BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
With its genesis dating back to 1832, it is only fitting that Longines has an elaborate Heritage collection. But what is more impressive, is how the products in this collection stay aesthetically true to their vintage counterparts while remaining relevant to modern times as well. The latest addition to the brand’s Heritage collection comes in the form of the Silver arrow, a modern reissue of a 1955 reference.
Like many of its Heritage siblings, the new silver arrow manages to keep the visual identity of its inspiration intact. The true calling card of the historic Silver Arrow model was the applied indices with striations and this modern avatar is no different. Placed on top of a silver Opaline base, the polished and applied textured indices not only provide a great contrast but also bring in a healthy dose of visual intrigue. Out of the 12 indices, the four quadrants feature elongated rectangles with straight inserts whereas the rest of the indices have these mountain-like ridges giving them a peculiar identity. Furthermore, behind every marker are small strips of yellow-colored luminous paint that should make it a breeze to read the time in dimly lit situations using the lume filled alpha hands. Interestingly, the dial also has a slight dome which is accentuated by a silver ring that separates the minute track and the base dial.
The case, like the dial, maintains the silhouette of the historic model, albeit with modern proportions. So what you have here is a modestly sized 38.5mm case (compared to the 35mm of the original) with a polished sloping bezel, long lugs, and a grippy crown at 3. Sitting above the case is a box-shaped sapphire crystal designed to mimic plexus glass crystals from the past. The case back has been kept closed and features a pictorial representation of a jet flying through the stars, just like the way it was on the 1955 Silver Arrow.
Beating inside this watch is the modern automatic Longines calibre L888.5. This is a heavily modified ETA 2892 that operates at 3.5 Hz and offers a massive power reserve of around 3 days. The movement is also equipped with a silicon balance spring to offer enhanced anti-magnetic protection.
The new Longines Silver Arrow comes mated to a brown calf leather strap. The watch will retail for USD 2,100 and will come with a five-year warranty.
