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We asked the Swiss replica Longines VP of Marketing lots of questions about the new Spirit collection so you don’t have to

The Longines Spirit release is a totally new collection this year, something that is already very exciting in and of itself, but also because it’s an entirely new chapter for the brand. Longines, just like many of the finest watchmakers in the world, slowly improve their watches over time and rarely release entirely new collections, making the launch of the Spirit collection something that deserves attention just for its rarity. But beyond this new step from the brand, the Spirit collection is a totally different offering from Longines for a number of reasons. I spoke with Matthieu Baumgartner, the VP of Marketing at Longines, about how this new collection is a first for Longines in a few ways, and where it fits into the brand moving forward, and I came away with six key points you need to know.

Perfect Replica Longines Watch

1. This is the first Longines collection that blurs the line between old and new

“One of the key challenges behind this collection was blending heritage and contemporary. We wanted to have it distinct from the heritage segment statement of Longines, which is made of re-interpretations of milestones from the archives and the Museum of Longines. Spirit was a different project, because we rather see it as a testimony of the pioneer spirit. It is not a re-interpretation or re-edition of a specific watch from the past, but it encompasses different elements, and it’s a fusion of different aesthetical and technical elements, from watches that were equipping pioneers and innovators in the past.”

“If you look at the crown, we didn’t go for an oversized onion shape, or at least an oversized crown like we have on the Longines Weems Second-Setting watch. That, for example, is very much a pilot’s crown for pilots to use with gloves. Here we went for a slightly oversized yet very contemporary approach.”

“So it’s in these very small details that we made the difference between a re-edition of a watch from the past and a brand new collection that is strongly rooted in Longines history and aesthetic and functional codes of pilot’s and explorer watches and, of course, they did this with the COSC chronometer caliber, which is possibly the highest quality that you can expect today.”

The reissued Longines Weems Second-Setting watch.

2. If you were going to risk your life in an aircraft in the 1920s, you put your trust in Longines

“This new collection pays tribute to the feats of the pioneers of the past, and it’s not only about what they’ve achieved, but the fact that they have done that with the help of Longines wrist watches or instruments. It was a significant role that the timepiece played in the success of their endeavours back then, and could be the difference between failure and success.”

“The link between Longines and aviation is quite obvious, and we already had re-editions of historical timepieces from that era. We think of the Weems or the Lindbergh, and we were able to get some amazing and sometimes crazy stories about these watches back in the 1920s. For example, we found out that while they were taking the utmost risk to cross an ocean, or to go from point A to point B, or to break the record of being the fastest or the highest, they were placing their trust in Longines watches and instruments. We were so stunned by the level of risk they were ready to take.”

“Longines played a very important role back then as the official supplier of the World Air Sports Federation from 1919 onwards, and we found these stories also really inspiring when it came to the times we live in now. We believe that the pioneer spirit still has a strong meaning. Of course, taking risks is not the same as it was a century ago, but we are strongly convinced that being brave, daring, accepting risks, to sometimes fail but eventually be successful and triumph, they are very much values that are still important and make sense today.”

The original Weems watch from 1933. Image: Antiquorum

3. The Spirit collection is rooted in optimism

“With Longines Spirit, we have not only a re-interpretation of a specific quest from the past, but we have a fully new collection that is deeply rooted in Longines history with the pioneers of the skies, the lands and seas. Beyond a watch collection, this is also a new claim that the pioneer dream lives on. That is somehow a bridge between the glorious history of these pilots and pioneers and what we see as the pioneers of today.”

“So the ones who are very daring, brave, and who have the courage to try to uphold dreams even if they don’t succeed the first time, but to sometimes fail and eventually succeed with elegance. That is very much what is behind this new collection.”

The section of the Longines Museum that focuses on the history of aviation.

4. The quick-change date function on the chronograph was carefully considered

“This is a function of the L688.4 caliber that this chronograph is fitted with, and then there was a question: ‘Shall we hide this function or make it very discreet, or shall we have the proper pusher at 10?’ Eventually, we found out that having this function visible, this quick-set function visible with a pusher — that is screw-down to avoid any accidental or unwanted use — made the watch overall more balanced because you have the chronograph pushers and the crown on the upper end.”

The practical fake Longines watch has date window.

5. Matthieu Baumgartner’s favourite Longines Spirit watch is …

“I have rather small wrists, so I’d rather go for a three-hands date, and when I saw the first sketches and the first prototypes, I very much liked the black dial. But right now I think my favourite is the silver dial on leather strap.”

Matthieu Baumgartner’s first favourite.

