Master collection, the flagship product line of Longines, introduced a new model with Annual Calendar function in Baselworld 2018. The model will be offered with blue, black or white dial options.
Master collection was first introduced in 2005 and offered with a lot of different variations. This year’s anticipated model comes with a more special movement than all Master Collection watches ever produced until today. Designed based on ETA A31.L81, caliber L897.2 is specially designed for this very piece.
Case is made of stainless steel and measures 40 mm in diameter. Sapphire glass is used both in the front and the back. The watch offers 30 meters of water resistance.
The new model has 4 different dial options; black, white, blue and the fourth option is the white dial-diamond index version. Although the use of diamonds is a bit feminine, in today’s fashion there are a lot of men’s watches with diamonds.
Thanks to its Annual Calendar complication, the watch needs no date adjustment except February. Date window is placed at 3 o’clock as day-date indication.
L897.2 is the beating heart of the model. The movement with Annual Calendar function beats at 25.200 per hour and offers 64 hours of power reserve when it is fully wound.
The new model has two options as stainless steel bracelet or brown alligator strap. From my point of view, the only negative point of the watch is its leather strap. Use of contrast colored stitches gives a sporty look to the model; but I would prefer them to use the same color stitch as the strap.
I think with the new model Master Collection is going to get stronger. The collection, which has achieved great successes with its great price/performance balance, will also have a good sales figure with the Annual Calendar model.
