box, with a thick manual and warranty papers.
On the wrist, the watch looks excellent and fits neatly. The brown alligator strap compliments the watch and makes the watch versatile with it looking good with a suit or jeans.
The watch measures 40mm by 40mm but has a lug to lug measurement of 53mm making this quite a large watch.
The dial has all the crisp look of an enamel finish, but it is painted white. The hands are also thermally blued, as opposed to painted blue. This is a more lengthly finish.
The movement:
The movement is visible through the sapphire crystal in the case back, with the column wheel clearly present, popping and catching the eye with its thermally blued finish. The crown operates the winding and adjusting of the hours and minutes. The pusher on the crown operates the chronograph function. Press once to start, twice to stop and a third time to re-set.
The caliber L788, self-winding column-wheel chronograph movement has a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hours and provides 54 hours of power reserve. The rotor features the Longines logo, with recessed and filled gold paint highlighting the brand’s name and caliber reference.
Such a movement would not be possible for many brands at this price point. The ability of the Swatch group to create movement In-house movement for their brands, with ETA base movements, is excellent. This means a strong control over quality and supply, leading to the delivery of such quality for a very impressive price.
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
CONDITION:
Dial:
The dial is in perfect condition.
Hands:
The hands are in perfect condition.
Glass:
Sapphire crystal in perfect condition.
Crown and pushers:
Perfect condition.
Bezel:
Excellent condition, light surface scratching.
Case:
Excellent condition, light surface scratching.
Caseback:
Excellent condition, light surface scratching. Glass is perfect.
Strap:
Casually worn, in very good condition.
Movement:
An excellent in-house movement. Keeping time to +3 seconds a day with an amplitude of 320 and a beat error of 0.1 m/s.
Case dimensions
Case width: 40mm
Case width with crown: 45mm
Case length: 40mm
Case Depth: 13.5mm
Case length lug to lug: 53mm
Lug width: 19mm