6. Matthieu Baumgartner’s favourite vintage Longines watch is …

“I would say that like many collectors, I would love to one day find a Longines fitted with a 13ZN movement, in good condition and at a decent price. I think that’s a dream that many collectors and aficionados of Longines have — both for the movement and also just because of how the watch looks, as well as what it means in the history of Longines. That’s probably the one I would dream of.”

Made in partnership with Longines. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.

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INTRODUCING: The Perfect Fake Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Platinum

The male replica watch is made from platinum.

Omega shows no signs of stopping when it comes to James Bond special editions, despite Bond showing no signs of showing up for 2020. Last year we saw the release of a Seamaster Diver 300M jam-packed with nods to 007’s heritage as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Now, although it’s technically been 51 years, we are treated to this spectacle, the best replica Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Platinum, which is a similar watch, lavishly cased.

The platinum fake watch is designed for men.
Plantinum Watch Fake Omega Seamaster Diver 300M

The spiral-dial motif is a throwback to one of the earliest Bond special editions, an SMP from 2006 celebrating the re-birth of Bond in Casino Royale. This time embedded in a glossy black enamel dial, the 18k white gold rifling perfectly complements the tones of the case and the black leather strap, which is completed by contrasting metallic stitching. Similarly to the previous On Her Majesty’s Secret Service 50th anniversary editions, the 12 o’clock marker is decorated with a reference to the Bond coat of arms, and the 10 o’clock luminous marker has the number 50 hidden within the paint, only to be seen when the glow comes to life. The specific production number of the watch is engraved on a plaque, screwed onto the side of the case.

The water resistant copy watch has black dial.
Black Dial Watch Copy Omega Seamaster Diver 300M

Aside from the platinum case, there are a couple of small differences that mark out this special edition from the previous models. Although they are all subtle, the most evident is the platinum-filled bezel markings, which are done in a positive relief to give a more tactile experience to its use and also add a great deal of depth. The display caseback etching is also applied in platinum, depicting the Bond family coat of arms, and the phrase “WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD”. For the more eagle-eyed viewers, the addition of a white-enamel 007 logo can also be spotted on the minute track at 7 o’clock.

The male replica watch is made from platinum.
Male Watch Replica Omega Seamaster Diver 300M

Beneath the lavish coat of arms lies the Omega Calibre 8807 Co-Axial Master Chronometer, one of the brand’s top in-house movements with the famed Daniels’ Co-Axial escapement and the inclusion of METAS certification. In addition to the COSC standards, METAS exposes the watches to some of the most rigorous testing fathomable, ensuring the quality replica watch is resistant to 15,000 Gauss and accurate within -0/+5 seconds per day, after the movement has been installed.

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INTRODUCING: The Best Replica Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu II White, a geometric ice palace for the wrist

The perfect copy watch is decorated with diamonds.

Hublot’s Big Bang series has always been slightly outrageous since its 2005 release, but intentionally so. Large, loud, and undoubtedly luxurious, there could be no better candidate for a collaboration with Maxime Plescia-Büchi. The Swiss tattooist is responsible for the sprawling platform that is Sang Bleu, covering and influencing tattoos, clothing, typography, art — both visual and performative — and much more.

Our first taste of a Hublot x Sang Bleu project was in 2016, with an intricately engraved wristwatch, covered in mesmerising geometric patterns across the dial, case, and even embossed into the leather strap.

2019’s Baselword witnessed the sequel piece, the Swiss fake Big Bang Sang Bleu II in titanium and King Gold, looking less like a modified Hublot and more like an occultist’s spaceship. Now, a new variation has been released with the same case materials, but freshening the dial with splashes of white and a complementing white rubber strap.

There’s no hiding from the visual feast that is the quality copy Big Bang Sang Bleu II. From top to bottom, its detail and artistry never stops providing something to look at. The evocative style is borrowed, understandably, from Maxime Plescia-Büchi’s tattoo designs — often focusing on the macabre, hedonistic, and occult side of life. Referring to the 45mm case as ‘design’ feels like a disservice, when it more closely resembles architecture.

The engaged and machined patterns all cascade off each other, with different facets of high polish and directional brushing creating a hall-of-mirrors effect. At 16.5mm thick, its chunky dimensions barely compare to the size of its personality, so going unnoticed on your wrist was never an option, especially if you go for the iced-out diamond-encrusted versions.

The white strap fake watch is made from King Gold.
King Gold Fake Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu II White

The dial is nothing short of entrancing, lattice-filled hexagrams entrapping your gaze from the bezel and sub-dials. Legibility may have been slightly compromised with the loss of contrast between the white hands and a darker dial, however the broad kite-shaped hour and minute hands, creating new intersecting patterns as they float around, tend to draw the eye regardless. Enhancing the mystical qualities is the hexagonally chamfered sapphire crystal, distorting and mirroring the edges of the dial in quite an alien way. The white highlights are tastefully balanced by a slate-grey background, occasionally opening up to reveal the workings of the HUB1240 UNICO Manufacture movement, which packs a flyback complication into the column-wheel chronograph.

Hublot’s history of rubber straps is strong, having created the first natural rubber strap on a watch, so it’s no surprise that this perfect fake Big Bang has a great one. The integration with the case is perfect, with arrowhead layers stepping down and continuing the geometry of the case. Black edges to the strap keep it looking constrained to the wrist, and reduces the visual real estate that too much white can take up.

The hollowed dial replica watch is made from titanium.
Titanium Replica Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu II White

The specifications are well up to scratch, with 100m of water resistance giving ample peace of mind for wearing it in the wet. The power reserve of 72 hours is a great bonus for those who like to leave their chronographs running, and it’s quite likely that with hands like these you’ll be wanting to see them move. A beat rate of 28,800 vph ensures that the sweep of the shapes isn’t too juddering and distracting, although you may end up distracted by the enticing view of the see-through caseback with another geometric web as the rotor weight. The release is highly limited, with only 200 of the titanium models and 100 of the King Gold varieties, priced at 23,900CHF (approx. AUD$36,700) and 44,900CHF (approx. AUD$68,950) respectively.

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INSIDER: PERFECT FAKE VACHERON CONSTANTIN ÉGÉRIE SELFWINDING

Here at WCL we’ve limited the hands-on reviews of ladies’ watches because as men we don’t feel fully qualified to pass judgment on a watch that is meant to be worn by a woman. However, from time to time we will tap into a lady with exquisite taste to helps us evaluate and judge a watch from her standpoint. The best copy Vacheron Constantin Égérie is the newest collection unveiled by the brand at the beginning of the year and this is the first time that we get to peruse one of their watches in the metal. And Oh boy! what a pleasant experience being able to review such a tasteful ladies’ watch for the very first time.

The Vacheron Constantin Egérie Selfwinding is available in either 18K 5N pink gold or in stainless steel with a 35 mm case size. The 37 mm case is reserved for the Égérie Moon Phase model. This new watch like the new generation of Vacheron Constantin Overseas, benefits from an interchangeable strap system offering versatility and variety. Its off-centered dial layout highlights the position of the crown between 1 and 2 o’clock, and its pleated effect is reminiscent of delicate fabric finishing, brought to life by the art of tapestry.

The female copy watch is decorated with diamonds.
Copy Vacheron Constantin Égérie Selfwinding Watch With Diamonds

The Swiss replica Vacheron Constantin Égérie Selfwinding reference 4605F/000R-B496 is one of those watches that taps into the rich history of the oldest watch manufacture in the world with a very contemporary interpretation. This new watch doesn’t look like your grandmother’s watch and is perfectly designed to grace the wrist of a woman in her twenties or in her sixties.

With a feminine name for a watch inspired by women, the name comes from the famous nymph Egeria featured in Roman mythology to the contemporary muses who inspire artists, designers, and other creative talents.

The pebble-shaped 35 mm case which happens to be perfectly sized even for slimmer wrists, features a diamond-set bezel that looks like a ‘halo’. Along with the bezel, the texture on the silvered opaline dial with concentric circles and pleats plays with the light in a formidable way. A delicate interplay of textures and intertwined shapes, alternating flat and subtly raised areas; a pleated effect reminiscent of fabric makes this dial simply beautiful.

The female copy watch has white dial.
Female Copy Vacheron Constantin Égérie Selfwinding Watch

The 18K pink gold applied Arabic numerals —in an italicized font— are daintily scalloped like lace to adorn the dial and bring further depth to it. Applied over a snailed perimeter, they play with the ‘feuille’ shaped 18K pink gold hands and complement the bezel set with 58 round-cut diamonds.

The gorgeous dial further gets enhanced by a ring with 34 round-cut diamonds. The ring, positioned between 1 and 2 o’clock delicately frames the date aperture that features only odd numerals. In the same position, the winding crown is located on the caseband. near the top right lug. The winding crown is adorned with a cabochon-cut moonstone and it rises in all glory. Yet another interesting and delicate design touch.

The quality fake Vacheron Constantin Égérie Selfwinding is supplied with three different straps and an 18K pink gold half-Maltese cross pin buckle. The watch features a clever interchangeable strap system that allows the wearer to switch straps simply by pressing the button located on the back of the strap without the need for any tools. A great addition to this new collection that amplifies versatility and the ability to match the strap to different outfits, especially because the ladies like it that way.