Longines Master Collection Review: My Honest Take After One Year

It's been a year since I received the Longines Master Chronograph and Moonphase watches as a gift.  

Owning two Longines watches, I understand why some people feel they’re not fully worth their retail price, especially the Master Collection chronograph. 

The good news? If you shop smart, you’ll rarely pay the full retail price for a Longines watch, even at authorized dealers. At a discounted price, these watches offer much better value.  

This luxury Swiss watch line is known for its timeless designs, automatic movements (no battery needed), and features like date displays, moon phases, and chronographs.  

If you’re considering a Master Collection watch, stick around. This guide gives you an honest, unfiltered Longines Master Collection review.

Longines Master Chronograph Brown Leather Strap Moon Phase | L26734783 

Longines rolled out the Master Collection lineup in the early 2000s. 

What makes the Master Collection stand out is its combination of intricate mechanics and elegant design. 

Most of the models under this lineup are ‘dress-oriented’ watches. They have been given the badge of “affordable luxury” by watch enthusiasts and its a very good watch for wedding grooms.

With various models—from simple time-only watches to advanced chronographs and moon phase displays—this collection has strengthened Longines’ reputation as a leader in Swiss watchmaking. 

If you know only a little about the Longines brand, particularly the Master Collection lineup, then the table below will give you a general idea about this unique collection:  

Longines Master Collection Chronograph models 

Here are the various models from the Master collection that you can consider: 

The Master Collection Chronograph model is perfect for timing events accurately.  

It works like a stopwatch, with sub-dials on the face that show elapsed time. It combines practical timing features with a classic, stylish design. 

The Chronograph mechanism is a central 60-second hand and 30-minute counter at 9 o'clock.

The Moonphase model is an elegant watch that displays the current phase of the moon, tracking the lunar cycle right on the watch face. It mixes astronomy and art, often paired with extras like a date display or a small seconds dial.

This model blends a stopwatch function with a full calendar, showing the day, date, and month.  

It’s ideal for anyone who wants precise timing along with a complete calendar on their wrist.

Longines Master Collection Automatic self-winding watches use the natural movement of your wrist to power the watch.  

They’re great for those who appreciate the craftsmanship and convenience of traditional mechanical watchmaking.

Designed for women, these watches are smaller and often feature elegant details like diamonds or unique designs. A good example is the Master Diamond White MOP Red Dial.

They offer the same high-quality craftsmanship but with a feminine touch to match different styles.

Longines Master Diamond Black Dial Two Tone Bracelet | L22575577 

Starting with the basics, the stainless Steel Watches on the Master Collection do not have additional complications and start around $1,640 from authorized dealerships like MyGiftStop.  

Models with Moonphase function are priced between $2,700 and $3,850 on the Longines website, depending on the specific design and size.  

Master Collection models with chronograph Function, which can measure time intervals, are available from $3,200 to $3,850.  

Some premium models have gold accents. They combine stainless steel with 18-karat gold elements and are priced around $3,000 to $4,400. 

Longines Master Collection blue dials 

This is the part where you get to know the good and bad of the Master Collection based on my experience with the watch and feedback from many users across several online forums: 

THE GOOD: 

1. The classic design is impressive—from the clean dials to the refined details. You can’t go wrong with this watch for formal occasions. 

2. Longines Master Collection watches offer high quality and craftsmanship at a more affordable price. 

3. The collection includes models with moonphases, chronographs, dates, and day-of-the-week features.

4. Nothing too gran,d but the Longines movements in some Master Collection models are well-regarded. 

5. The Master Collection has some prestige to its lineup name

THE NOT-SO-GOOD: 

1. The crown might be too small for easy manual winding, depending on the model. 

2. You can argue that the general design of the Master Collection lineup is generic, even though it’s sleek. 

If you're looking for a watch that offers great value and an elegant design, the Master Collection is a solid choice, they’re stylish, and the prices are reasonable. 

When it comes to luxury watches, a big part of the price is for the brand name. Brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin make incredible timepieces, but their prestige adds significantly to the cost.  

That doesn’t mean entry-level brands like Longines don’t offer great quality—they absolutely do. 

Your lifestyle also plays a big role in choosing the right watch.

Buy the Master Collection Chronograph if you enjoy staying active. Its stopwatch feature is perfect for tracking time during workouts or events. 

The Master Collection Calendar Chronograph is an excellent choice for business settings. It has a polished, professional look and features a full calendar for added functionality. 

If you’re after specific features like a 38-40mm size, a dive watch, a ceramic bezel, and a date display, you might want to explore the HydroConquest series by Longines.

The Moonphase model shows the different phases of the moon and often includes a simple date display. The Retrograde model is unique because its hands move back to the start after reaching the end of their scales, showing things like the day or a second-time zone in a cool way.

The Longines Master Collection is a great investment if you value Swiss craftsmanship. However, it’s not the kind of watch that usually goes up in value, so it’s more about enjoying its timeless design than making a profit.

These chronographs are accurate, usually staying within a few seconds (+/- 4 to 6 seconds) daily, thanks to their reliable Swiss automatic movements.

Yes, they’re perfect for everyday use. They’re built tough with scratch-resistant glass and high-quality materials, and their classic designs work for casual and formal outfits.

The Longines Master Collection is an entry-level luxury watch. It’s Swiss-made and comes from a brand with a long history of excellence.