When you’re on a search for a high-quality luxury watch, many name brands come to mind. The “best of the best” when it comes to watches are those made in Switzerland, and two of those brands are Longines and Certina
Both are known for their top-notch precision and accuracy, not to mention their overall quality, and both are owned by The Swatch Company. In this article, we’ll take a look at both of these watches in detail so that you can decide for yourself which feature is most important to you. This way, figuring out the Longines vs. Certina dilemma can be a lot easier for you.
In the Beginning
The Certina watch company got started in 1888 and began by making watch movements for other companies. They started with only three employees and worked out of someone’s home. In 1938, they officially changed their name to Certina, which is from the Latin word certus, meaning certain or assured. They chose that name because they wanted their customers to feel certain that they were receiving a quality product every time they bought a Certina watch.
The Longines watch company was started by a Swiss watchmaker in 1832, meaning that they’ve been around much longer than Certina has. In 1867, they officially became known as Longines, which comes from a location in St. Imier that the locals call Les Longines.
They moved a factory to that location so that they could begin mass-producing watches. One of the things that makes this company unique is that even today, every serial number of every watch is carefully recorded. This means it is easy to confirm that you own an authentic Longines watch.
Styles and Designs
One of the things that quality luxury watches are known for is how beautiful they are. Both Longines and Certina take this responsibility seriously; therefore, you’ll always get a great-looking watch each time that you purchase from them.
When it comes to the style of these two watches, you’ll have to decide between a more traditional-looking watch and one that’s a little more unique. Longines, for example, sticks to watches with a more traditional, stylish look, while Certina is not afraid to experiment and produce watches with a little more pizzazz.
Of course, neither of these options is better than the other one. It’s all a matter of preference for each customer. People have certain expectations when it comes to what their luxury watch is supposed to look like, so if you prefer a more traditional look, you’re better off with a Longines watch. On the other hand, a Certina watch is what you need when you want one that looks a little different than the other luxury watches on the market.
People who love luxury watches usually have a certain look in mind when shopping for the perfect watch, so it’s good to know that everyone can satisfy their craving for a great watch regardless of what they’re looking for.
What About How the Watches Are Built?
When it comes to overall quality, both Certina and Longines cannot be beat. They don’t call them Swiss watches for nothing, after all. Certina, for example, boasts cases made out of stainless steel, dial windows that are made out of anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and bands made out of leather, steel, or rubber. Many of these analog watches are water-resistant between 330 feet and 660 feet (100 to 200 meters).
In fact, Certina takes their overall build quality so seriously that in 1959, they came out with a case that is reinforced for extra strength, which they call DS for double security. Their goal at the time was to create a watch with increased water and shock resistance, much like the G-Shock watches of today.
Longines also makes analog watches, and they use either quartz or mechanical automatic movement in each of them. Just the same as Certina, their cases are made out of stainless steel and their dial windows out of sapphire crystal.
You also get the same band options as you do with Certina, but the difference is that their watches have a water-resistance that goes up to 984 feet, or 300 meters. Still, if you don’t need this particular feature, which you likely won’t unless you’re a diver, this might not make much of a difference to you.
When it comes to overall build quality, it’s obvious that Longines and Certina are in the same league. They are both Swiss watches with the same impeccable attention to detail from one end of their watches to another. In overall quality, you cannot go wrong buying either one of these watches.
Taking a Look at the Prices
Naturally, when you’re shopping around for quality luxury watches, it’s only natural to be curious about their prices. While a lot of people in this category have limitless budgets, most people don’t, so here is a general breakdown of the prices: Longines watches range from $450 to around $3500, while Certina watches start at around $125 and go up to $800, making them a cheaper option for sure.
Certina also offers a wider variety when it comes to the design of their watches, and this is important to some people. On the other hand, Longines watches are a more “classic” type of luxury watch, so if tradition is important to you and you prefer a more traditional-looking watch, Longines watches are for you.
And considering both of these watches are made out of high-quality parts and features, the only problem you might experience is finding just which watch is best for you. Regardless of what you’re looking for in a luxury watch, these two brands will never let you down.
Is it Worth Buying a Longines?
The Longines watch is what many people think of when they think of a classic luxury Swiss watch, and there’s little wonder why. With models such as Flagship, Spirit, Presence, Conquest, and numerous others, you can find watches for diving, elegant watches, military-style watches, and watches that concentrate on excellent performance.
While their prices do go up to around $3500, every millimeter of the watch is made to be beautiful, fully functionally, and extremely accurate, which means that you can wear it with pride regardless of the model you choose. For those who want top-notch quality and can afford to pay for it, Longines watches are definitely worth it.
Is it Worth Buying a Certina?
Certina offers four main models of watches: Aqua, Urban, Sport, and Heritage. While a little less expensive than Longines watches, they offer a lot more variety in looks and overall design. They also have a lot more water resistance, if that’s important to you.
Certain watches go up to around $800 and are therefore more affordable than many other brands of watches. These amazing watches are great for divers because of their 984-foot (300-meter) water resistance, but even if you just want a great-looking luxury watch and nothing else, you’ll appreciate what they have to offer.
The bottom line is that both Longines and Certina watches are well worth the money you spend on them. They are both Swiss watches, and as you know, there are a lot of requirements they must meet in order to call themselves that. There are a few differences between these two watches, but at least now you know they are both high-quality watches made with stringent qualifications and by companies who promise to provide you with a watch you’ll be able to enjoy for many years to come.
