I don’t want to offend any Longines owners and/or fans on this sub, but this happens to me with (almost) all their releases/watches. I see a new watch on their IG, watch videos from a few reviewers, and get all hyped. Then I go to my local AD and see the models in person and they just look… Clunky, Dull? I don’t know how to describe it.
My wife wholeheartedly agrees with me, I hyped her up about the Zulu Time GMT in 39mm with a green dial to the point where she told me to go buy it. So we went to see them, wallet ready and her first words where “these are it??”. The details of the Spirit Zulu Time GMT stand out so well in photos and videos, and in person it just seems dull.
And this doesn’t happen for all brands, for example I think Grand Seikos look waaaaay better in person than in photos, the complete opposite case. Or Rolexes, APs, Langes, and even Tags in my opinion look just as good in person than in photos.
The only Longines watch I’ve actually liked in person is the Bronce Legend Diver. But other than that they all look… different. I don’t want to say “cheap”, but kind of(?).
Complete turn off from pictures and reviews to actually holding the watch in my hands.
Am I alone in this?
You’re not alone. They look like fashion watches largely due to the fact that their cases are thick, bracelets feel cheap and don’t offer OTF adjustment, and the quality of the materials is lacking.
This might be insulting to Longines owners, but I only own two watches, a Seiko Turtle and Rolex Explorer. I feel the same quality holding my $300 Seiko Turtle next to a $1,500 Longines. Meanwhile, my Explorer from 2006, which I wore every day for years and absolutely beat up before buying my Turtle, still feels premium despite the hollow center links. I think it’s largely due to the tolerances on the Rolex which make the bracelet feel more “solid” while attached to the watch.
If you hold the cheapest Tudor or Omega next to the most expensive Longines, the quality difference is immediately noticeable. GS and Zenith are also better in the case department but their bracelets are just as terrible in quality and feel (😭).