The Longines Master Collection"Long experience meets vast expertise: The Longines Master Collection
With its long and distinguished traditions, Longines has from the start built its worldwide reputation on timepieces notable as much for their intrinsic quality as for the style and timing of their launch. This is certainly true today of the eight new complication designs composing The Longines Master Collection. They are reaching world markets precisely as consumers signal their clear preference for products that not offer embody genuine value but unmistakable character as well.
Generation after generation, watch collections by Longines have invariably managed to charm or to convince or quite often to do both, to the delight of consumers everywhere. Of course nothing less was expected of a watch house whose existence spans three centuries and whose professional expertise is second to none.
This expertise, and more, stands behind The Longines Master Collection. Comprising only mechanical watches for men, this collection incorporates expertise going back to the company's early decades, starting with caliber L20A from 1867, fitted in the first pocket watch with subdial for the seconds at 6 o'clock to be wound and set by the crown produced by industrial means. This design was followed in 1878 by caliber L20H, the first single pushpiece chronograph movement, in 1913 by that of the first wrist chronograph with single pushpiece, caliber L13.33, in 1936 by Flyback caliber L13 ZN and finally by caliber L262 for the 24-line chronograph in 1939. In 1945, Longines issued its caliber L22A, the first selfwinding mechanical movement with bidirectional oscillating weight. It was followed by two particularly remarkable designs: caliber L360, issued in 1959 and known as the "observatory caliber", the wristwatch movement that in its time won the greatest number of distinctions at timing contests, followed by caliber L990, issued in 1977, the world's slimmest twin-barrel movement with center seconds hand and date calendar. Not to be overlooked is the celebrated "Angle Hour Watch" designed in 1931 by Charles A. Lindbergh, who went on to entrust its production to... who else but Longines.
With a track record like this, the identity of The Longines Master Collection's maker should come as no surprise. Working from a sturdy, familiar stainless steel case inspired by the famous Weems' model from the 1920s, Longines watch and design teams put together a collection of handsomely masculine wristwatches providing a broad selection of technical choices since practically every model boasts one or more complications.
The Longines Master Collection's aesthetically convincing designs combine generous dimensions in the contemporary style with the instinctively classic spirit that has brought Longines the world's longstanding appreciation. "
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