The Longines Heritage Flagship Moonphase Year of the Dragon

The Chinese New Year provides many watch companies with the perfect excuse to produce a special edition decorated with one of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac. This year is the Year of the Dragon, and, for the first time, Longines jumps on the Chinese New Year bandwagon with a limited edition of 888 pieces of its Flagship Heritage model with moon phases. Available exclusively in Asia, the Flagship Heritage features an Oriental red dial with gold accents and a discreetly positioned dragon’s head depicted on the caseback.

Using the Heritage Flagship Moonphase model makes a lot of sense since the Moon plays an essential role in determining the date of the Chinese New Year. According to the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the New Year usually falls on the second new Moon after the winter solstice, between 21 January and 20 February. This year, the Chinese New Year kicks off on 10 February, and the Dragon will be holding court until the Snake takes over in January 2025.

The Longines Flagship collection dates back to 1957. Today, the Flagship Heritage collection offers classic mechanical models with a vintage touch. The moon phase complication joined this family in 2023 and is presented in a compact 38.5mm case with a thickness of 12.40mm. The lugs are short, straight and chamfered with polished top surfaces to match the bezel and brushed flanks.

Celebrating the Chinese New Year, Longines has selected a vibrant tone of gradient red for the domed dial that is brighter in the centre and darker as it reaches the periphery. The colour red is highly symbolic in Chinese culture and is associated with festivities, good luck, wealth and happiness. Knowing that the combination of gold and red is even more auspicious, Longines uses gilt appliques on the dial. The elongated and applied indices, the hands and even the winged hourglass logo are golden. To enhance legibility, the dauphine-style hands have a strip of Super-LumiNova.

Situated at 6 o’clock is the moon phase display with its red snailed aperture. Framed by a date ring indicated by a golden hand, the waxing and waning of our celestial neighbour is represented by a golden moon and stars set against a dark blue night sky.

To pay homage to the animal representing the Chinese New Year 2024, the caseback is engraved with a medallion of a dragon’s head along with references to the limited edition – One of 888. Beneath the sealed 12-sided caseback is the automatic calibre L899.5 (ETA A31.L91 base) with an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring that beats at 25,200 vibrations/hour and delivers 72 hours of power reserve.

Availability & Price

The Flagship Heritage Moonphase Year of the Dragon is fitted with a black alligator strap and the new Heritage pin buckle. Limited to 888 pieces and available exclusively in Asia, the watch retails for CNY 23,100, equivalent to EUR 3,250.

For more information, please visit Longines.cn.