Editorial Hands-on Reviews Longines New Watches 2021

Quick Hands-on: Is The Longines Sector Dial Heritage Classic Black Worth The Hype?

Editor’s note: This Longines Sector Dial has been photographed with the assistance of J Farren-Price Sydney. For our detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here. This is NOT a sponsored post.

Longines Sector Dial
©WatchYaGonnaDoAboutIt

The Longines Sector Dial In A Nutshell

The Longines Sector Dial was first introduced three years ago back in 2019. It was inspired by the brands’ own museum watch from 1934, and the newer Longines Sector Dial ref. L2.828.4.73.0 remains quite similar to the original.

Longines Sector Dial
© 2022 Longines Watch Co. Francillon Ltd., All rights reserved

The black Sector Dial ref. L2.828.4.53.6, however, adds a certain modern appeal to the table, raising the aesthetic charm quotient way higher. Modern Longines watches usually wear big courtesy their large lugs, and with the Longines Sector Dial Heritage Classic Black, one visually doesn’t notice this. The silver/opaline version from 2019 still felt big for my rather slim ~16cm wrists despite its same 38.5mm diameter. But the black Longines Sector Dial with a very flexible bracelet sneaks its way through to my list for best watches under 5K AUD for those with slim wrists.

1570695231 L2.828.4.73.2PR2
© 2022 Longines Watch Co. Francillon Ltd., All rights reserved

My first reaction to the latest Longines Sector Dial Heritage Classic iteration in black was how well it fit and how classy it looked. And the wearing experience of the polished-on-the-outside-brushed-on-the-inside beads-of-rice bracelet that drapes ever-so-lightly is comfort redefined. 

Longines Sector Dial
©WatchYaGonnaDoAboutIt

Need To Know Specs Of The Longines Sector Dial

The Longines Sector Dial ref. L2.828.4.53.6 features a 30m water-resistant 38.5mm diameter and 11mm thick stainless steel case with a lug-to-lug spacing of ~48mm and interhorn spacing of 19mm.

Retailing for only 3’600 AUD, this non-limited edition Longines Sector Dial was first announced in June 2021 and is a perfect timepiece for those who love vintage Art-Deco themes but still want an elegant daily-wearable  modern Swiss timepiece for pittance (of say a JLC or Patek sector dialled watches).

Longines Sector Dial
©WatchYaGonnaDoAboutIt

Inside the Sector Dial ticks the calibre L893 which is an automatic-winding mechanical movement measuring 25.6mm in diameter.

The movement has 26 jewels — raising the number to five more than the ETA caliber A31.L91 or ETA A31.501 which it uses as base which is further derived from the ETA 2895-2 — while beating at the frequency of 3.5Hz (25’200 A/h) and providing a very decent 72-hour power reserve.

Longines Sector Dial

The Alternatives 

If for some reason the black-grey combination of the Longines Sector Dial ref. L2.828.4.53.6 is not for you, fret not. There are plenty of alternate options from the brand that feature the same aesthetics.

For starters, there is the aforementioned 2019 version, the silver/opaline Sector Dial ref. L2.828.4.73.0. Besides the dial colour being the complete opposite, everything else is the same.

1570695237 L2.828.4.73.2PR1
© 2022 Longines Watch Co. Francillon Ltd., All rights reserved

For those who prefer this silver dial aesthetic but want a different rectangular watch, there is the Longines DolceVita reference numbers L5.757.4.73.0/3/6/9 in 27.7mm x 43.8mm case. And anyone wanting a date function, these are also available in a bigger 28.2mm x 47mm sized case, the references L5.767.4.73.0/3/6/9. These mechanical variations feature the calibre L592 (ETA A20.L011) with a 45-hour power reserve, and retail for a substantially less 2’525 AUD.

1617295256 L5.767.4.73.0DRfaceA4
© 2022 Longines Watch Co. Francillon Ltd., All rights reserved

Then there is also the Longines Heritage Classic Tuxedo ref. L2.330.4.93.0 retailing for 3’275 AUD. Again in 38.5mm diameter these are ever so slightly thicker at 11.65mm. These feature the same movement, 30m water-resistance and 19mm lug interhorn distance as that of the Longines Sector Dial Black. 

2277LonginesPress Kit 2020L2.330.4.93.0V4
© 2022 Longines Watch Co. Francillon Ltd., All rights reserved

We have gone hands-on with its chronograph brother the Longines Heritage Classic Chronograph ‘Tuxedo’ ref. L2.830.4.93.0, and point blank, it is one of the most photogenic watches we have come across in recent times. Personally, I would go for the chronograph in the Tuxedo execution and the black Longines Sector Dial if I was making a decision between which to get. Though with the Longines Heritage Classic Tuxedo ref. L2.330.4.93.0 you get the best of both worlds, and pocket a fair bit of change too. 

The thing about Longines these days is that they provide exceptional value for your money, and truth be told, you pretty much can’t go wrong with any of their newer releases. 

Hands-on Experience Wearing The Longines Sector Dial

The Longines Sector Dial is a simple, straightforward, pretty looking watch with no pretences or over the top embellishments. Its silvered polished hands and painted Arabic numerals and indexes along with the subtle branding at 12  all hark to its utilitarian purpose of being a pure time-telling device. 

Longines Sector Dial
©WatchYaGonnaDoAboutIt

I also appreciate that Longines hasn’t cluttered up this dial with appliqué logos or a date window. It’s clean, minimalistic and well, just nice to look at. Simply put, the Longines Heritage Classic Black is worth every penny and its hype.

Longines Sector Dial
©WatchYaGonnaDoAboutIt

When it comes to the dial that includes the take-it-or-leave-it central cross-hair gunning for the ‘g’ in the Longines branding, the Calatrava-styled case, the specifications — that also include a silicon balance spring to aide with anti-magnetism — and even the pricing, there is pretty much nothing that I can fault. 

Though one thing I don’t like is the contrast between the polished and brushed surfaces of the beads-of-rice bracelet and the lugs junction. Even though I loved wearing it on the bracelet, this combination appears to be an afterthought. But this can be easily changed by swapping out the straps — as long as you have that odd-19mm back-ups in your watch cabinet —  if this bothers you as well. 

Longines Sector Dial
©WatchYaGonnaDoAboutIt

The most striking feature about the Longines Sector Dial Heritage Classic Black is that charisma generated by light hitting the aura of the azurage sub-dial that delights against the muted black main dial and dark grey peripheral track.

Longines Sector Dial
©WatchYaGonnaDoAboutIt

To find out more about the Longines Sector Dial and other Longines watches, please head to their website here or visit their authorised retailer J Farren-Price Sydney at 80 Castlereagh St, Sydney (02 9231 3299). All images unless otherwise stated are ©WatchYaGonnaDoAboutIt. 

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Watch Ya Gonna Do About It

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading