Les Elegantes de Longines

Compared to the other timepieces that Longines has released for the past few years, there’s no doubt that this new Longines Les Elegantes is the most luxurious watch.

Limited to 20 pieces for each version, Les Elégantes de Longines are characterized by their oval or rectangular case, the delicacy of their decoration, and their hand-engraved back. These three particularly charming timepieces house movements made by the manufacture in the 1970′s.

The tastes of the 1920s are considered to be among the most important stylistic trends created in the 20^th century. Their creative freedom and imagination helped to perpetuate a unique style within the Art Deco movement which exerted a marked influence even in watchmkaing during the 1920s. As it does each year, Longines has sought inspiration in this artistic trend for creating elegant ladies’ timepieces and is now presenting three new watches in the distinctive 1920s style: Les Elégantes de Longines.

The 1920s saw an artistic revolution with the emergence of the Art Deco movement whose influence spread to many areas of life. But it was also the period of a minor revolution for women: in the 1920s women gradually shrugged off convention and took their fate in their own hands. Corsets were thrown out, waists were liberated, women gained their freedom. Echoing these changes, fashion was also influenced by Art Deco and took on a new beauty made up of chic lifestyles, elegance and vivacity.

The early years of the 20^th century also brought with them a major revolution in the world of watchmaking. The advent of the wristwatch and the development of smaller and more reliable movements enabled the watchmakers of the period to exploit their creative talents to the full. Watches, which until then had been relegated to the depths of men’s waistcoat pockets, began to be worn on the wrist. But the craftsmen at Longines were soon turning their creative skills to ladies’ models, lending the Art Deco style a new expression in elegant and charming timepieces for women. With shaped cases in white gold set with precious stones or playfully decorated – a true in-depth exploration of the exuberant fashion of the time – the jewelled watches created by Longines in the first 30 years of the 20^th century soon became immensely popular among the female population.

In 2002 Longines decided to revive the beautiful creations of the 1920s. The models produced at that time were reviewed and reissued. The result was the Les Elégantes de Longines collection, which was an immediate hit among amateur (female) collectors of exceptional pieces. Since then, each spring, new models that are delicate, fine examples of the Art Deco spirit are added to this timeless, elegant collection.

This year Longines has created three new models inspired by the exuberance of the 1920s to make up its 2010 edition of Les Elégantes de Longines. The first is a rectangular watch in yellow gold, set on an elegant strap in black satin. The second, a delicate piece in rose gold, has a tonneau-shaped case that fits snugly on to a bordeaux satin strap. And the third is a graceful white gold model with an almond-shaped case and a white satin strap. The cases of all three models have been hand-engraved in the Art Deco style and set with 24 to 42 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds that add a final sparkle. The Arabic numerals add a delicate charm to the silvered dials and blued hands.