Les Elégantes de Longines

A new collection of jewellery watches dedicated to the splendour of the 1930s

The Watch and Jewellery Show 2004  – Artists in the early 1930s aimed at warding off evil, among other things, by their creativity and originality. Fashion, and haute couture in particular, became an art unto itself and played an important role in the artistic evolution of the period. Designers who have since become institutions dedicated to elegance launched a large number of fashion houses: Jeanne Lanvin, Mademoiselle Chanel, the originator of a timeless, unique design, Jean Patou, who was the embodiment of chic and elegance, or Elsa Schiaparelli, a charming, refined and inventive arch-rival. And it was in the purest style of the time, in this spirit of creation and elegance that Longines launched, in 1931, the three models which form the 2004 Les Elégantes de Longines collection.

With the arrival of smaller and much more precise movements, the only limitations watch designers had to face were their own imagination and their taste. The result was a mass of models which explored the whole range of shapes, sizes, precious materials and elaborate decoration. Elegance overrode pure technology, women’s models becoming unquestioned fashion accessories which reflected the spirit of the period. Faithful as ever to its principle of elegance, Longines conquered a new public which has remained loyal ever since.

The return of the exquisite watch

After two initial limited-edition models dedicated to the 1920s, Longines is now launching three exquisite replicas of jewellery watches of the period. This special re-launch collection has been named “Les Elégantes de Longines”. The precious stones and the 1930s design combine beautifully to form an accessory of pure charm, a modern-day tribute to eternal elegance.

Produced principally for discerning lovers of beautiful objects, the three models in the Les Elégantes de Longines collection have shaped cases and hand-crafted guilloché decoration set with diamonds and, in certain versions, sapphires. They are available in limited series of 35 pieces each. All watches in this collection are fitted with 5¾ lines hand-wound, mechanical movements, Longines caliber L805, produced in the 1970s and display a rhodium-plated dial featuring Arabic numerals or hour-markers and a painted, black railway-track minute-ring.

The Les Elégantes de Longines collection includes three different designs in the purest tradition of shaped watches, of which Longines has been one of the initiators from the early days of the 20th century. The first is a tonneau model with round opening set with 26 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds and 8 sapphires (total 0.54 carat). The second model is rectangular and set with 26 diamonds and 30 sapphires (total 0.82 carat), while the third, which is also rectangular, is set with 36 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds (total 0.82 carat).

Tradition with a contemporary spirit

Although the models in the 2004 generation of Les Elégantes de Longines are true to their original designs they are right up-to-date, since they match perfectly with the “vintage” trend in fashion this season. All their sparkling brilliance demonstrates that at Longines charm and time are combined for ever.

Longines is a member of the Swatch Group, the world’s leading watch manufacturer with no fewer than 159 production units in Switzerland.