Baselworld 2012 : Longines 180th anniversary 'red 12' monopusher

As part of Longines’ commemorative models for its 180th anniversary, they have gone all ‘heritage’. One of these anniversary watches is the “Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece Chronograph”, perhaps more simply known as a monopusher chronograph. Based on the early wire-lugged watches, and appropriately in rose gold, this watch will be limited to 180 pieces.

Replicating a classic look of the old officers watches with a white dial, black Arabic numbers, a red ‘12’ and blued steel hands, but with a date aperture as well, this almost old-fashioned watch will not appeal to everyone, but particularly for those who have a soft spot for the old red 12s, it’s an unexpected and attractive model from Longines. I would have been happy to have had a date-free version, and perhaps, especially given that it is a special model for the brand, an enamel dial might have been worth considering. The 'blue' of the hands is a bit difficult to nail down exactly, the tones seem to be slightly different in each of these photos.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Reference number : L2.774.8.23.x

Functions : hours, minutes, seconds, date

Movement : Automatic Cal. L788.2 (ETA A08.261) with single push-piece and column-wheel chronograph mechanism. 13¼ lines

Jewels : 27

VPH : 28,800

Power reserve: 54 hours

Case : rose gold, 40 mm. Single push-piece integrated into the crown. Transparent sapphire case back

Dial White, black Arabic numerals and a red “12”

Water resistance : 3 bar (30m)

Strap: brown alligator

Amongst the ‘Tarts’ there are two members who own a number of vintage red 12s. It’s a thumbs up from them, though an enamel dial would have been even better and, as one person has suggested, perhaps if the finishing of the hands was a little less flat, it would have given the watch a bit more depth.

[AP]