HANDS-ON: Longines' 180th Anniversary Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece Chronograph
I stopped by Manfredi Jewels today to take a look at a classic, cool, and amazingly well-priced column-wheel chronograph by Longines. This wristwatch isn't exactly brand new, as it was released last year, though it is a great representation of Longines' ability to produce superb chronographs and market them at a more reasonable cost than other Swiss brands.
Manufactured in commemoration of the 180th anniversary of Longines, this reference L2.776.4.21.3 revisits past designs. A matter of fact, without the strap and lugs this watch would closely resemble a pocket watch more anything else.
A fairly uncommon feature visible on the exterior is a single crown combined with a single chronograph pusher, hence the term mono-pusher. The mono-pusher is a practical concept that has been utilized by few manufacturers, including Minerva, Eberhard, and Longines, and applied to their early chronographs.
What's just as enticing, in terms of aesthetics, is the enamel dial with massive Roman numerals. Take a look at this in the photo below (notice the equally large twelve o'clock marker printed in red).
Blue steel hands span the diameter of the dial, while a rounded steel bezel encircles the dial. Wire lugs give this wristwatch a distinctively old-world look and feel.
This movement is where the remarkable value lies. A column-wheel chronograph with a power reserve of 54 hours is fitted in a well-proportioned, steel 40 millimeter case.
The watch may appear large in photos, but in actuality it isn't. Plus, I find it to be super comfortable and shockingly, in a good way, lightweight.
Longines' 180th Anniversary Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece (Mono-pusher) Chronograph is now available at Manfredi Jewels of Greenwich, CT. Be sure to visit Manfredi Jewels for an unparalleled collection of fine and contemporary timepieces.
For further information, please visit www.manfredijewels.com.