Longines Master Series Full-Calendar Moon Phase Chronograph Guide

Although I know that for Longines, players’ attention is now focused on the “green Concas” diving watch, but today I still want to talk about a Longines that everyone is familiar with, the “8-pin Longines”, the new Longines Master Series full-calendar moon phase chronograph.

In fact, it is a little late for us to talk about this watch today. I have the impression that the Longines full calendar moon phase chronograph has been updated in the middle of last year. At that time, I ignored this watch because I was busy. But later, considering that the stock of "8-needle Longines" in China is very large, and now it is in the stage of new and old being under the same roof, I decided to talk to you.

The Longines Master Full Calendar Moon Phase Chronograph has a total of 8 hands on the dial in addition to the hour and minute hands, including chronograph, calendar, and 24-hour functions. Therefore, it is commonly known as "Longines 8-hand" or "Longines 8-hand moon phase" among the people. Previously, Omega also had a Speedmaster with the same disk layout, so it was called the "8-pin Speedmaster". The "8-pin Speedmaster" has long been discontinued, so everyone knows.

Although in the past two years, Longines’ new ceramic ring Concas diving watch has been very popular among players. But throughout the country, Longines is the most popular among the people, and it is the famous craftsmen. Among them, the "8-pin Longines" Master Full Calendar Moon Phase Chronograph is one of the most complex and most expensive watches in the Master series. It is also a very popular Longines in China. Many people have similar thoughts about buying "8-pin Longines". I want to buy a better watch, but the ordinary three-hand watch seems a bit simple. The "8-hand Longines" has many functions, and the watch seems more complicated to use.

The biggest change of the new Longines Master Full Calendar Moon Phase Chronograph is the use of Longines’ new L687 automatic chronograph movement. The old "8-pin Longines" uses the ETA 7750 automatic chronograph movement.

Longines' movement has a major feature. Although Longines does not use self-produced movements, it does so in order to reflect Longines' important position in mid-priced watches and to differentiate it from entry-level watches. ETA will develop exclusive movements for Longines, such as Longines' L688 series chronograph movements and L888 series automatic movements, which are special movements developed by ETA for Longines based on general-purpose movements. The Longines special movement will use some configurations that are in line with the Omega movement. The polishing and decoration of the movement are better than those of Tissot and Mido.

The L687 chronograph movement (L687/688 series) of the new Longines Master Full Calendar Moon Phase Chronograph is a cylindrical wheel chronograph movement developed by ETA based on the 7750 movement. The cam on the previous 7750 was replaced with a column wheel. The cylindrical wheel is regarded as the hallmark of advanced chronographs. The cylindrical wheel has a "petal"-like shape. Compared with the simple geometric structure of the cam, the cylindrical wheel is more beautiful. Moreover, the "multi-petal" structure of the cylindrical wheel makes the cylindrical wheel rotate one by one when the chronograph is started, stopped, and reset to zero, making the friction stroke of the lever smaller, so the button of the cylindrical wheel chronograph feels smoother. Because the cam lever rubs the fixed wheel position, the cam chronograph buttons will be relatively hard, especially the zero reset button.

The L687/688 series chronograph movement used in Longines' new "8-hand moon phase" (top) and the 7750 movement used in the old Longines "8-pin moon phase" (bottom). Note the difference between the blue cylindrical wheel and the cam.

Longines' dedicated L678/L688 series chronograph movements shocked the world of luxury watches when they were launched that year. Because the L687/688 series movement is the lowest priced cylindrical wheel chronograph movement among famous watches, it directly lowers the entry threshold for cylindrical wheel chronographs. At that time, the starting price of cylindrical wheel chronographs was around 40,000 to 50,000. After Longines launched the L678/L688 series chronograph movements, the entry threshold for cylindrical wheel chronographs was lowered to around 20,000. Even today, Longines is still one of the lowest priced column wheel chronographs.

The polishing of the Longines movement is also relatively good, and the polishing area is relatively large. After replacing the L687 cylindrical wheel chronograph movement, "8-pin Longines" still painted the cylindrical wheel blue according to Longines' tradition. Looking through the bottom of the movement, the blue cylindrical wheel is very obvious. The technical configuration of the movement has been improved (the power has also been increased to 54 hours), and the movement has become more beautiful. Available in sizes 40 and 42.

Longines' new famous full-calendar moon phase chronograph is now available in two sizes: 40 and 42. From the perspective of formal watches, 42 mm is a relatively large size, while 40 mm is a relatively standard formal size. Now, there’s a size that fits perfectly no matter how big or small your wrist is. Longines, including Omega, is a kind of men's watch. Many of them come in two sizes, large and small, which is very considerate for domestic players. The case and bezel of the new Longines “8-hand moon phase” are still polished, maintaining the original style.