Hodinkee’s latest limited edition is here, and it’s a version of a watch that’s become an enthusiast favorite since it hit the scene a little over a year ago. The Longines Heritage Classic “Sector” capitalized big time on a sector dial trend that’s still very much happening, but is perhaps a bit past peak. These dials, though, are truly timeless and inherently attractive, so it’s no wonder that Hodinkee has slightly reworked the Sector for their first collaboration with Longines.
I reviewed the Sector last summer and came away pretty smitten with the thing, even though vintage inspired watches, strictly speaking, are not really my normal wheelhouse. This watch, though, was so well proportioned and had such a clean design, it was hard not to admire. Hodinkee limited editions tend to take the original variant of a watch and strip it down to its essence, and that’s exactly what they’ve done here, taking an already minimal design and making it somehow even cleaner. The dial retains the sector layout, of course, but the cross-hair pattern running through the dial’s center has been removed, keeping the focus on the outer track and the interior space. The brushed silver finish on that minute track has been retained, but instead of a white interior section, Hodinkee’s version is a dark cream, giving it the look of a watch that may have developed a dramatic patina over the course of many decades. The other notable change to the dial on the Hodinkee edition is the removal of the Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9. This, in my opinion, is a major improvement.
Importantly, the hands here are still heat blued, and the small seconds sub-dial at 6 is still finished with concentric circles, giving the dial some much needed texture and contrast. Text is still kept to a minimum as well (no “automatic” designation here), but this version adds the word “chronometer” under the Longines wordmark because, well, Hodinkee has had this one certified by the COSC. This is a fitting technical upgrade, as watches with these types of “scientific dials” were frequently chronometer rated to begin with. While the aesthetic of this watch is vintage to the core, the movement is modern and extremely capable. It’s the L893.4 caliber, with a silicon balance spring and a full 72 hours of power reserve.
While nobody will argue that the dial isn’t the star of the show here, the case is no slouch. The 38.5mm size wears comfortably, and while it’s not a tour-de-force in terms of finishing, the size will have you wanting to strap it on frequently. Hodinkee has added a beads of rice style bracelet to their edition (it ships with a leather strap as well) and in the provided photos it appears to be a great match.
The Longines Heritage Class Limited Edition for Hodinkee is limited to 500 pieces, all individually numbered. It’s on sale today exclusively in the Hodinkee shop with a retail price of $2,500.
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