The Longines Pilot Majetek: My not-so-obvious hot take.

[@brysoga]

I absolutely love the look of this watch, I do wish it was a little smaller but I'd be up for trying it on. I kind of take issue with the word "fauxtina", at the end of the day it's just another colour. Are we really saying that anything cream coloured is a fake of an aged look? Perhaps they tried pure white numerals and it just didn't look right and wanted a warmer tone.

[@ElijsDima]

In a way, this new piece stylistically reminds me of a Panerai. It has a really simply styled dial (yet very, very legible), and an oversized case with specific aesthetic flair pieces (here, the oversized bezel and the absolutely thick lugs) that make the silhouette very distinct. I don't mean that this longines looks *like* a PAM; I mean that it is stylistically distinct in a way that PAMs are distinct. It does feel that we are well on the way away from 60s diver watches as the "go-to" style. And watches have been favouring the smaller sizes (sub-40mm) for years by now. Maybe the trends are shifting back towards bigger pieces... and with war literally going on not that far away once again, it wouldn't be suprising if fashions, styles and trends from the 1920s, 30s and 40s become much more prevalent in peoples' minds.

[@patrickcannady2066]

Yeah I get the allusion to Panerai. It’s a valid comparison. Unfortunately so is the grossly inflated price.

[@JamesSnell-rc5xt]

You're so right about how Longines in the hand often underwhelm compared to their promotional pics. This one is expensive, and I think it will encounter some resistance on that basis alone. I agree on the dressy tool watch being a current and desirable trend, although I don't really see that in this piece. One of the best watches to ever do that was the Bronsan-era Seamaster Professional from Omega. Very classy and functional all-arounder. My current favorite in that category is the JLC Polaris Automatic with its slick internal rotating bezel.

[@borassictime918]

Post-WW2 Longines had a stellar reputation. It was more admired than, dare I say it, Rolex et al. It’s movements were considered to be the very best. That all changed in the 1970s. The brand became just another card in the pack, its identity subsumed within the Swatch Group portfolio, losing considerable brand equity in the process. You’re right about the somewhat underwhelming feel of Longines watches in the metal. I had a Conquest some years ago that I picked up for a discount that meant it cost a quarter of the price of this new Majetek. It was well made but somehow soulless. I moved it on. If Swatch Group is wanting to move Longines ‘upmarket’ it’s not enough to just jack the SRP up whilst recycling decades old designs. There’s an inconsistency of common design language across Longines’ collections, which for me speaks to uncertainty around a clear, unique forward-looking brand identity that I think it needs to define consistently if it is to truly stand out in the mid-market and justify the price tag. Other brands under the Swatch umbrella like Omega and Rado do this better imho and Longines needs to be clear what the brand stands for aspirationally.

[@typebflieger]

Overall, I’m a big fan of this watch. Some of the updates work: The stick hands, more angular case and crown guard profile, and grippier coin-edge bezel are absolutely stunning. However, there are three things that really put me off (two you mentioned): The price, The wasted space between the outer bezel and the minute track, and the limiting 43mm x 51mm LTL sizing. I won’t go into the price because you addressed it already. The bezel weight that you mentioned is fine if you’re only talking about the turning outer bezel. What’s not fine is that 1.5-2mm of space between the minute track and the inner part of the coin edge bezel. It shrinks the dial and makes the case appear way too large. The next issue is the size. I was handling a 38mm Bulova 31000 yesterday. It has the same case shape and looks like a 40mm on the wrist. A cushion case wears large, so a 40mm would’ve been beefy enough even for people who prefer larger diameters. Especially, if Longines expanded the dial to fill the wasted space I mentioned. This 43mm case looks clownishly large on the wrist even in Longines marketing photos and videos. It’s not a sports watch, but a dressier vintage reissue, another reason to keep the size in check. While it may be true that non-watch enthusiasts prefer larger watches, this watch (as you said) seems to be intended for the watch geeks, who as a whole tend to skew towards slightly more moderate sizes. Personally, I would love to own this watch, if it wasn’t such a gaudy “statement piece” that could be seen from outer space.

[@vmarsch]

Yes, exactly. And the reflections at the edge of the crystal obscure where the inner edge of the bezel meets the inner edge of the dial.

[@typebflieger]

@@vmarschYeah, it’s that Speedy Sapphire milky ring again!

[@pete5534]

Interesting thoughts on a watch that left me with a great first impression - thank you. As a critical listener, I ask that you purchase a pop screen or foam wind protection for your microphone.

[@markwheeler4417]

The case and bezel mechanism are interesting. It's a shame they didn't try to do something more interesting with them. Those who don't like fauxtina lume lost the war. We're now sitting in dark cellars plotting our next move... When you have a watch that is based on an old design you don't need to over egg the pudding with fauxtina lume. I think it would have looked a lot better with stark white lume as you say. The design alone says it's a throwback. This is going to be a niche product for Longines. Will it allow them to raise prices in future? Probably not.

[@watchchimp3102]

I like the watches Longines is releasing and I like this one more than the Ultrachron. If I have an issue, it's the pricing. With each release they boost the price a couple hundred bucks HydroConquests we're

[@WATCHingJames]

I’ve had that exact same feeling from longines. They seem to look better in the pictures and end up being a little underwhelming in person. Which is a shame. Because I like the brand. Had the same experience with the Zulu time.

