An Affordable Moonphase, Tripple date Chronograph Watch!

Longines Master Collection L2.673.4.78.3

This is another example of how well Longings creates quality mechanical time pieces at a fraction of the price that others would charge.

It has a RRP of £2,070 (at time of publishing), with the next cheapest similar watch that I’ve found is the Zenith El Primero 410 Complete Calendar Moonphase with an RRP price of £7,770 with other brands charging considerably more for similar watches.

So the Longines manages to create a comparable watch but at a third of the price of similar triple date, chronograph, and moon phase complication including watches. Although my colleagues argue that the Zenith’s less cluttered face feels more refined and less toy like than the Longines – but with a £5.7K difference in list price between the two, only you can decide if the added cost would be worth it.

Buying the Longines would save the buyer £5,700 over the Zenith El Primero 410. With that much money you could buy an acre of land, put a deposit down on a mortgage, buy a used Porsche Boxster 2.7, buy a new Rolex Submariner Date (116610LN), or go on a far away holiday to that place you’ve been longing to explore.

The Longines Master Collection Moon Phase is available with a brown Alligator leather strap, with contrasting white stitching and a signed deployant buckle. That requires both buttons to be pressed simultaneously while pulling the clasp for it to open. The strap is fairly padded, is supple and flexible, tapering down from 21mm in thickness towards the ends to 17.8mm. And unsurprisingly has two keepers, one fixed and the other floating.

Deployment buckle opened up on Alligator leather strap

The signed deployant buckle on the Alligator leather strap

The watch is also available on a stainless steel bracelet but personally, I feel that the alligator leather looks more sophisticated. But then if you’re seeking something more durable that won’t need replacing every couple of years – then the bracelet may suit your needs better.

There is also an 18kt rose gold option that triples the asking price, but in that price range, there are much more alluring alternatives. The Longines Master Collection is produced in two case sizes, 40mm or 42mm, with this review being based on the 40mm white-faced dial option.

The Construction

The casing, buttons, and crown of this triple date, moon phase, chronometer, is made from highly polished stainless steel that is very reflective. When manipulating the chronometer pusher buttons I found them to be a little bouncy when lightly pushed, but if pressed a bit harder respond with a good tactile click. The case is of classic stylings but not of the small vintage sizing of yesteryear, with a thickness of 14.6mm. The case lines are clean and fluid without any complex anglings or cuts, with a concave bevel angling down and away from the slightly domed sapphire crystal.

On the back of the watch, I feel there is too much cluttered-text. And surprisingly a sapphire crystal exhibition back, which is unusual on such an inexpensive watch (affordable manufacturers tend to cut costs and use mineral glass). That allows you to look at the Longines calibre L678 movement, based on an ETA Valjoux 7751. Running at the standard 28,800 vph with 25 jewels and a rated power reserve of 48 hours. It’s not a super special looking movement (compared to the far more expensive watches I get to see for my job) but it’s certainly a good addition to the Longines, and the signed rotor with a Cotes de Geneve pattern and perlage decorations inside the movement reaffirms the status of Longines as a respectable Swiss watch brand.

The case back is of the snap-on variety and is considered the least water-resistant of the different case back types. Definitely do not try to shower or swim with this watch on; it says it has a water resistance of 30m, but this just means it should be ok if splashed by water from things like waking your hands.

The Dials Aesthetics

The dial has what Longings calls a ‘barleycorn’ pattern, with a white metal like appearance to it. On top of this the hour markers are hand painted in black with modern arabic numerals at all but the 6, 9, and 12 markers where our compilations sub dials sit. They are easily legible and match the watch better than if Roman numerals where do be added, the Arabic numerals give it a modern look, Roman numerals would have made the watch look too classic, confused and cluttered.

The hands are of polished blued steel and contrast well with the texture of the dial beneath. I was a little baffled at why Longines hadn’t matched the colour of the moon phase compilation with that of the hands but for its asking price I think I’ll let them go on this one. The hour and minute hands are sword like in appearance, with the chronographs second counter being long and thin. And the running date around the dials perimeter is pointed at by a slim central hand with a semi-moon tipped end.

