Piercing pain of singing cicadas, dry and dusty smells of a silver mining town and the scorching hot grass leading under the constantly cool corrugated iron water tank that supplied the house. All these memories are seared into my being. Various things remind me from time to time of my childhood but they are somewhat dwarfed by the memory of stories shared by my great uncle who survived being a POW in WWII. To this day I’m somewhat bewildered by his resilience and defiance of his captors. For three long years he concealed his watch and wedding ring within his body, such was his determination to hold onto the two things that he felt defined him. I still think about it now as I write this and somehow just can’t quite imagine what it took to do the things I know he did. Somehow the connection of my great uncle to his watch and his determination to preserve it transcended generations and manifested itself in my watch box. His stories molded my life. I have a passion for military (inspired) watches and moreover vintage or vintage inspired reissue watches. The PAM 721, the Zodiac Superseawolf (ZO 9209) and obviously the Longines Heritage Military all fall into the later category.

I’m not party to the criticisms of fake patina on the Longines Heritage Military. For me there is something reassuring about new old style pieces, it’s not a compromise for me as I do have vintage pieces as well. It is very much about the style, the aesthetic and the romantic notion of being transported back to a previous time when we can only try to imagine the fear, determination and resolve of those who went before us.

The Longines Heritage Military struck me with awe from the moment I first learned about it. I ordered it the day I first saw it and waited almost a year for it to arrive. All that aside I do have a genuine liking for this piece. The stand out feature is for sure the gorgeously curved and sculpted blued hands. They appear almost black and then suddenly burst into a laser blue haze with the slightest twist of the wrist. The crown is generous in its size but not overwhelming. It is easy to operate and adds to the vintage aesthetic and charm. The sapphire box crystal sits proudly adding at least 2mm to the overall thickness of the watch. It perfectly reflects the look of the original but does not offer the true hesalite character. The case of the Longines Heritage Military is a really well executed feature. The lugs are thin and curvy and the brushed finish contrasts with the polished bezel oozing “vintage military style”.

The Longines Heritage Military is a very comfortable fit on my 18cm wrist and all in all I can only say it gives me a great sense of satisfaction. There will be commentary about the deliberately aged dial and why it detracts from the watches appeal but again for me it’s about a connection. It’s a reminder of a very real story about a very real man in a very surreal time in our history. Ultimately a the Longines Heritage Military is a keeper for me and for most it will never be anything more than an enthusiasts watch.