[@RagnarHoff]

I like that they want to compete by actually upping their game with a silicone hairspring for the anti-magnetic properties. Same way with their high-beat in the Ultra Chron. Not something Breitling or Panerai bother with. The question is, would people target them over the competition in this price range?

[@CaptCanuck4444]

I really like it. Longines is knocking it out of the park lately. Lots of appealing watches. That said, you can get a base Panerai for a similar price to this MSRP...and I'd take the Panerai every time for similar money. It will be interesting to see what this watch sells for on the secondary market in a year or two. At this aspirational price point, I think Longines would have been wise to decorate the movement and have a display caseback.

[@YoungXLNC]

Great comment on brands current "experimental" models being future "retro" hits. Great video as always...cheers.

[@miguelvictoria-boca573]

Hey Pete, I really think that Longines went upmarket way too fast. It's really not that long ago that most of their watches were around the 1000 USD or even less. They are doing very nice things with their watches recently but not enough to charge 3 to 4 times the price. Regards

[@miguelvictoria-boca573]

In addition: Of course it's probably a result of a Swatch Group strategy to put Longines next to Tudor.

[@johnhebert3855]

Nice job. Good organization and insight. I love the rotating pip, it would be very handy for me. I wish they would have painted all the hands matte white, that would have dramatically improved legibility. Overall, I like the watch, but would have loved it if it was a couple of millimeters smaller in both dimensions. Thanks again.

[@PeteMcConvill]

Thanks for watching!

[@ch_boki]

Does anyone know when this watch gets released with the green nato strap?

[@jeffone]

I would love to hear your hot take on the new Seiko SFK001J Sumo GMT

[@h111551]

I don’t understand why Longines deviated from the original which is superior in many ways. The bezel on the original is much less hefty and exudes more elegance. The cathedral hands on the original likewise seem to fit the reference well. The only Longines Heritage piece I have ever bought is the 1938 Military which is an exacting replica of a Czech military reference commissioned through Prinz, Longine’s then Polish distributor. Most other Longines reissues have irritating deviations from the original (i.e. date complications and this infernal date windows) which put me off. In the 1930s, Longines was at the top of its game and I see little justification for aesthetic “second guessing” with regards to the contemporary reissues.

[@vmarsch]

I think this'll turn out to be a miss for Longines. I think I'm exactly the kind of person this is meant to appeal to -- and it does in a lot of ways -- but not enough to want to strap this behemoth to my wrist.

[@cbruce76]

Having not seen the watch in person I will withhold judgment on its size. I love the look though. And I own the Heritage Classic, which at $2500 US is well price IMO. This Majetek is expensive, but no more so than Tudor. I think it is smart for Swatch group to sandwich Tudor pricing between Omega and Longines.

[@gotshpilkes]

This is nice. The unconventional part is the lack of promotional copy on the dial. Kudos for nixxing the self-awarded 5 star rating. I can live with the winged logo but this is nicer. Bonus points for leaving out the date window. Fauxtina is a deal breaker, though. Pilot watche4s should be legible.

[@lewisstredwick7616]

Great video, but I like the chunkyness , very Panerai , bloomin tempted 👍

[@rickfowler3710]

I like it. Has a kind of Panerai feel. Just the vibe I get. Maybe it's the hands

[@jeanlefranc3817]

I am all for sterile bezels, when it’s done Unimatic way for looks only. But I don’t get it on a watch that’s supposed to be a bulky military inspired one. Longines Spirit for me please.

[@johnjiang1732]

I don't hate this watch, but I don't think it's worth the money they're asking. It's actually quite interesting but it'll end up like their Lindberg line and make not much of a splash commercially. But imagine if they did this bezel in a diver style, it would be actually quite a differentiator

[@teksaso1]

This reminds me about Breitling Aviator 8/ Navitimer 8 line watches. Despite that this is a good looking watch and nice video.

[@benlau4026]

@10:22 I have the exact experience with a number of Longines. Chronos especially!! although I have handed this and it is good.

[@lx95020]

I can wear a 43mm easily and I think it looks great. It would look better if the dial was black with white lume. I wan't to buy it but knowing how things go, Longines will launch it in black/white a year or two after I buy this one....

[@DA_Karas]

I think Longines is trying to grab customers away from Panerai with this bigger watch.

[@AliVeli-gu2tj]

36 - 38 mm remake is needed

[@patrickcannady2066]

Size isn’t a problem, I have a 7” wrist and I like chunky watches. The issue for me is cost. 5775 USD for a 6498 small seconds piece?! GTFO!!!

[@patrickcannady2066]

There is no way to justify that cost IMO, heritage, shmeritage.

[@patrickcannady2066]

I can see spending that much for a highly decorated, enhanced or customized movement based on UNITAS architecture, and a sapphire caseback so I can enjoy viewing it ticking away. This feels like a ripoff

[@faizalhakim3772]

As always Pete’s not n the money. I was a faux patina hater, but since all brands are now on this bandwagon I’ve now warmed. 🐑