The vintage reissue or heritage trend has been in full force for years now. But one of the first brands to really zero in on recreating vintage aesthetics in modern timepieces was Longines. With their vast and rich archives of historic watches, there is so much for Longines to draw upon. So, I cannot fault them for really leveraging the market’s appreciation for all things vintage. And closing out their novelties of the year in celebration of their 190th anniversary, they have done it once again with the new Longines Record Heritage chronograph – a classy and elegant time capsule of a watch perfectly suited for modern consumers.This release marks the first chronograph model to hit the Record collection, the 190th anniversary of the brand a fitting catalyst for such a debut. The vintage-inspired, stainless-steel case has been enlarged to cater to the modern marketplace, clocking in at 40mm in diameter and 13.8mm in thickness. The front of the case, the lug hoods and bezel, are entirely mirror polished while the band and flanks of the case are richly brushed. Considering the classy air of its aesthetic, and its lume-less dial, the Record Heritage has a land-suited depth rating of 30 metres.Its matte black dial and gilt-toned applied and printed accents serve up the vintage vibes that get buyers reaching for their wallets, a tasteful emulation of the vintage chronographs within their catalogue. The outer tachymeter scale takes up a fair bit of real estate, the numerals and hashes large and legible for the eye. But I can’t help but wonder what a variant would like sans tachymeter scale, and then, considering the smaller size of the calibre, placed within a 36-38mm case. That being said, were Longines ever to take on such an idea it would only compliment this watch – I am not suggesting it should replace it.A step closer in, is the radial hashed-printed outer minutes track that frames alternating applied numerals and indices. Just beneath 12′, the Longines branding is elegantly applied and printed and at 9′ and 3′ respectively you have a 30-minute elapsed minutes counter and running seconds counter.?The new Longines Record Heritage can be purchased in two configurations: on a brown leather strap with a steel buckle or on a stainless-steel bracelet.In a baffling, yet highly welcome, circumstance, the mixed-finished seven-piece link bracelet configuration retails for the same price as the leather-strapped configuration. This is unheard of in the watch marketplace, so, unless the leather strap and bracelet both cost the same price when purchased separately, which would be equally rare, I would highly recommend opting for the bracelet configuration and then later securing a factory Longines leather strap or 20mm aftermarket strap of your choosing.Exhibited on the caseback you will find the Longines automatic calibre L895.4, an exclusive-to-the-brand take on the ETA calibre A31.L01 (which is an expansion of the ETA 2982-A2 calibre). The robust movement carries a well-machined finish, but technically it boasts more attractive features. With 59 hours of power reserve, and a silicon balance spring to resist against magnetism, the COSC-certified L895.4 within will definitely be a reliable performer.Longines Record Heritage pricing and availability:The Longines Record Heritage is available now via Longines boutiques and e-commerce, as well as their authorised dealers. Price: $4,650 AUD & $3,000 USDBrandLonginesModelRecord HeritageCase Dimensions40mm x 13.8mmCase MaterialStainless steelWater Resistance30mCrystal(s)Double AR coated sapphire crystalDialsMatte black, gilt-toned hands and applied arabics/indexesStrapsBrown leather strap with buckle, stainless steel bracelet with triple safety folding clasp and push-piece opening mechanismMovementAutomatic COSC Calibre L895.4FunctionsHours, minutes and small seconds at 3 o'clock. Chronograph.Power Reserve59 hoursAvailabilityAvailable NowPrice$3,000 USD $4,650 AUD
16.10.22