The "Replica" Trend and a Superb New Chronograph From Longines
"Replica" - used to be a nasty word in the watch industry, now it'sa term for one of its current trends. Also known as re-issue, reinterpretation, inspired by.... and tribute to .... whatever you call them, new watches styled to look like old watches are big business.
Not only that, but watch brands are being extremely sensitive to the originals and rather than making a pig's ear out of it, there has been a line-up of fine and dapper vintage-styled watches of late. Last year we enjoyed Vulcain's Cricket, Tudor's Heritage Chrono and that gorgeous WRV 1977 from RALF TECH, all highly desirable.
Longines - a watch company who acquired the knack for producing authentic retro pieces longbefore many who have since jumped onto the lucrative vintage bandwagon have recently added a new chronograph to their collection, the Longines Heritage 1973 Chronograph.
And it's all good. A 40mm cushion-shaped case, choice of black or silvered dial and some fine vintage features including broad squared-off hands, chubby markers and the added subtle vibrancy of a blue tachymeter scale. This is a busy dial, yet this is a clean dial.
The calibre is the L688 self-winding movement with column-wheel chronograph, which incidently can be viewed through the case back sapphire - a little added swagger for those with a penchant for what many consider to be the only authentic chronograph mechanism.
1970's styling was pretty awful in some respects, but with regard to watch design there were many meritorious features and the Longines Heritage 1973 Chronograph represents them to great effect. The curvy square of the case combines with resolutely rounded pushers and the severity of the no-nonsense lugs in a superb miscellany - pure 1970's and rather handsome too.
More details at Longines.