The Longines Heritage Military. Introduced in 2016, it is inspired by a Longines military wristwatch made for either the British or Americans during the early 20th century. Photo: © Longines
The Longines Heritage Military is yet another reminder of the brand’s long watchmaking history and is inspired by a watch from the brand’s historical collection housed within the Longines Museum located at its headquarters in Saint-Imier, Switzerland.
The Heritage Military is a modern reinterpretation of a historical 1918 Longines watch produced for the military (possibly British or American) in the early 20th century.
The 1918 version had Breguet-type hour and minute hands and a subsidiary sweep seconds dial. In those days, quite a few brands had similar stylized fonts for watches used by the military during the First World War (1914 to 1918).
On the modern version – the Breguet-type hands are not used. The hands of the Longines Heritage Military are applied with SuperLuminova and features a date display at 6 o’clock with a case that is larger and sturdier as compared to the historical version that has wire lugs.
The train track chapter ring remains and so does the stylised Arabic fonts. In those early days, such wristwatches were also what Konrad Knirim has described as “wristlets”. Knirim is the author of the well-researched reference books Military Timepieces and British Military Timepieces.
[Note: A wristlet today may be an ornamental band or bracelet and even a small bag accessory.]
The wristlets or wristwatches in those days were identical in style and were made by many companies including Longines and Omega, notes Knirim.
Longines is one of the few brands today that continues to breathe life into such a stylised font which has its own unique and appealing character.
Note the stylized Arabic numeral font reminiscent of the type used in the past on the Longines Heritage Military. Photo: © Longines
Longines Heritage Military
Introduced in 2016
Technical Specifications:
• Calibre L615.3 (ETA 2895/2) automatic movement
• Movement diameter: 11½-lignes
• 28,800 vibrations per hour
• 27 jewels
• 42 hour power reserve
• Date display
• Black matte dial with 12 painted Arabic numerals with SuperLuminova, rhodium-plated hands with SuperLuminova
• 44mm diameter case in stainless steel
• Water-resistant to 3 bar (30m)
• Black alligator strap