Longines Evidenza

Longines took inspiration from the fashion and art of the 1920s when designing the Evidenza collection. First created in 1911, the barrel-shaped (tonneau) case has an even longer tradition in watchmaking. Today, you'll find men's and women's watches with classic, elegant designs defined by silver dials, leaf-shaped hands, Arabic or Roman numerals, and alligator leather straps. The diamond-studded women's models are particularly luxurious. Other interesting timepieces include automatic watches with a chronograph function, calendar, or 18-karat gold case.

The Longines Evidenza with the reference number L2.688.4 is the collection's most complicated model from a technological perspective. This stainless steel watch boasts a chronograph, calendar, and moon phase display. All this functionality comes from the Longines caliber L678, which is based on the ETA Valjoux 7751. This automatic movement also provides the timepiece with its 48-hour power reserve and pointer date feature. The moon phase display sits within the 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock. The subdial at 9 o'clock also does double duty as a small seconds and 24-hour display. Finally, the 30-minute counter shares its subdial with the day and month displays at 12 o'clock. You can purchase this watch for around 2,200 USD pre-owned.

Longines offers a number of rose or yellow gold watches in the Evidenza collection. However, yellow gold pieces are only available on the pre-owned market. You can often save a few hundred dollars by purchasing a used watch. For example, an 18-karat yellow gold women's watch with diamonds and a quartz movement costs only 2,200 USD. The automatic version with a small seconds and no diamonds demands about 2,900 USD. On the other hand, a brand new rose gold ref. L2.642.8.73.2 changes hands for around 4,600 USD, while pre-owned pieces require an investment of roughly 2,400 USD.

Fans of gold barrel-shaped chronographs will also find several options in the Evidenza collection. These timepieces get their power from the caliber L650 with a 42-hour power reserve. This movement is based on the ETA 2894 and can measure periods of time of up to 12 hours. You can read the elapsed time using the hour counter at 6 and minute counter at 9 o'clock. There's also a small seconds at 3 and a date display at 6 o'clock.

Plan to spend about 4,600 USD on a pre-owned ref. L2.643.8. Gold chronographs in mint condition are extremely rare as they are no longer in production. As a result, these timepieces demand higher prices of around 7,600 USD. Stainless steel models are markedly less expensive at between 1,400 and 2,200 USD. The most affordable versions have a stainless steel case and quartz chronograph movement. Watches like the ref. L2.665.4 sell for roughly 1,300 USD pre-owned on Chrono24.

If you're looking for something you won't find anywhere else, the Evidenza collection is a good starting point. These barrel-shaped women's watches come in a wide range of sizes. The dial designs are equally diverse, and you can choose between a stainless steel or gold case.

The ref. L2.142.0.70.6 is among the top women's models. Its bezel features 44 diamonds with a total weight of 0.358 carats. A nine-piece link stainless steel bracelet holds this stunning watch on the wrist. The stainless steel case measures 26 x 30.6 mm and contains the caliber L592. This automatic movement is based on the ETA A20.L01 and features a date display and 40-hour power reserve. Be sure to have around 2,800 USD on hand for this diamond-studded women's watch. Its sister model, the ref. L2.142.4.73.6, is the same timepiece but without diamonds. Prices for this more reserved watch range from 1,000 to 1,500 USD.

There are also quartz watches available. They come with a few distinct advantages: They are much more accurate, have a years-long battery life, and are generally more affordable. The stainless steel Longines Evidenza ref. L2.175.4.71.5 measures a modest 19.6 x 23.3 mm. It features a silver dial with a small seconds and Roman numerals. A brown alligator leather strap rounds off this timepiece's classic look. You can purchase a mint-condition model for about 920 USD. The version with 44 diamonds, the ref. L2.175.0.71.5, has a list price of 1,800 euros (approx. 2,000 USD).