Watch Reviews 4U The Longines L2.640.4 47mm White dial Avigation Watch

 

Our review is for the supersize Longines L2.640.4

a 47mm 'Avigation' Pilot's watch 

A mighty white watch and there's a bit of a story to it!

I came across this particular Longines L2 47mm size sometime ago when it came up on Ebay as a used watch that was being listed by a Pawnbroker in Manchester and it was up for around the thick end of £900 but I recall it went for around £795. 

(A mint unworn condition example with box had gone a year or so before for £1700 on Ebay.)

This one here did sell, I had been quite interested in it back then as I had a black dial version for about the same money. I was no stranger to the 47mm size watch as I had owned a number of marriage watches previously, but had decided to move those on and concentrate on collecting original Longines pieces from the 2000's on as they were just such great design and value for money and easier to move on in the resale market.  

No exhibition back here - but a dual rear cover watch

I saw this particular watch back on the market a good few months back on Ebay again and kept an eye on it, it was up for around the £1000 mark and kept an eye on it, which was worth doing as it came up in November 2024 at an offer price that was too good to pass up.

The large crown is endorsed with the Longines logo and name

So to the review. This L2.640.4 is based on an early aviation watch style, where pocket watches were adapted for wear on the wrist rather than on a leather fob or watch chain. 

Early aviators and automobile racers needed convenient timekeeping and a watch on the wrist was the requirement. And the large 43-50mm case sizes on pocket watches provided an easy to read dial for this purpose.

The classic simple design is functional and very 'Bauhaus'

with elegant form and function on display here

It was from this concept that the 'trench watch' style became popular, pocket watches were plentiful and fairly robust too.

Longines has always since the days of Charles Lindbergh been synonymous with aviation, he wore a Longines specially made for his historical 1924 transatlantic flight and it was from that event and the requirement for aviation watches in WW2 that Longines became well known for that market.

The more 'military' looking black dial version of the same watch -

which Longines have used as inspiration for their 'avigation' watches. 

In the 2000's Longines as a brand started to rise in popularity again for a number of reasons thanks to a wide range of bold designs drawing on elements of the past and also of modernity, in this L2.640.4 those meet and provide you with a 47mm width Stainless Steel cased beauty, with a 26mm lug width, this example is on an aftermarket white strap which looks great against the white dial.

The dial looks white face on and yet at angles gives casts of off white and pearlescent white depending on the angle it is viewed from. The hands are dagger shaped with generous lume filled recesses, the numbers are applied in polished silver metal, it is simple, plain but very stylish, an exercise in modern design with a hint of vintage.

The L2.640.4 movement - almost a shame to conceal it!

The movement is a pocket watch sized unit and contained under two back covers, as you can see from the above photograph the movement is nicely finished and it is almost a shame to hide it away!

The Crown is a large size with the Longines logo and name present which is a nice touch. There is no date as is correct for an aviation watch in the early style and a seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position complements the large name and logo on the dial under the twelve marker.

On the wrist it is noticeable weightwise but I am used to this size of watch and I am ok with it, I do like larger watches and 40mm upwards suits me, 42-44 is good for me, the watch is not over thick either, I have some Longines that are quite deep at around 14mm, the Grande Vitesse chronograph comes to mind there. However this watch is no heavier than a Longines 44mm tri compax chronograph.

Elegance without compromise - I love the simplicity of the Bauhaus ethic -

this watch embodies that form and function style so perfectly I think

So if you are ok with a larger watch and like the visual impact, it is sure to start a few conversations. Given the size of the watch it has its own market away from the smaller wrist. 

I purchased the watch on a brown leather strap which looked good but it also came with the white leather strap it had worn earlier, and to me this colour suited the white dial well, so I have gone and fitted the white strap.

Condition wise this is very good and lightly worn, a few small scratches near the lug ends from strap changing showing but for a sub £650 deal price watch that retailed at around £2000 when new, it is great value for money and another worthy addition to the collection. 

Great value for money, fairly rare and great quality.

Watch Reviews 4U Longines Master Collection Avigation L2.640.4 47.5mm Watch

Longines Master Collection Avigation L2.640.4 47.5mm Watch

A nicely appointed watch

At 47.5mm wide excluding crown, the Longines Master Collection Avigation L2.640.4 watch is quite something. However, even at this size it is not an over heavy pice to wear.

The larger sized watch has gained popularity over the recent years and with a number of small repair shops repurposing old pocket watch movement sometimes with new dials into 'oversize' wristwatch case, no doubt Longines have taken note.

Although second hand, this looks new

This Longines Avigation L2.640.4 Pilot's watch (Avigation - a contraction of aviation and navigation) is based on a pocket watch size movement and as such has no date function, hardly needed in a retro pilot's watch! The watch is a supreme triumph of form and function, easy to read black dial with a large seconds dial at the six o'clock position and large dart hands, coated with lime which are easily visible.

At 47.5mm across the case excluding crown it is an armful, but looks good. Perhaps a little heavy for some as it has a full metal case and back, in fact it has two backs, an inner and an outer, a shame as we cannot see the lovely movement inside unless we are a watch repairer!

Looks good from any angle

Purchased second hand, the watch looks almost as new, it did have an aftermarket strap fitted but I was able to purchase a genuine strap from Longines of the right size, in this case 26mm wide at the lugs which is an unusual size.

This is certainly an imposing watch and although also available with an Ivory white face, I think the black dial is easier to read and certainly for those pilots among us, might suit better for that environment.

Certainly this is a statement piece watch and available for around £1000 - £1800 used depending on condition. I purchased mine from a Swedish seller on Chrono 24 and it arrived safely and as seen in the pictures. 

If you're looking for a larger Longines in a military / aviator style, this I would say fits the bill.

An Ivory white dial version is also available

Mine came without the original 26mm wide strap although

I found one from a later Longines fitted from the Longines site