Do Longines Watches Hold Their Value?

Do you love the unique appeal of luxury watches but prefer ones that don’t cost a fortune? If so, then Longines is an excellent option. You might wonder, “Do Longines watches hold their value?”

Their watches come with high-quality craftsmanship, and it’s the fifth most recognizable Swiss watch brand globally. In addition, their timeless design will remain extremely appealing regardless of how trends change in the watchmaking industry.

But do Longines watches hold their value? Let’s find out. Keep reading as we learn about the brand, its brief history, and the best Longines watch collection.

Overview of the Longines Watch Brand

Longines History

The history of Longines started in 1832 when Auguste Agassiz and two other partners in Switzerland founded the brand. The original company name was Raiguel Jeune & Cie. 

By 1842, Agassiz’s partners had retired from the watch industry, leaving him solely in charge of the business. 

In 1852, he brought in his nephew Ernest Francillon to help run the company. Francillon was a trained economist who firmly understood the watchmaking industry. He continued to play a more critical role and took over the business when Agassiz passed away in 1977.

Longines is one of only a few Swiss luxury watch brands considered a household name. The brand Longines came after the roadside location of their first factory, which means “long meadows.”

VH P (Very High Precision) Movements

Longines watches produced its first movement (20A) the same year it established its first factory. By 1878, it also created a simple chronograph movement. These early advancements gave the brand an edge to be the supplier of timepieces in the sports industry, especially horse racing.

Included also in Longines watchmaking milestones is the creation of its first waterproof chronograph with mushroom-shaped pushers in 1937. 

Fast forward to 2017 and 2018, the luxury brand developed three new ultra-precise quartz calibers in these two years. These quartz calibers are unique because they can automatically reset their hands once hit by a magnetic field.

So, Do Longines Watches Hold Their Value?

Yes and no. 

Some Longines hold their value, especially the vintage ones. Meanwhile, some depreciate over time. It all depends on the model. Those that have their value can increase from $100 to $5,000.

The two Longines watches that appreciate value are the vintage Longines and Longines Heritage watches.

The Longines Heritage Classic Limited Edition costs around $2,000 brand new and around $3,500 at the second-hand market. That’s roughly 60% appreciation in value!

The other models from the brand don’t hold their value. First, there’s the law of supply and demand. As the price increases, demand declines while supply rises. Conversely, as the price drops, demand grows while supply constricts.

Additionally, there are around 1.4 million Longines luxury watches produced yearly. Compare that to the 100,000 watches made by other luxury brands, like Jaeger-LeCoultre. The A.Lange & Söhne even have around 5,000 to 6,000 timepieces annually.

As you can see, Longines’ 1.4 million watches a year are quite a lot. But it’s not so bad compared to other luxury brands, like Rolex, which produces about 1 million watches yearly. However, you should know that Rolex has the unique advantage of having more demand. It’s also the most popular luxury watch brand worldwide.

Some Longines watches that don’t hold their value depreciate by about 30-50%. The Longines Legend Diver is sold for around $2,500 brand new. At the second-hand market, it costs $1,750. That’s a 30% depreciation.

Longines Automatic vs. Quartz Watches: Which Should You Get?

Longines uses two kinds of movement: mechanical (or automatic) and quartz. Both movements are accurate. Longines likewise use a lot of resources, time, and skills to improve their movements each time they release a watch. 

Longines’ automatic watches are self-winding or hand-wound, born of the finest materials and creative skills in watchmaking. All the components are made of high-performing alloys or gold and stainless steel. Even more, the accuracy of mechanical movement is outstanding.

Moreover, Longines automatic or mechanical watches guarantee long functional life, as long as the owner services it regularly and takes good care of it. Although it can be subjected to temperature variation and gravitational and magnetic field distortions, it remains accurate.

On the other hand, Longines quartz watches are relatively cheaper than automatic watches. Its precision does not decrease even slightly. It uses a battery that generates an electric charge on the surface, making quartz oscillate at high frequency.

This results in the vibrational frequency necessary for accurate timekeeping. Overall, an automatic watch is a right choice if you’re looking for a more intricate and high-end watch. However, if you prefer a low-maintenance and low-budget watch, then the quartz Longines watch is the correct answer.

5 Best Longines Watch Collection

Now, look at some of the best Longines watch collections for 2023. The famous Swiss brand has over 190 years of watchmaking history. So, we’ve narrowed it down to five timeless collections worth looking at.

Watches from these collections transcend the boundaries of style, gender, function, and performance. These factors help it become the watch you want to wear for formal events or adventures outdoors.

1. Longines Master Collection

Any luxury timepiece from the Longines Master Collection combines classical elegance with exceptional quality.

They have seconds, minutes, hour markers, and a moon-phase dial. Their self-winding watches house the popular L899 Caliber automatic movement visible through a transparent sapphire crystal case back.  

Any watch from this collection is all class and can make a lasting impression.

