The happy accident
This is my first ever watch review/post. It is about the new to me Longines VHP GMT. I purchased this watch about a month and a half ago via Chrono24. I just stated collecting about a year ago and have made a few purchases from that site all have been good experiences.
This watch was listed as being 41 mm dia. Which made sense with the information online. When the watch arrived I thought "boy that looks big for a 41" but I tried it on and loved it. I measured the watch and sure enough it is the 43 mm variant. I was disappointed and a little angry that the seller was so clueless.
I had sworn off any watch larger than 41 mm because I have a Mido Ocean Star that measures in at 42 mm and find it an uncomfortable wear.
So I measured the two watches. The Mido is 42.5 mm dia, 49 mm lug to lug, 12 mm thick, and weighs in at 168 g sized for my 7.4 inch wrist. The Longines measures 42.9 mm dia, 51.5 mm lug to lug, 13 mm thick, with a weight of 167 g.
I'm not sure why I enjoy wearing this watch so much, but I do! The technology is cool and easy to use. I'm generally not a technology guy. The fact that this is good for 15 seconds per year is impressive.
I love mechanical watches. My first love as a young man was mechanical clocks. The romance of keeping time with some weights or a spring and a handful of gears is unbeatable.
The finish on the Longines case and bracelet are very good. I think the dial is a good mix of classic and fun. Maybe I just like it because it's new to me. But I just didn't have the same reaction when I first got the Mido.
To anyone with a similar sized wrist, and is not opposed to quartz, I would highly recommend this watch.
Thanks for reading this, I look forward to any and all replies.
I started collecting in mid 2021 and have purchased a number of entry level watches. I'm having a good time and refining my ideas about what makes a satisfying collection. BTW, my page image is my wif...
Handsome watch with decent legibility, nice hands, cool rehaut and well-shaped crown guards, plus precision. Nothing wrong with all that.
Beautiful watch and gorgeous dial!
Congrats!! I briefly considered it because I love quartz watches. If horology is precision of time, then yeah quartz. But alas, it was as you say too big for my wrist. I only go 39mm or less. Still, an amazing watch!
That’s a beaut! I don’t have a GMT myself, I like them but rarely travel extensively enough to justify it :)
I bought this same exact model, about a month ago. I was really hesitant given the size of it and the reviews of that size. The smaller size also seems to demand a higher price from what I can only assume is market demand. In the end, it fits my 6.75 perfect for me. I'm older now, pushing 57 and it's easier to see.
You would think a black dial would be difficult to see in most lighting conditions, but the finishing on the hands enables the watch to be very readable in nearly any lighting condition. I couldn't get the band to fit, all of my screwdrivers kept walking off the screw heads. To avoid scratching the hell out of it I put a black stingray band on it I found under searching for "Bespoke Genuine Black Leather Stingray Watch Strap Band". And it is perfect for the watch.
I haven't yet figured out why I want to wear this so often over my other watches. Is it the fit? the finish? The weight? It's all of them. I'm a computer guy whose servers all run on UTC time so the GMT is actually quite useful (justificaton) for my everyday wear.
Still, now I'm tempted to pickup the white varient. Damnit.
Nice watch mate. That dial looks great. I can picture it sparkling in the sunlight
That’s a beaut! I don’t have a GMT myself, I like them but rarely travel extensively enough to justify it :)
Funny, I don't travel much either, just wanted one. LOL
I bought this same exact model, about a month ago. I was really hesitant given the size of it and the reviews of that size. The smaller size also seems to demand a higher price from what I can only assume is market demand. In the end, it fits my 6.75 perfect for me. I'm older now, pushing 57 and it's easier to see.
You would think a black dial would be difficult to see in most lighting conditions, but the finishing on the hands enables the watch to be very readable in nearly any lighting condition. I couldn't get the band to fit, all of my screwdrivers kept walking off the screw heads. To avoid scratching the hell out of it I put a black stingray band on it I found under searching for "Bespoke Genuine Black Leather Stingray Watch Strap Band". And it is perfect for the watch.
I haven't yet figured out why I want to wear this so often over my other watches. Is it the fit? the finish? The weight? It's all of them. I'm a computer guy whose servers all run on UTC time so the GMT is actually quite useful (justificaton) for my everyday wear.
Still, now I'm tempted to pickup the white varient. Damnit.
Thanks for your note. I can help you out on the bracelet screw thing. They only look like screws! They are really just pins. Look at the back of the bracelet and you will see the arrows indicating the direction you push the pins out.
Something magical about this watch and it's wearing experience!
I bought this same exact model, about a month ago. I was really hesitant given the size of it and the reviews of that size. The smaller size also seems to demand a higher price from what I can only assume is market demand. In the end, it fits my 6.75 perfect for me. I'm older now, pushing 57 and it's easier to see.
You would think a black dial would be difficult to see in most lighting conditions, but the finishing on the hands enables the watch to be very readable in nearly any lighting condition. I couldn't get the band to fit, all of my screwdrivers kept walking off the screw heads. To avoid scratching the hell out of it I put a black stingray band on it I found under searching for "Bespoke Genuine Black Leather Stingray Watch Strap Band". And it is perfect for the watch.
I haven't yet figured out why I want to wear this so often over my other watches. Is it the fit? the finish? The weight? It's all of them. I'm a computer guy whose servers all run on UTC time so the GMT is actually quite useful (justificaton) for my everyday wear.
Still, now I'm tempted to pickup the white varient. Damnit.
BTW, thanks for the tip on the stingray band. I've never heard of that before. Super cool! I might have to get one.
I bought this same exact model, about a month ago. I was really hesitant given the size of it and the reviews of that size. The smaller size also seems to demand a higher price from what I can only assume is market demand. In the end, it fits my 6.75 perfect for me. I'm older now, pushing 57 and it's easier to see.
You would think a black dial would be difficult to see in most lighting conditions, but the finishing on the hands enables the watch to be very readable in nearly any lighting condition. I couldn't get the band to fit, all of my screwdrivers kept walking off the screw heads. To avoid scratching the hell out of it I put a black stingray band on it I found under searching for "Bespoke Genuine Black Leather Stingray Watch Strap Band". And it is perfect for the watch.
I haven't yet figured out why I want to wear this so often over my other watches. Is it the fit? the finish? The weight? It's all of them. I'm a computer guy whose servers all run on UTC time so the GMT is actually quite useful (justificaton) for my everyday wear.
Still, now I'm tempted to pickup the white varient. Damnit.
I just ordered a stingray watch band, super excited. Thanks again
I bought mine on etsy. They had two styles, this one for ~$45 and an expensive style at $125. The more expensive style is cut from the top of the ray I guess, the denticles are larger and seem to be more pronounced. But the cheaper model works just fine, it doesn't grab attention away from the watch. I don' t know how it will stand up to time. I put a clasp on the it to minimize how much it gets worked putting it on and off.