The Heritage collection from Longines, serving as the brand's playground for vintage reissued models, has become a benchmark for those seeking retro-style watches that are exquisitely crafted, with authenticity and heritage, at relatively accessible prices. This collection offers a wide selection, ranging from elegant models to more instrumental or military-themed watches. Most deserve attention, but one, in particular, stands out, and that is the Heritage Classic Sector Dial. Initially released in a subtle silver version, this model is back with a striking black dial and a cool BoR bracelet, and we are giving it a chance to prove itself as an everyday watch.
The Longines Heritage collection is a topic one could discuss endlessly, given how extensive the brand's vintage collection is… It includes hundreds of models, from historically significant pilot watches to beautiful chronographs or attractive diving watches. Longines is well aware that they are sitting on a gold mine: vintage reissues have been extremely popular for about 10 years. This is the very essence of the Heritage collection, which brings watches from the glorious past back in a modernized package, with visual fidelity and contemporary manufacturing processes. In short, the look and feel of the past with the modern reliability and peace of mind needed for daily wear.
The Heritage collection from Longines offers a multitude of watches to choose from. Some of our favorites include the Sector Dial watches, modeled after a 1934 watch stored in the brand's museum, known as the Calatrava watch with a flat coin-edge bezel, straight lugs, and a two-tone dial with bold markers and segments. I must admit, I have a fondness for these watches, as the sector dial is, for me, the most iconic design choice found in pre-WWII watches. Elegant, with a touch of Art Deco, yet exceptionally modern and architectural, this specific dial design makes even the simplest three-hand watch more lively and detailed.
The first release of the Longines Heritage Classic Sector Dial came with a silver dial and blued hands. Understated yet well-animated, this dial exuded a certain serenity, something calm and restrained, as well as very retro. The new black edition, despite its historical relevance (the museum has a precedent with such a dial), feels much less vintage and has a more vibrant look. Surprisingly, the additional contrast between the case and the dial, as well as between the dial and display elements, makes the new Heritage Classic Sector Dial edition more contemporary, more architectural, and in some sense, more industrial. These are surprisingly graphic watches that carry a certain old-school avant-garde.
As for the case, the new Black Sector Dial has retained the same proportions and construction. This means a reasonable diameter of 38.5 mm with a height of about 11.5 mm (including the high-domed sapphire crystal). The case shape is typical of 1930s Calatrava-style watches, with a flat stepped bezel on top of a central case with elongated lugs - a design that Patek introduced in 1932 with the Calatrava reference 96. The entire case is made of stainless steel, with almost all surfaces being matte, enhancing the industrial, relatively tool-like appearance of the watch. The case is neatly executed, as always with Longines, although there is nothing particularly impressive about it. Water resistance is 30 meters, and the crown is a classic push-pull.
On the wrist, the relatively compact diameter, which of course has increased compared to the vintage edition, but remains quite restrained in the modern market, makes the watch comfortable and easy to wear. The lug-to-lug size, slightly less than 47 mm, is also quite pleasant.
As you can see, the brand has actually released two models. The first is the classic version on a leather strap, made of cognac-colored calfskin and closed with a pin buckle. More importantly, Longines introduces a new steel bracelet with a very cool rice bead design, with straight end links. Many owners of the silver dial watch preferred to acquire the BoR bracelet to enhance the look of the 1930s-style watch. Now Longines offers its own OEM model with alternating matte and polished links and a folding clasp. Supple, flexible, and well-executed, it truly complements the look of the watch and adds the sporty retro touch that was missing in the first place. In my opinion, this is the edition to choose.
Regarding the dial of this new Longines Heritage Classic Sector Dial Black Edition, nothing has changed except the color. This means the dial is still a classic two-tone, with a matte black central part and a circular matte hour ring done in charcoal gray tones. Longines also retained the central crosshair and the subsidiary dial at the '6 o'clock' position - this means that the two most discussed elements of this watch, namely the incomplete '6' marker and the line crossing the Longines logo, are still present. Personally, I have no objection to either. All markings are done in white, and the hands are polished and silvered, providing great contrast and instant readability - at least in daylight, as lume is absent on this watch.
Under the polished case back with engraved logos and specifications lies the well-known automatic movement, the caliber L893. This movement, based on the ETA 2895-2 architecture (the small seconds version of the 2892), is exclusive to Longines and comes with numerous improvements, making it a very competitive offering. The entire kinetic chain has been reworked, with a slightly reduced frequency (3.5 Hz or 25,200 vibrations per hour) and an increased power reserve (72 hours). It is also equipped with an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring. Note that this movement was specifically developed for the Heritage collection, with the small seconds hand shifted down to maintain the original proportions of the vintage models.
Availability and Price
The Longines Heritage Classic with black sector dial (ref. L2.828.4.53.2 on a leather strap and L2.828.4.53.6 on a steel bracelet) is now available on the Longines website and through retailers. The price is 1,920 EUR, 1,900 CHF, or 2,150 USD on a leather strap, 2,120 EUR, 2,100 CHF, or 2,350 USD on a steel bracelet. Longines also offers a 5-year warranty.
For more detailed information, please visit www.longines.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – LONGINES HERITAGE CLASSIC SECTOR DIAL BLACK
Case: 38.5 mm diameter x 11.5 mm height – 46.5 mm lug-to-lug – stainless steel case, stepped bezel, matte with polished accents – sapphire crystal – solid steel case back – 30 m water resistance
Dial: two-tone sector dial in black and charcoal gray, numerals, tracks, and markers painted in white, central crosshair, silvered polished hands
Movement: Caliber L893 (base ETA A31.501) – automatic – 26 jewels – 25.60 mm – 25,200 semi-oscillations/hour – power reserve 72 h – silicon balance spring – hours, minutes, small seconds
Strap: Offered with a rice bead design stainless steel bracelet, with straight end links, folding clasp with buttons or a cognac-colored leather strap with a steel buckle.
Reference: L2.828.4.53.2 – leather strap, L2.828.4.53.6 – steel BoR bracelet
Availability: Now available on the Longines website and through retailers
Price: 1,920 EUR – 1,900 CHF – 2,150 USD on leather strap, EUR 2,120 – CHF 2,100 – USD 2,350 for steel bracelet