Best Watches from the Longines Master Collection

• Longines Master Automatic 40mm L2.793.4.71.5 L27934715
• Longines Master Automatic 25.5mm L2.128.4.78.6 L21284786
• Longines Master Automatic 40mm L2.793.4.92.0 L27934920
• Longines Master Automatic 38.5mm L2.755.4.78.6 L27554786

2. Longines HydroConquest

This watch collection is for adventure-seekers who want high-performance watches. It combines elegance and technical innovation.

The stainless steel material used for watches in this collection caters to men and women, with ceramic bezel and gold hands complementing the sunray dial. HydroConquest watches typically have a 72-hour power reserve, offer 300m water resistance, and use automatic movement.

With that water-resistance capability, it is suitable for all high-impact water sports, such as saturation diving and scuba diving. Even the Rolex Submariner has no edge to Hydroconquest as a diver’s watch. 

Best Watches from the Longines HydroConquest Collection

• Longines HydroConquest Quartz 39mm L3.730.4.96.6 L37304966
• Longines HydroConquest Quartz 41mm L3.740.4.96.6 L37404966
• Longines HydroConquest Quartz 41mm L3.740.4.56.6 L37404566
• Longines HydroConquest Quartz 41mm L3.740.3.96.7 L37403967

3. Longines Heritage

Another collection that favors the watch community is the Longines Heritage. Watches from this collection increase in value a lot.

It is also composed of vintage-inspired watches, as the name suggests. These watches are handsome, featuring sport stainless steel round cases, automatic movements, and smooth steel bezels. 

They also have a dial that features a pair of hands for minutes and hours while the sub-dial displays the running seconds. Discreet and classic, Longines Heritage watches are sure to steal hearts.

Best Watches from the Longines Heritage Collection

• Longines Flagship Heritage L4.795.4.78.2 L47954782
• Longines Flagship Heritage L4.795.4.58.0 L47954580
• Longines Heritage Classic L2.813.4.66.0 L28134660
• Longines The Longines Classic 1832 L4.325.4.92.2 L43254922
• Longines The Longines Classic 1832 L4.827.4.92.2 L48274922

4. Longines DolceVita

Watches from the Longines DolceVita are undeniably elegant, timeless, and classic. Some models even feature an 18-karat gold and have a beautiful art deco design. Their rectangular cases are also quite a pleasure to behold.

Although DolceVita watches are incredibly well-priced, they are certainly iconic and worth the salt.

Best Watches from the Longines DolceVita Collection

• Longines DolceVita Quartz 23mm L5.512.4.11.8 L55124118
• Longines DolceVita Quartz 23mm L5.512.4.16.6 L55124166
• Longines DolceVita Quartz 20mm L5.255.4.71.5 L52554715
• Longines DolceVita Quartz 23mm L5.512.4.75.2 L55124752

5. Longines Conquest Classic

These watches are lovely, simple, and have tremendous value. They have superb dial details, with polished and texturing elements in the right places. 

Very few would have anything negative to say about this collection.

Best Watches from the Longines Conquest Classic Collection

• Longines Conquest Classic Quartz 29.5mm L2.286.4.52.6 L22864526
• Longines Conquest Classic Quartz 29.5mm L2.286.4.92.6 L22864926
• Longines Conquest Classic Quartz 34mm L2.386.4.52.6 L23864526
• Longines Conquest Classic Quartz 34mm L2.386.4.72.6 L23864726

FAQs About Longines Watches

Is Longines a luxury watch brand?

Yes, it is a luxury brand. However, their watches don’t cost as much as Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex watches.

This brand has affordable Swiss watches compared to other watch brands in the luxury watch market. Their entry-level timepieces start at $725, slightly lower than TAG Heuer’s entry-level watches sold for $1,000.

Should you buy a used Longines watch?  

Many Longines watches depreciate after only three years. Therefore, buying a second-hand Longines will allow you to own it for 30 to 50% cheaper, as long as it’s not among the limited and sought-after pieces by collectors. 

However, it is essential to ensure that your product is authentic. So, always ask for the serial numbers, papers, and watch documentation.

Are Longines watches good?

Yes, Longines watches manufactures high-quality Swiss watches. It’s also one of the most popular watchmakers in the world, and not all of its timepieces cost a fortune. 

They have affordable watches compared to other luxury brands. For instance, it’s seven times cheaper than the Rolex Datejust ladies’ watch and Oyster Perpetual.

Final Verdict: Are Longines Watches Worth the Money?

Definitely yes.

Most Longines watches may not have precious materials like gold, diamond, or silver. Yet, they tend to be made of durable materials. These include titanium and high-quality stainless steel. 

The brand likewise offers both automatic and quartz movements. These movements are innovative but expensive. So, they contribute to the cost of the timepiece.

In terms of design, Longines has also upped its game. So you’ll feel comfortable and good while wearing it. For high customer satisfaction when owning or wearing a Longines, a couple of thousand US dollars is worth.

That’s about it for this blog. If you like this review, you might want to read our other reviews at EvesWatch.com.