In defence of the £14,200 price tag attached to the latest Longines Master GMT limited editions, you do get a great deal of horological history, artistry and engineering for your money.
The current economic torpor is going to require fresh thinking from mid-range luxury watchmakers fighting in an increasingly difficult four-figure, sub-£5,000 price category, so perhaps Longines is taking a leap of faith into the rarefied five-figure market, which has been more robust.
The Longines Master collection was created to showcase the best of Longines, and the line has now been extended with two GMT models in 18ct yellow or rose gold.
There are 500 of each being produced.
They are powered by Longines’ automatic L.844.5 calibre, which uses a silicon balance-spring and has 72 hours of power reserve.
It is based on the ETA A31.LO1, which is exclusive to Longines.
From an exhibition case back you can see the movement’s gold rotor with Cote de Geneve finishing while the mainplate is decorated with perlage polishing.
Both the rose and yellow gold models have frosted silver dials with yellow or rose golden markers.
The second time zone is presented subtly with a slim black hand circling a discrete 24-hour internal track on a banked slope edging the dial.
Completing the package is a leather strap with a buckle matching the chosen gold of the watch case.
Longines is an old good quality watch maker that’s very under rated. It’s not cheap but in gold with the in house Longines movement and the quality I can recommend having a grande classique 21 years.
I am sure Longines knows what it is doing, but going up to $14,000 reminds me when Mazda sold the Amati luxury car for $30,000. Some were sold, but after one year nobody mentioned the Amati. I am sure Longines will sell a few, but I don’t see how the model will hold its value.