Longines Master Collection

The Longines Master Collection timepieces offer very good value for your money. Simple automatic models with three hands and a date display can be found in mint condition starting around 1,400 euros. You can get pre-owned chronographs in very good condition for around 1,200 euros. Like-new models with a timing function go for around 1,800 euros. A Master Collection watch with a GMT function, which displays a second time zone, costs around 1,700 euros with no signs of wear. For around 2,500 euros, you can find mint condition watches with a calendar, moon phase, and 24-hour display. The price goes down by about 1,000 euros for used watches. Never worn models with four retrograde displays start at 2,500 euros. All in all, the Master Collection gives you a lot of quality craftsmanship for your investment.

The chronographs with a calendar and moon phase indicator are among the highlights of the Master Collection series. These watches come in stainless steel or 18k rose gold. The latter versions have a brown alligator leather strap with push-pieces and triple fold-over safety clasp. With the stainless steel models, you have the choice between an alligator leather strap or a three-link stainless steel bracelet. The timepieces have an overall sporty, elegant design. Models with a leather strap have Arabic numeral hour markers on silver-toned dials. On the stainless steel bracelet versions, Roman numerals display the time against a black dial.

Every model displays the date with a long hand featuring a half-moon shape at its tip. You can read the current day and month below 12 o'clock; both indicators are located in the chronograph's 30-minute counter. The 12-hour counter and the moon phase indicator are positioned at six o'clock. At nine o'clock, you'll find the small seconds dial and the 24-hour display. Caliber L678, which is based on ETA's Valjoux 7751, is responsible for these diverse features. Thanks to its automatic movement, the watch winds itself while its worn, so there's no need for manual winding. When the movement is fully wound, the power reserve lasts for 48 hours.

All of the women's watches in Longines' Master Collection come with automatic movements, and that is no small matter. Many manufacturers use precise, battery-powered quartz movements for their small and slim women's models. The smallest timepieces in the Master Collection are especially compact with a diameter of only 25.5 mm. These watches look best on narrow, feminine wrists and are the ideal accessory to be worn with a ball gown, for example. The 18k rose gold models with a diamond bezel and mother-of-pearl dial are particularly elegant and feminine.

Because the trend is moving towards larger watches, Longines also offers larger watches for women. They are up to 38.5 mm in diameter and could therefore also be worn by men. Diamond indices decorate some of these stainless steel and gold bicolor timepieces . The day/date or date display of the basic three-hand watches are particularly practical. You can buy a mint condition bicolor model with diamond indices and a day and date display for around 2,500 euros.