SHINING BLUE
The colour of the ocean takes pride of place in the extremely classic collection made by the brand from Saint-Imier. With a range of sizes, two types of straps and three sorts of hour markers… The choice could be tricky!
In 1982, Longines unveiled the Agassiz, a watch named after its founder, Auguste Agassiz (1810-1877), who had opened a clock workshop in the Jura Bernois district 150 years before. For the brand’s 160th anniversary, ten years later, the Agassiz’s svelte body, straight, slender lugs and timeless style inspired a new model with a simple name: La Grande Classique. Its elegant silhouette free of all decorative elements meant it could transcend time without ageing and become a constant feature in the Longines catalogue. After mainly light-coloured dials (white, silver, champagne) and traditional finishes (guilloché, matt, mother-of-pearl), La Grande Classique has now gently changed direction to adopt a darker, contemporary colour: blue.
Majestically highlighted by a bright sunburst effect, the dial’s blue tone becomes even more intense when the 12 diamonds used as hour markers open up their fires. You can opt for a classic feel on the dial with long, white Roman numerals or for a more discreet style with silver hour markers. Because Longines’ strength is to offer a wide range rather than a restrictive choice. So La Grande Classique, in its blue version, comes in several different variations. The steel case exists in four different diameters, two for the most slender wrists (24 or 29 mm) and two unisex sizes (36 or 37 mm), while the bezel can be set with 36 or 44 brilliant-cut diamonds. And the two stick-shaped hands placed at the centre to show the hours and minutes are driven by a choice of a quartz or an automatic movement (the calibre L591.2, based on an ETA model and providing 40 hours of power reserve).
The cherry on the cake? La Grande Classique is worn on the wrist with an alligator leather strap matching the colour of the dial or with steel links for an even more traditional look!
Prices: From 950 CHF to 3,210 CHF
By Sharmila Bertin