Hands-on: Longines Mini DolceVita

Text/image: Mia Litström

Longines is doing well, it is one of the watch companies that sells the most watches in the world. Their range is large and the watches hold good quality and they are watches at reasonable prices. In addition they carry a solid history which several other watch companies also do, but what they are alone in is their breadth of watch models, for both women and men, which over a long time have been very popular around the world. DolceVita in particular is a collection that stands out extra much and which above all is aimed at female wrists and the watches are delightfully easy to take to thanks to their feminine style in rectangular form.

Longines began working out the rectangular shape as early as 1910 and it then gained a proper speed in popularity from 1920 and a time onwards. And it is during this period, more precisely 1927, that the watch model was developed that stands for the original inspiration for today's DolceVita. The very first collection was launched in 1997 and which a couple of years later got its well known slogan ”Elegance is an attitude” which Longines still uses diligently. After came an update of the collection in 2015 which has held steady since then. But now a while has passed which means that it is time for a relaunch of the model series. We have taken a closer look at the new models and they surprise positively, especially the ones with lovely colours. 

Beyond the colour, it is also above all new that the case is smaller, hence the new name Mini DolceVita. All the models have a size of 21,50 mm x 29 mm, height 6,75 mm and they are water resistant to 30m. It is a neat and fine watch that fits in with the elegant theme. The size makes the watch very easy to wear and appeals to those who are looking for a small, clean-lined watch. But the smallness alone does not make it boring, instead Longines has put time into designing the model in a way with details that mean it is not too simple in its appearance but nor have they overcomplicated it by adding too many details, instead the dials are all well balanced. 

All models in the Mini DolceVita collection have a case in steel with the quartz movement L178. In total there are eleven models in the collection where we begin with the ones that stand out the most: the colourful ones. They are four in number and have a dial in either green, off-white, blue or pink. In the middle there is a smaller dial with a white guilloché pattern as well as below it a small seconds hand at 6 o'clock with a white background in square form. Hands and indices are gold coloured. All have diamonds on the long sides of the case edge. In total there are 38 IF-VVS Top Wesselton diamonds. The straps which have the same colour as the dial are in alligator skin and they have added a little extra gold colour on the straps which creates a fine pattern. In addition the blue strap has an extra delicious metallic look. These models are really the ones that lift the launch. The colours are becoming and fresh which has previously been missing at DolceVita and which already now awakens hopes in me for a larger size in the future. 

Colours also mean that it becomes more challenging to match it with the everyday style. Therefore one of the models is strikingly right in that respect. It has a completely new steel bracelet that is five links wide all the way around. And the bracelet is quite substantial, it is not a thin bracelet, instead there is proper height on the link parts. That means it lies steadily on the wrist and that it has a certain weight which is also pleasant. The new bracelet is available with two types of dial. One has their classic dial with a flinqué pattern and Roman numerals which is timelessly handsome and suits a more dressed up style. The other is their Cosmo dial which has a silver coloured background and a ring with hour indication as well as a smaller dial for seconds indication at 6 o'clock. Both rings are in matte white which also gives a different appearance depending on the light, sometimes it is completely white and in stronger light when when the silver coloured background catches the light the matte white takes on a more grey shade. The Roman numerals are painted in blue and the hands are also blue. The Cosmo dial has a lively dial in clean-lined design which means it is easy to fit in with different outfits, a perfect and pleasant everyday watch. 

The price is 41 800 kr.

Both models are available with or without diamonds and the Cosmo dial is also available with a black leather strap and the other Roman dial with a red leather strap where these two are the most sophisticatedly elegant. 

In summary 

It is a lovely update of the DolceVita which has got a good feminine size, lovely with colours which means that those who love colour will surely be able to find their favourite. But also for the one who is looking for a handsome everyday watch in a clean-lined format the new one with the Cosmo dial with bracelet is a real bullseye. Both it and the Roman dial are also available in two price classes, with or without diamonds, which makes it more accessible. With bracelet without diamonds the price is 24 250 kronor and with leather strap 20 750 kronor. With diamonds and bracelet the price is 50 500 kronor. For the colourful versions the price is 47 050 kronor.  

Read more at Longines.

Longines Mini DolceVita references and prices

Green L5.200.0.05.2 – price 47 050 kr

Off-white L5.200.0.79.2 – price 47 050 kr

Blue L5.200.0.95.2 – price 47 050 kr

Pink L5.200.0.99.2 – price 47 050 kr

Roman dial with bracelet and diamonds L5.200.0.71.6 – price 50 500 kr

Cosmo dial with bracelet and diamonds L5.200.0.75.6 – price 50 500 kr

Roman dial with black leather strap L5.200.4.71.2 – price 20 750 kr

Roman dial with red leather strap L5.200.4.71.5 – price 20 750 kr

Roman dial with bracelet L5.200.4.71.6 – price 24 250 kr

Cosmo dial with black leather strap L5.200.4.75.2 – price 20 750 kr

Cosmo dial with bracelet L5.200.4.75.6 – price 24 250 kr