Who doesn’t love a good dress watch with a rectangular silhouette that harkens back to the glamour of Old Hollywood? These elegant timepieces celebrate the design philosophies of the Art Deco movement with a distinctive style characterised by their angular profiles, bold numerals and intricate details. Even today, these watches remain revered for their timeless elegance and ability to blend vintage charm with modern sensibilities seamlessly.
Longines was one of the pioneers of this effervescent style when it started to market watches with rectangular and squarish faces, which resulted in a real boom in the 1920s and 1930s. One of its iconic models, created in 1927, inspired the Longines DolceVita 70 years later in 1997. This unisex collection of dress watches carries the mantle for rectangular watches at Longines and remains one of the hallmark lines for the Swiss watchmaker today.
This year, DolceVita gets a younger sister with the all-new Mini DolceVita collection, launched on Sept 23. Ideal for daintier wrists, this contemporary jewel watch, modelled by brand ambassador Jennifer Lawrence, features an almost squarish case with a reduced profile, softened lines, and a newly designed stainless steel bracelet. Like its chic older sister, the Mini DolceVita exquisitely expresses Longines’ quiet luxury and contemporary elegance and is purposefully made to complement various wardrobe choices.
Longines lives and breathes its famous slogan, “Elegance is an attitude”, in the Mini DolceVita, where each small detail enhances the harmony of the whole piece. Brand CEO Matthias Breschan explains: “Elegance is unique because it allows us to break from traditional aesthetic codes while revealing multiple facets of our personality. It is an opportunity to continually reinvent ourselves, based on our desires and moods, whether serious or playful, but always in keeping with our own tastes and values.”
There are 11 references with different straps, diamond settings and dial designs. The one constant would be the rectangular stainless steel case measuring 21.50mm x 29.00mm, which runs on a precise L178 quartz movement with 30m water resistance.
One of the key references dazzles with a case framed by 38 IF-VVS Top Wesselton diamonds. Inside, you'll find a stunning Cosmo circular dial protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The dial showcases elegant contrasts, with a silver sunray background, a white matte hour track, a silver sunray inner circle, and a white matte round small seconds subdial. The ornate Roman numerals and blued steel hands give it that timeless look while providing excellent readability.
Suppose you’re not a fan of the Cosmo dial design. In that case, the Mini DolceVita also comes in a more traditional Roman dial in rectangular format with a square inner dial and subdial embossed with subtle geometric patterns.
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Perhaps the best part of this release is a new five-link, brick-style bracelet with 198 links and a butterfly clasp. It is a well-made and comfortable bracelet and retains a bit of an Art Deco touch, fitting for the roots of the rectangular watch.
Out of these 11 variations, five models are set without diamonds, featuring Roman and Cosmo dials with a silver sandblasted finish. These can be worn with a newly-designed stainless steel bracelet or a stylish black alligator leather strap. The Roman dial option also comes with a red leather strap.
If you love colour, the Mini DolceVita offers four diamond models in fashionable summery colours like ivory white, mint green, blossom pink, and serene blue. The straps match the colour of the outer square on the dial, with a contrasting inner square. The Roman numerals and hands in gold give a 3D effect, making these watches unique. Each comes with a matching leather strap, adding to their elegance.
Each Mini DolceVita model is a powerful expression of elegance and the Italian sweet life associated with the collection. They are stunning jewel watches built on a rich heritage and uncompromisingly contemporary models for dynamic, spirited women.
