Longines Silver Arrow – for the purist's eyes
I can't help but enjoy Longines' heritage pieces more and more. Most recently, I was struck by the new Silver Arrow, a model whose roots date back to the 1950s.
Recently, I have been reevaluating my attitude toward watch sizes and am increasingly leaning toward smaller diameters. Most recently, when the Longines Global Champions Tour show jumping competition was held at the X-BIONIC Sphere in Šamorín, we were present as a distributor of the brand and hosted our business partners and valued clients. nbsp;
For this occasion, I wore a Longines Présence on a blue leather strap with a blue dial and a diameter of 38.50 mm. I was somehow captivated by this size. The delicate, subtle case goes perfectly with a suit, but also with sporty elegance.
As stated on the manufacturer's website, the model reflects the innovative spirit that has driven the brand for decades. However, it also emphasizes the brand's durability and close connection to history. There is nothing to criticize. I took the watch out of the safe to try it on myself. I am quite satisfied with the proportions of the watch; the original model with a "ladies' diameter" of 34 mm would probably not appeal to anyone today. That's why Longines is responding flexibly to the preferences of 21st-century customers and dressing its historical piece in a 38.50 mm case. The thickness is only 9.9 mm, which contributes to the overall impression of a slim watch. In terms of wearability, the more important measurement is "from lug to lug," which is 48 mm. If I had to evaluate the case as a whole, I would say it feels robust and technical – a feeling that is reinforced by the massive bezel. The entire case is polished to a high shine, and the back cover features an engraving of a supersonic aircraft.
If I compare Silver Arrow with Présence, the latter is significantly more delicate in this respect. Together with the thin bezel, delicate indices, and hands, they create harmony. Purists and classic enthusiasts will appreciate the absence of a date display (as I have recently learned, a minority of watch lovers do not like date displays). The silver-opaline dial features silver horizontal and vertical brushed indices finished with SuperLuminova. The sapphire crystal is convex and coated with an anti-reflective layer.
The brown calfskin leather is finished with a simple buckle, which is also used in the Présence collection. At first glance and from a distance, the leather evokes a satin finish. The watch is powered by a modified Longines caliber L888 with a 72-hour power reserve, a silicon hairspring in the oscillator, and a 5-year warranty. The price is €2,050.
I want it!
