Longines has once again updated its Master Collection family with the new Master Collection Retrograde Moon Phases (ref. L2.738.4.71.6 & L2.739.4.71.3) model. Equipped with a high-grade mechanical caliber and featuring a classic design of a very appealing sort, this watch looks like a self-evident choice for a rational person with good taste.
Visually, there is nothing particularly new to the model. Like other members of the family, it is available both in black and in silvered guilloched dials with rhodium-plated and blued hands respectively.
What’s new here is the day/night indicator. Located at 12 o’clock, it shares the precious space with the retrograde day of the week display.
Being –together with ETA SA, the major movement maker that practically owns the industry– a member of the dreaded Swatch Group, Longines enjoys the luxury of getting exclusive movements from ETA.
In this particular case, it is the Longines caliber L707.2.
Based on the ETA A07.L31 automatic caliber (a relatively new mechanism that is often regarded as an ‘evolution’ of the legendary ETA 7750 that was redesigned to better fill spacious insides of the contemporary oversized watches while receiving in the process a longer mainspring with increased energy storage and smoother power delivery curve,) the new Master Retrograde Moon Phases has four more indicators, three of them retrograde.
At 9 o’clock, there is a retrograde second time-zone indicator, which is mirrored by a date display of the same type located at 3 o’clock. At 6 o’clock, there are two indicators: a retrograde subsidiary second and a “normal” moon phase indicator.
Hours and minutes in the main time zone are displayed with normal leaf-shaped hands.
According to the company, the watch will be available on two straps.
The one with a silvered dial comes on brown crocodile leather and the one with a black face will be available with a black leather strap with contrast white stitching.
No info on pricing, but $4000-$5000 will be a good guess*.
See also: Bvlgari Octo Quadri-Retro Chronograph
* UPDATE ON PRICING: Well, the guess was not that good after all. Longines has offered the Retrograde Moon Phases with an MSRP of just $3900.
Although not especially cheap, the trinket still looks like a good choice for a person who always liked classic design of a “complicated” dress watch, but still can’t opt for something (a lot) more premium, like a similarly styled timekeeper from Breguet that probably was a source of inspiration for the whole Master Collection line. As usual for the brand, you get a watch that looks good, is built using the highest quality materials available in this price range, and features one of the best mass-produced mechanical calibers that money (again, in this price range) can buy. With its extremely high “value for money” ratio, I think that this Retrograde Moon Phases model is an obvious choice.
Photos: Longines
Longines Master Collection Retrograde Moon Phases (refs. L2.738.4.71.6 & L2.739.4.71.3) specification
Price: $3900 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Longines caliber L707.2 (base ETA A07L31, exclusive for Longines,) 25 jewels, 28,800 vph, Swiss Made
Movement decoration: Branded oscillating weight
Functions: Hours, minutes, retrograde small seconds, retrograde date, retrograde day of the week, retrograde GMT, moon-phase, day/night indicator
Power reserve: 48 hours
Case: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Sizes: 41.00 mm / 44.00 mm
Case height: 16.00 mm
Dial: Silvered or Black
Numerals: Roman / Arabic
Hands: Leaf-shaped
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Black or brown alligator leather strap on steel pin buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Sapphire