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Longines’ Overpowered Dress Watch Is More Stunning Than Ever Thanks to One Surprising Change

Longines’ most respectable watch just struck gold.

Close-up of a luxury watch with a rose gold case, white textured dial, blue hands, moon phase indicator, and brown leather strap.Longines
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By Brad Lanphear

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Ask around the watch enthusiast community, and you’ll likely find that the Master Collection Chrono Moonphase is one of the most respected Longines watches, despite flying under the radar.

The jewel of the Master Collection is equipped with a dazzling array of complications, laid out on a classical dial arrangement that, under most Swiss labels, would cost double or triple the current $4,100 SRP.

Rose gold Longines automatic wristwatch with white textured dial, blue hands, moon phase, and brown leather strap.
Along with the time, the Master Collection Chrono Moonphase packs a tri-compax chronograph, day and month windows, a date pointer and a moonphase.
Longines

Along with the time, the Master Collection Chrono Moonphase offers a column wheel tri-compax chronograph, day and month windows, a moonphase window and — most interestingly — a pointer date complication.

That is a lot to type out and even more to visually take in, and yet, the dial is so neatly organized and masterfully finished that it comes off as more of an elegant dress watch than a multi-use tool watch.

Silver Longines automatic wristwatch with white dial, blue hands, moon phase, and multiple subdials on a metal bracelet.
The standard steel Master Collection Chrono Moonphase on a steel three-link bracelet.
Longines

Longines magnified that elegance exponentially by upgrading the existing polished steel case to a solid 18-karat rose gold version. It is hard to imagine one substantive change, especially to a case, having a bigger impact on a watch’s overall vibe…. or price.

Golden days

The Master Collection Chrono Moonphase Rose Gold case measures 42mm in width by 14mm in height and is crafted from solid 18-karat rose gold with a polished finish.

Rose gold Longines automatic wristwatch with white textured dial, blue hands, moon phase, and brown leather strap.
This Master Collection Chrono Mooophase has a solid 18-karat rose gold case.
Longines

Of course, the pushers and signed crown are made of 18-karat rose gold, along with the caseback ring holding a sapphire crystal exhibition window.

This exposes even more of the precious metal in the form of a coated rotor decorated with Geneva strips and the brand’s logo, including a cutout of the flying hourglass.

One more touch of gold can be found on the dial, where the flying hourglass of the Longines logo, placed at three o’clock, has a gilded finish.

Rose gold Longines Master Collection watch back showing mechanical movement through transparent case and brown leather strap.
The exhibition caeback displays a Longines caliber L687.5 automatic movement with a gold-plated rotor.
Longines

Unlike the steel Master Collection Chrono Moonphase, this golden upgrade is only offered on one strap, but it is the perfect complement. It comes on a brown alligator leather strap with creamy white stitching and, completing the look, an 18-karat rose gold pin buckle.

Its complicated

The real bargain of the existing Master Collection Chrono Moonphase is the Longines caliber L687.5 automatic movement, made exclusively for Longines by fellow Swatch Group brand ETA. It is equipped with a column wheel chronograph, a silicone balance spring, beats at 4Hz, and has a 66-hour power reserve.

Starting at the center, the dial contains flame-blued hour and minute leaf hands, a chronograph seconds hand and a pointer date with a crescent tip. The sub-dial at 12 o’clock has a 30-minute totalizer framing day and month windows.

Close-up of a Longines automatic watch with a white textured dial, blue hands, moon phase, and calendar subdials in a rose gold case.
The dial has a golf ball-like texture and flame blued hands.
Longines

The moonphase window at six o’clock is snuggled within the 12-hour chronograph totalizer. The sub-dial at nine o’clock has a small seconds inside a synchronized 24-hour hand, not a GMT. A 60-second chronograph track is printed on the rehaut.

Availability and price

Longines is appreciated for its exceptional value, covering a wide range of luxury watches. And while it is crazy to call a $26,100 watch a good bargain, it is an accurate description when comparing the Master Collection Chrono Moonphase Rose Gold to any solid gold watch with matching specs.

The exceptionally elevated version of the Longines Master Collection Chrono Moonphase is available now from Longines and authorized dealers for $26,100.

It is a regular production model that joins the steel references in the Mast Collection lineup.

Rose gold Longines automatic watch with white textured dial, blue hands, moon phase, and brown leather strap.Longines

Longines Master Collection Chrono Moonphase 18k Rose Gold

Specs

Case Size 42mm
Movement Longines caliber L687.5 automatic
Water Resistance 30m
About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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