Recently, Longines has been at the peak of popularity when it comes to cool yet affordable vintage-style watches. It's no surprise, considering the brand's extensive history. After all, it dates back to 1832, offering a wide range of historically significant models to choose from. While DolceVita may not be the most popular series in Longines' portfolio, the addition of a sector dial seriously enhances its cool factor.
This year, we have already seen a number of attractive retro-style watches from the "winged hourglass" brand. Several new Longines Legend Diver's are on sale, as well as new models in the Spirit collection. Another example is the very beautiful Longines Heritage Classic model in several color combinations. And, of course, we have the Heritage Silver Arrow model and the surprisingly fun Avigation BigEye model in titanium with a gradient blue dial.
The name DolceVita emerged in the mid-1990s as an ode to the glamorous Italian lifestyle. The word even translates to "good life" or "sweet life." The watch design is borrowed from a Longines model of the 1920s, during the heyday of the art deco style. The watches that perhaps evoke the strongest sense of the art deco movement are undoubtedly the Cartier Tank series.
These Longines watches, in turn, evoke the same feeling, especially thanks to the original flinqué-style dial we encountered earlier. The flinqué-style dial features skewed printed numbers evenly distributed on a rectangular dial with a pattern similar to guilloche, but machine-applied. The new sector dial, introduced earlier this year, aims to change the art deco style's appeal characteristic of previous models and make it more prominent.
Let's start with the case, which is available in two different sizes in the lineup. You can choose either a case measuring 27.7 mm wide and 43.8 mm high, or a case measuring 28.2 mm and 47 mm. Both models have the same proportions and details, so it's simply necessary to ensure their versatility when considering these watches.
The rectangular stainless steel case has a smooth polished profile with a small step on the strap, adding an extra touch. On the right side is a discreet polished crown with a single stripe on the side for grip, along with the "Longines" inscription at the top featuring an hourglass logo. While the watch dial and case have a top-down curve, the closed back is flat and adorned with the model's designation and another vintage Longines winged hourglass logo. Given the fact that this is a bezel-less case, the profile is smooth to the touch and smoothly transitions into the lugs.
The true novelty of this DolceVita collection is, of course, the Sector dial. This typical style divides the markers into subsections, giving any dial a pleasant degree of balance while maintaining readability. It is often considered purely vintage, yet it remains popular today. A common design element of most sector dials is a train-track style minute track located on the outer edge of the dial.
The new Longines DolceVita watches feature a two-tone sector dial with a matte silver finish at the center. Here, a black cross is located - another vintage design element found in watches with a sector dial. The outer part of the dial with black hour indices and a black railroad minute track has a vertical matte finish. All hour indices, except those at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock, connect the minute railroad track with the central cross of the dial. Classic touches in this particular dial style once again. The hour, minute, and second hands are made of blued steel, and there is a date window positioned at "6 o'clock."
Regardless of which Longines DolceVita size you choose, the watches are equipped with the L592 mechanical caliber. This automatic movement is supplied by ETA and is regularly used by Longines. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 per hour (or 4 Hz) and has a power reserve of 45 hours. And before you claim that it should benefit from the 80 hours offered by the new ETA C07.111 (used by Tissot as Powermatic 80), it simply won't fit in the DolceVita case. Hence, the choice of the L592 with a diameter of 19.40 mm instead of the 25.6 mm of the ETA C07.111.
To be fair, the Longines DolceVita is quite an attractive rectangular watch, of which there aren't many on the market right now. Of course, there's the obvious alternative from a famous French house, but this model offers a similar style at a lower price. And adapting to the new sector dial makes them even more attractive, at least to us.
The Longines DolceVita model is available in four different combinations, ranging from black, blue, or light brown leather straps with a standard clasp to a multi-link stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp. The price for all options is 1,530 euros. This means that all sizes and strap/bracelet options have the same price, which is rare but very pleasant.
More detailed information is available on Longines.com
Case: 27.70 mm x 43.80 mm or 28.20 mm x 47.00 mm - rectangular stainless steel case - stepped case profile - sapphire crystal - solid case back - crown adorned with Longines hourglass logo - water resistance 30 m
Dial: two-tone sector dial - matte silver finish central part, vertical matte finish outer part - black railroad style minute track - black sector hour track with Arabic numerals 3, 6, 9, and 12 - blued steel hands - date window at 6 o'clock
Movement: Longines Calibre L592, based on ETA - automatic winding - 28,800 per hour (frequency 4 Hz) - 22 jewels - central hours, minutes, seconds, and date indicator - power reserve 45 hours
Strap: Black, blue, or light brown alligator leather strap with steel clasp - 5-link stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp
Price: 1,530 EURO