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Longines Saint-Imier: An Homage to the Brand’s Legacy

The IWC Saint-Imier Collection was named after a small village where the Longines headquarters was established and where it still stands to this day. Through this collection, Longines showcases their watchmaking expertise, and consequently, their quality-made luxury watches. Paying tribute to this proudly-held heritage, the designs also draw inspiration from older models. The familiar color scheme from the much-coveted Longines Master Collection, the sleek lines in many Longines Flagship models, as well as the case shape and distinctive lugs from Longines Heritage collection all make an appearance in this collection. The Saint-Imier Collection may not make as loud a noise as these aforementioned watches — more so since it’s been discontinued — but each watch in the collection is a bold statement of simplicity and functionality, one worth considering for its timeless appeal.

Prices at a Glance: Most Popular Longines Saint-Imier Watches 

How much does a Longines Saint-Imier watch cost? 

Longines has been known to produce Swiss watches that are competitively priced, even considered as the most affordable luxury watches in the market. You’d be surprised to know that a $1,200 USD pre owned Longines watch is just as top-quality and bears the same Swiss AOSC mark as a $4,000 USD Longines watch.

Prices for the Longines Saint-Imier Automatic Models

The Longines Saint-Imier Ref. L27664593 is a 41mm stainless steel watch with a 14mm thickness. Though a bit thicker than a regular 41mm watch, the distinctive curved lugs signature to this collection definitely makes the watches feel a bit snug than it actually is. Encased in a black dial and applied black luminous hands. Minute markers in white surround the dial and a date display replaces the index at 3 o’clock. Both the white outer rim and markers painted on the black dial and the stitching on the black leather provide contrast and give out a certain ruggedness to the overall look. This automatic men’s watch is priced at $2,499 USD. 

Another automatic watch in full stainless steel case and bracelet is the Saint Imier Ref. L27664796, which has the same dial designs as the previous watch but with a silver dial and minute markers painted in black. This 41mm watch priced at $1,479 USD runs on the Calibre L619, oscillating at a frequency of 28,800 with a power reserve of up to 42 hours. This watch reveals the hour, minutes, and seconds, with a date display at 3 o’clock.

Dropping the minute markers on the stainless steel watch and on a smaller 38mm diameter case, you have the Longines Saint-Imier Ref. L27634726 priced at $1,579 USD. With a cleaner surface, this watch is a rather more appropriate timepiece of choice on a formal suit and tie. The 7-piece link of the watch adds a bit of sophistication. Finally, to pair this particular gent’s watch with a smaller 26mm case diameter size for the ladies, you can opt to get the Longines Saint-Imier Ref. L22634876, priced at $1,739 USD. It has a mother-of-pearl dial adorned with diamond indexes and silvered polished hands. This 30m water-resistant watch runs on the Calibre L595, having a power reserve of 40 hours when fully wound.

Prices for the Longines Saint-Imier Chronograph Models 

Longines was one of the earlier chronograph watch manufacturers. Carrying the Calibre L688, produced particularly for the collection, the 41mm Saint-Imier Ref. L27524726 with a white dial and silver-tone hands and indexes bears a column-wheel chronograph. This watch, priced at $2,269 USD, has a power reserve of 54 hours and water resistance of up to 30m. There’s quite an argument around the placing of the date window between 4 and 5-hour markers for this particular watch, as well as some Longines watches of the same design. But this in fact was well thought out, rather an avant-garde design, providing symmetry for the chronograph display.

The same is true for the Longines’ Saint-Imier Ref. L27534726B, another chronograph watch with a diameter case measuring 39mm, placing the pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock to tinker with the chronograph. The silver dial is applied with polished steel markers, luminescent indexes, and a Roman Numeral at 12 o’clock.   

Prices for the Longines Saint-Imier Moon Phase Models

The Longines Saint Imier Moon Phase Ref. L27644730, and Ref. L27644533 are both retailing at the same price of $4,025 USD. For the Ref. L27644730, we get to see a lovely white dial under the blue luminescent hands pointing to the day/night indicator, GMT, moon phase, and retrograde functions. Attached to the silver stainless steel case is a brown leather strap that has a white contrast stitching. This Longines men’s watch is powered by the caliber L707. 

The same specs can be observed in the Ref. L27644533. However, it features a black dial and black alligator leather strap. Just like the Ref. L27644730, the dial of the Ref. L27644533 is adorned with functions. The hour displayed by the Arabic numerals is accompanied by seconds on the outer rim, and date on the most outer rim. The days of the week indicator is placed just below the 12 o’clock mark, and finally, the moon phase is illustrated by a rotating bright yellow moon and stars just above the 6 o’clock mark. 

History Behind the Longines Saint-Imier Collection

The humble beginnings of Longines go as far back as 1832 with August Agazzis and his two partners selling pocket watches. Ernest Francillon soon took over and, in 1867, he inaugurated the factory located in Saint-Imier, more particularly in Es Longines.

The brand’s connection to sports has been around for over a century. Chronograph watches were popular not just during close-cut finishes, but also among horse racing enthusiasts from riders keeping track of their performance, riding schools, and even punters with personal bets. Of course, the brand also made wonderful creations dedicated to other sports such as diving and aviation, attested by the Longines HydroConquest and Longines Spirit collections, respectively. But the brand’s deep connection with horse racing is undeniable, taking the role of official timekeeper for as long as the company has been running. More particularly, the Saint Imier Collection was a trophy for most of these equestrian events. 

The Longines Saint Imier Collection was launched in 2012 as a series of automatic watches with functions including date, chronographs, retrograde, and moon phases. Common to all these watches are steel and rose gold case material that carries mechanical movements, particularly the Calibre L688, revealed through a transparent caseback. The dials range between silver, black, or mother-of-pearl festooned with either diamond or stick indexes covered in SuperLumiNova. Finally, these watches get a final touch with a leather or steel bracelet locked in folding safety clasps or buckles. These classic touches serve to accentuate the timeless elegance epitomized in Longines watches. 

Reasons to Buy a Longines Saint-Imier Watch

Though more popular as a timekeeping tool for Derby competitions and horseback, there’s a lot of reasons to own a Saint-Imier even if you’re not into this particular sport. Of course, the quality material finishes are not something to overlook. The watch makes a stylish yet durable accessory for everyday wear. 

Longines is generally much more affordable than many luxury brands. This particular Longines collection falls in a much cheaper range of only around $1,000. Hence, if you’re just starting out with curating, it’s a great entry to jumpstart your collection.

Last but not least, the fact that they are a discontinued collection means they are more valuable than when they were being offered in the brand’s catalog. Having contained a Horological history that you can no longer find in the current market, collectors are willing to pay a premium for such pre-owned watches. 

Longines Saint-Imier: A Sentimental Collection

The Longines Saint-Imier Collection is nostalgic, not just in its namesake origin, but in all its details and design. And while it no longer populates the current catalog, it’s a legacy never forgotten, and one that stays close to the heart of the Longines brand.