Watchlords

The explosion of interest in the world of vintage watches has altered the fabric of the industry: not only are smaller, retro-sized timepieces in fashion, but brands are increasingly looking to their archives. For a short while, there has been a notable trend for reissuing classic watches – particularly those with an intriguing backstory. The latest from Longines? A re-creation of a piece it made more than 70 years ago exclusively for the French Navy.

The story begins in 1947 when the Marine Nationale asked Longines to supply a robust, accurate wristwatch for sailors. The outcome was Ref 5774, a waterproof 33.5mm-diameter piece (tiny compared to the received notion of a military watch) that went on to serve the navy’s crews, especially while diving in shallow waters. These pieces have long since held cult appeal, so it makes sense that Longines has chosen to revisit the design.

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/watches/a ... -nationale