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Longines Put the Most Interesting Thing About Its Bold New Dress Watch on the Back

Just wait until you turn it around.

Close-up of a polished silver watch case with a red dial featuring gold hour markers, a moon phase indicator, and a black leather strap.Longines
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By Johnny Brayson

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Over the past few years, many watch brands have kicked off the start of a new year by launching a watch to commemorate the coming Chinese New Year’s zodiac sign.

Last year was the Year of the Snake, so we got a bunch of snake-themed watches. The year before, it was the Year of the Dragon, and we had several dragon watches.

February 17, 2026, marks the start of the Year of the Horse, but Longines isn’t waiting two months to start celebrating.

The brand is closely associated with equestrian sports — it’s the official timekeeper of the Kentucky Derby and other high-profile horse races. So, it’s no surprise that Longines has already put out a Year of the Horse watch, transforming one of its signature dress watches into a bold, equestrian-themed statement piece.

Silver Longines wristwatch with a red gradient dial, moon phase indicator, and black leather strap on a red background with a black horse illustration.
No brand is better equipped to make a horse-themed watch than Longines.
Longines

Horse power

The most interesting thing about the new watch is actually on the back. Longines partnered with the Peon Art Museum in China to recreate Chinese artist Xu Beihong’s Galloping Horse painting on a custom 2N gilt rotor for its Calibre L899.5 automatic moonphase movement.

The horse-rotored movement, which also boasts an amagnetic silicon balance spring and a three-day power reserve, is visible through a sapphire caseback, with the movement of the rotor amplifying Xu’s style to give the illusion that the horse is actually galloping.

The movement is housed inside a special edition of Longines’ Master Collection Moonphase, arguably the most elegant dress watch in the Swiss brand’s expansive catalog.

Close-up of a Longines watch movement with a gold rotor engraved with a horse and the year 2026.
Xu Beihong’s Galloping Horse painting is recreated in relief on the movement’s gilded rotor.
Longines

It’s the 42mm version of the watch in stainless steel, and its dial mimics the same template we saw on Longines’ last two Chinese New Year editions, which were a Conquest Heritage last year and a Conquest Heritage Moonphase the year before.

That template features a bright red sunray dial with a fumé finish, resulting in a black gradient around the edge, along with hands, applied indices and applied winged hourglass logo all gilded with 2N yellow gold.

The look is bold and dynamic, far more than we’re used to seeing from the typically demure Master Collection Moonphase, which is normally available with a silver or dark blue dial and no gradient or gold.

Close-up of a Longines watch face with a red gradient dial, gold hands and markers, and a moon phase indicator.
The dial features gilded hands and indices and a red fumé dial.
Longines

Longines generally offers better straps for the money than nearly any other brand in its price bracket, and that remains true here, with a black alligator leather strap providing some nice balance to the red and gold dial. The strap is also fitted with a signed stainless steel deployant clasp.

Pricing and availability

The Longines Master Collection Year of the Horse is limited, fittingly, to 2,026 pieces. But you won’t have to wait until 2026 to buy one. The watch is available now from Longines, including on the brand’s online boutique, and is priced at $3,400 — a $300 premium over the standard 42mm Master Collection Moonphase.

Silver Longines wristwatch with a red gradient dial, gold markers, moon phase indicator, and black leather strap.Longines

Longines Master Collection Year of the Horse

Specs

Case Size 42mm
Movement Longines Cal. L899 automatic moonphase
Water Resistance 30m
About the Author:

Johnny Brayson is an editor at Gear Patrol mostly covering watches. He enjoys watches that are packed with blink-and-you’ll-miss-’em details and believes nearly every watch could stand to be a tad smaller.

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