Watch Reviews 4U presents a review of a used
Longines Master Collection L2.773.4 Blue Dial
42mm Complication Chronograph watch from Lifestyle Watches -
I highly recommend this seller for their superb customer service
Fitted with Blue Alligator Leather Strap option
A true 'Complication'
With Stainless Steel Strap as purchased
As purchased, in superb condition
This Master Collection 42mm offering from Longines is one of the best appointed watches for the money I think you can buy. Beyond the Chronograph on many watches, ordinarily you often only have a date only function - this model though features day, date, month, moonphase and 12/24 hour indicators.
The Deployment type Strap mechanism on the Alligator Leather strap
I had seen this style of Longines Chronograph for sometime, mostly in the 40mm case size. The majority either on sale new or used, tended to be the white or silver barleycorn dial types. I find the dial texture a bit 'bitty' and prefer a smooth finish dial.
The black dial with the Roman Numerals version of this watch looked elegant, but I tend to find that style of number character style less easy to read off.
The less often seen Blue dial version on the pre-owned market, really looks the best to me, with the sun ray blue dial and silver bar markers. I find these easier to read, just a personal thing. Plus, I do have a liking for the blue dials. going way back to my old Seiko 5!
Having moved on some other lower price ticket watches from the watch box, I found one of these L2 42mm watches on the Ramsden's site - used, at £1999, with box and paperwork. This one featured the Stainless Steel bracelet and looked as new. A fair price for these examples and I ddi ave tis mind for sometime.
I then noted another example offered on Ebay and with some research, noted that the seller had their own shop Lifestyle Watches and looked at the example on their site. It was also about £100 less than the Ramsden's example, but equally as superb condition wise.
For what you get here with this watch, this is a great value watch for the money. Unlike many watches with a lot of functionality packed inside the case, the case depth is not over deep, around 12mm I would say on this model.
The case is not too heavy in construction and with the leather strap option, weight is saved from having the leather strap fitted. The watch had been carefully worn, with no real evidence of wear and had obviously been well looked after.
This watch has the glass exhibition case back which is fairly standard these days that shows off the superbly finished movement as expected. The rotor has a cut out logo shape which looks very chic.
The case is as expected, superbly styled and finished, I am rarely disappointed with the Longines products as they are of great design, quality and finish, without being unaffordable.
Either Strap option suits this Watch
The top sub dial shows Day and Month Windows inside the 30 minute chronograph dial face. Below left of that dial is the 12/24 hour dial with a sub ring for the running seconds and their markers.
The lowest positioned sub dial features a 12 hour chronograph dial with the Moonphase window and indicator showing through the aperture in the dial from behind.
As mentioned, the dial is a sun ray blue - this dial in daylight as a lovely shimmer to it as the light catches it from different angles. The chromed marker batons stand out nicely against the blue making it easy to read.
The hands are feather shaped for the running hours and minutes. The chronograph seconds is a tapered baton type, with the date hand having a small half moon cut out at the tip which helps show the date day very effectively.
I am really pleased with this purchase, the condition is superb and the price was around half of the new retail. You certainly do get a lot of watch for your money and all round, this is one I would wear carefully and fairly often.
The Customer experience of Lifestyle Watches
I would say that this has been one of the best customer experiences I have had - a company that actually cares about your purchase, you as a customer and your satisfaction with the purchase.
A watch of this level is not cheap and most people making this sort of purchase will have done their research.
Daryl at Lifestyle watches was great with his customer service, from ensuring the strap on the watch would fit my wrist size and packaging the watch very securely. Special Delivery by Royal Mail was without issue and free, included in the purchase.
I highly recommend this seller, they have a good selection of products and I was happy with the price and the watch when it arrived - it looked fantastic.
Payment through Paypal was easy without any issue and I had the watch on my wrist a couple of days later.
I don't think you could go wrong with this seller.