This best replica Longines Avigation Oversize Crown GMT watch (Ref. L2.778.4.53) takes the “homage” idea a step or two further offering a well-balanced compilation of its 1920s trench watches. I don’t really know whether it is the postmodern lack of new ideas or an attempt to return to the brand’s roots, but during the recent years Longines shows a great interest in its past. There were dozens of vintage-styled models paying homage to the period starting in 1910s and going all the way to 1970s.
Longines Avigation GMT watch replica
Although clearly not a re-issue, the new Longines Avigation Oversize Crown GMT (Ref. L2.778.4.53) recreates all these visual elements of style, but on a new technological level.
Longines’ watches of that era are characterized by the use of so called ‘Borgel’ cases that were decorated with fluted bezels and sported painfully long winding crowns that allowed manipulating the timepieces even in gloved hands (for an example of a typical 1920s Longines you may want to consult a respective page on this gorgeous site wholly dedicated to vintage timekeepers.)
Since hand-wound movements are not really popular these days (at least, in this niche), the steel Longines Avigation GMT copy watch is equipped with a bullet-proof Longines caliber L704.2, which is in fact a fairly new ETA Valgranges A07.171 ebauche that was fine-tuned by ETA exclusively for the Swiss watchmaker.
Being a GMT watch, there is a secondary, arrow-shaped hour hand that points at the secondary hour scale. Printed in 24-hour format, the scale allows to easily tell AM from PM: a feature that you will love if you happen to circle Earth aboard of the International Space Station or live somewhere within the polar circle.
Longines Avigation GMT Watch replica
Besides featuring a different type of movement (and probably because of the new movement, since the L704.2 is not particularly small), the watch is also considerably larger than most of Longines trench watches of the time: it comes in a polished stainless steel body 41 millimeter in diameter.
Marketed as a “pilot’s watch”, the Avigation Oversize Crown GMT has its classic “pear”-shaped hands filled with Superluminova (ninety years ago they were usually skeletonized and lacked any lume whatsoever), while both sets of Arabic numerals are painted with silver-toned lume.
Photos: Longines
Longines Avigation Oversize Crown GMT (Ref. L2.778.4.53) watch specification
Price: Approx. $3400
Movement: Automatic, Longines caliber L704.2 (base ETA Valgranges A07.171), Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 24
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 48 hours
Movement decoration: No data
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, second time zone (GMT)
Case material: Stainless steel
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 41.00 mm
Case height: No data
Lug width: No data
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic (12/24-hour format), luminous
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Pear-shaped, luminous
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Black alligator leather strap with contrasting white stitching, on a steel buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Case back: No data
By the way, the fluted bezel of the watch has a small triangular mark at 12 hours and can be turned in any direction, which makes this beautiful piece not only a Longines watch replica, but also a very expensive Pomodoro timer for the kind of persons obsessed with productivity.