Meet The New Longines Mini DolceVita — Featuring A Beautiful Brick-Style Bracelet
About 100 years ago, Longines started to design and produce rectangular watches in the popular Art Deco style. In 1997, Longines revamped a rectangular watch from its 1927 collection and called it the DolceVita. However, it was a modern interpretation of the original 1920s model. Today, Longines introduces the Mini DolceVita, which has even more elements of those nearly century-old watches.
Longines watch from 1925 — Image: Longines
Longines Mini DolceVita brick-style bracelet
I am a sucker for nice bracelets, and that’s exactly what sparked my interest in this new Longines Mini DolceVita. Whereas the stainless steel link bracelet of the 1997 DolceVita model had little to do with the elegance of the Roaring Twenties, the new Mini DolceVita comes on a five-row brick bracelet that certainly does. It is a very comfortable bracelet that consists of 198 links in total.
The Longines Mini DolceVita on the wrist of Fratello’s Lina
With and without diamonds
Aside from the beautiful brick bracelet, the Mini DolceVita has an elegant case that measures 21.50mm wide, 29mm long, and 6.75mm thick. It is available both with and without diamonds set along the two longer “brancards.” If you opt for the gem-set stainless steel case, you will receive 38 IF-VVS Top Wesselton diamonds, totaling 0.456 carats.
Jennifer Lawrence sporting the new diamond-set Longines Mini DolceVita on a brick-style bracelet — Image: Longines
Jennifer Lawrence and her Mini DolceVita
In its latest “Elegance is an attitude” campaign, Longines receives the help of actress Jennifer Lawrence, known for her roles in The Hunger Games, Red Sparrow, and No Hard Feelings. She joins Kate Winslet, Zhao Liying, Géraldine Fasnacht, and others to support the brand from St. Imier, Switzerland. During the introduction of the new Longines Mini DolceVita, Lawrence made an appearance in New York City.
While in New York for the launch event, I was able to ask whether a watch represents more than just a stylish accessory to her. Lawrence answered, “A watch has more fortitude than just basic jewelry. It gives off more of a professional and serious look and is also beautiful.”
Reference L5.200.4.75.6
The version we have here is the Longines Mini DolceVita reference L5.200.4.75.6 without diamonds but with the brick bracelet. It has an Art Deco-style dial with Roman numerals at 12, 3, and 9 o’clock. At 6 o’clock, you’ll find the small seconds in a recessed sub-dial.
All three hands are blue and contrast nicely with the ivory-white dial. Longines refers to the dial on this reference as a Cosmo dial, meaning a circular dial inside a rectangular case.
Eleven different Mini DolceVita watches to choose from
If you’re not a fan of the steel brick bracelet (though I can’t imagine that), Longines also offers this watch on a 16mm black leather strap. Longines has 11 different variations of the new Mini DolceVita with a range of different dial designs, colors, and bracelet/strap options.
Four versions have gilt-tone Roman numerals and hands as well as an inner square with a guilloché effect. These four models come with dials in ivory white, mint green, blossom pink, or blue with matching leather straps.
Longines L178 movement
What they all have in common are the dimensions of the stainless steel case and the Longines L178 quartz movement. This ETA-based movement was also used in previous DolceVita models. Although I don’t recommend using a watch with a leather strap in the water anyway, all references of this Mini DolceVita have a 3 ATM water resistance rating. Since that equates to “splashproof” in real-life scenarios, it’s safer to keep these watches away from the pool.
The Mini DolceVita or a vintage Longines model?
The new Longines Mini DolceVita ladies’ models are impressive. They have enough elements from the models from the past and yet offer a watch that can be worn daily without much worry (as long as you don’t take them swimming). However, if you prefer vintage watches, take a look at the Collector’s Corner on the Longines website. There, Longines offers various vintage models, such as the one pictured above, that have been completely serviced and restored at the brand’s vintage watch workshop in St. Imier.
Some afterthoughts and pricing
The “Elegance is an attitude” slogan that Longines has been using for quite a while also applies to this Mini DolceVita. More than its predecessors, the new Mini DolceVita collection harks back to the original Art Deco-inspired rectangular watches of roughly a century ago.
The Longines Mini DolceVita, as we have it here, has a retail price of €2,100. The version with diamonds and a bracelet will set you back €4,350. The non-diamond-set version with a leather strap starts at €1,750. However, the brick-style bracelet in stainless steel is incredibly nice, and I would always advise going with that and perhaps adding a strap later on.
For more information, visit the official Longines website.
