Longines recently announced a new chronograph with a 1940s throwback design (inspired by Ref. 4974), including a matte black dial contrasted by gilt highlights.

The Record Heritage Chronograph name does not roll off the tongue like Daytona or Speedmaster, but the polished 40 mm x 13.8 mm stainless steel case, matte dial with leaf-shaped gilt hands, applied indices, applied Longines wing emblem, and applied numerals, hold up aesthetically to the industry’s most iconic chronographs.

A sapphire crystal protects the dial side, which has a printed tachymeter scale on the perimeter, and hours, minutes, seconds, and chronograph displays in the center. On the back, a sapphire window within the caseback offers a peek at the exclusive ETA-produced 4Hz automatic chronograph caliber that’s been machine decorated with Geneva stripes on the rotor and perlage on the bridges. The COSC-certified chronometer movement (adjusted to -4/+6 before being cased up) is based on an ETA 2892, that’s been enhanced for Longines with a silicon balance spring and an increased maximum power reserve of 59 hours.

The Longines Record Heritage Chronograph has a depth rating of 30 meters, and a lug width of 20 mm (Ref. L2.921.4.56.2 – leather, L2.921.4.56.6 – steel bracelet). There’s an option for a brown calfskin leather strap with contrast stitching or a stainless steel bracelet, and while the total weight is just 90.8 grams on the strap compared to 140.3 grams on the bracelet, you’re better off going with the bracelet, especially considering that Longines has set the retail price at $3,000 for both options, whereas typically companies charge a premium for a metal bracelet. Besides, you can add a third-party leather strap after the fact for not that much money, whereas adding an aftermarket bracelet is going to cost more and is rarely a good alternative to a factory bracelet.

 

Photos by Longines.