The dial of the Longines Master Collection (L2.673.4.78.3) Moon Phase does not feature any dial luminescent compounds for telling the time in low light environments. Which would have been a welcome practical addition if it could be accomplished without adding too much to the already busy dial. But realistically this is a large complicated dress watch that is happy to go smart casual and it certainly doesn’t need any lume.

On the right of the dial next to the 3 o’clock marker is an applied Longines signature with their winged logo and the word automatic beneath as a reassurance at the quality beneath.

‘Longines

Automatic’

The Complications

And now to explain what initially looks like a horrendously complicated watch face – what everything does. This watch has in addition to telling the time a multitude of complications:

• A chronograph broke down by three hands
  • 60 Seconds
  • 30 minutes
  • 12 hours
• Triple date made from
  • Date
  • Day of the Week
  • Month
• Moon phase
• A 24-hour indicator
• A running seconds hand

The chronographs function is indicated by the seconds hand from the centre, pointing to the outer bezel with 1/5th-second sub markers and arabic numerals every 5 seconds. The 30-minute totaliser is on the top sub-dial and a 12 hour sub-dial at the bottom.

The date is shown by a semi-moon tipped central hand, pointing to the dials circumference going up to 31. The day of the week is shown inside a rectangular window on the left side of the 12 o’clock sub dial, the month of the year being shown directly on its right being perfectly centred. Both being clearly applied in crisp black text on a white platter.

The moon phase compilation peeks through a cut out of the 6 o’clock sub-dial and is presented on a blue turning disc. It really highlights the sophistication and luxuriousness of the Longines Master Collection, because of its fully functional mechanical moon phase compilation.

On the left of the Longings watch, between the painted 8 and 10 o’clock markers is our third sub dial. Around the outside of this sub-dial is a 24 hour am/pm indicator pointed to by a long blue hand. Within this, we have the clocks running seconds hand on an even shorter hand. If I had designed the watch I would have switched these two around to increase the second hands legibility as it really is too small to be comfortably used.

Adjusting Longines Master Collection’s Complications

For such a complicated watch, it can be adjusted rather easily – once you know what you’re doing.

1. When the crown is in the 0 position it can be wound to give the automatic movements mainspring some extra energy when not in use.
2. When the crown has been pulled out to its first position it can adjust the:
   • Moonphase by turning the crown clockwise.
   • The date by turning it counter-clockwise which then progresses the month indicator when turning the date from 31 to 1.
3. In the second crown position it will adjust the minute and hour hands for timekeeping.

• The day of the week needs to be changed by the flush pusher button on the side of the casing, near the 10 o’clock marker. It should ideally be pushed with the supplied tool, but if that’s not available then use a soft tipped pointing device to manipulate the button without damaging the polished finish.

Verdict

The Longines Master Collection L2.673.4.78.3 Moon Phase watch is a solid triple date, moon phase chronograph watch that doesn’t cost a fortune. It’s well constructed, good-looking and is supplied in the usual cream coloured presentation box from Longines. If the Longines Master Collection has all the features you want in a watch; I doubt you will find another of this level of quality at a lower price point.

Buy this Longines Master Collection Moon Phase [L2.673.4.78.3] from our [Shop Here] at a discounted price.

Dial close up of complications

On side with crown side up with Alligator leather strap

Sitting in supplied Longines box

Dial close up of complications

Watch on its side crown up, with inside of strap in view

The clear exhibition back with decorated rotor beneath

Arabic numerals on Longines Master Collection

Sitting in supplied Longines box

Sitting in supplied Longines box

The signed deployant buckle on the Alligator leather strap

On side with crown side up

Supplied Longines box open with watch

On side with crown side up

On side with crown up showing casing’s profile

On side with exhibition back in view

The clear exhibition back with decorated rotor beneath

Deployment buckle opened up on Alligator leather strap

On side with crown side up in low light with dial illuminated

Watch Specs: