Longines has been producing some nice vintage inspired pieces as of late — their Heritage Collection is completely stacked. New to this lineup and following suit is the Avigation, reference L2.831.4.53.2. Inspired by the watch of the same name from 1949, Avigation is a portmanteau of “aviation” and “navigation”, not a typo. It’s powered by the Longines L704.2 movement, which is an ETA Valgranges A07.171 that features a GMT complication and date window underneath a sapphire crystal. It’s essentially a 2893-2 in a larger size, in a case that is water resistant down to 30m. Although the movement itself isn’t antimagnetic, it is encased in an iron plate and dome which protect it from the effects of magnetic fields, a feature this model shares with the one from 1949.
Vintage Avigation – Photo courtesy VietnamWarPatches.com
At 44-millimeters in diamter, it might be a little on the large side for some of us, but it’s in the appropriate size range for a true pilot’s watch. With the curved lugs, lack of crown guard and thin bezel, it should wear just right. The Avigation has classic features reminiscent of a vintage military piece like the 24hr scale on the inside of the dial rather than along the outer edge or on the bezel, which keeps the dial and case relatively clean. The archtypical “broad arrow” below the “Longines” is a great touch. The broad arrow was a symbol used as far back at the 17th century to signify British military property. Another noticeable aspect is that the GMT features don’t overshadow the other features or clutter the dial, which can be common with GMT watches. The aforementioned details, along with the relatively small but easy to find red GMT hand and numbers, encourage the tidy look.
The Longines Avigation ref L2.831.4.53.2
At around $2,300, it’s definitely a bargain; you get a lot of watch for your money. It’s understated, very wearable, and obviously functional. This would be a fine addition to anyone’s collection, especially for those who enjoy the looks and tradition of a classic military watch but with modern features and toughness. Longines has really been stepping up their game recently and it continues with the new Avigation.
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Eric Miller
This looks like a cool one. Why do they feel compelled to put in a date window in EVERY heritage edition??? Maddening
Andrei
I simply don’t understand how can they ask same price Sinn asks for their 857 UTC, at such low technical specifications. Just as I don’t understand why are watchmakers still offering 30m water resistance.
Shane Griffin
A huge part of it is the brand. Sinn is still relatively unknown outside of Germany. The other thing is the markup on the Longines. If you go to an authorized dealer and put even a little bit of pressure on them, you’ll probably get 25% off. That would make the price more logical. I’m with you on the water resistance.