On Brutalism

There are objects that exist merely to serve their purpose and then there are those that transcend utility becoming art, philosophy and architecture. This 1970s creation from Longines is one such piece; an icon that takes the abstract concept of time and forges it into a monument for the wrist through the unyielding beauty of brutalist design.

The octagonal case, measuring a modern 37mm by 33mm, defies convention. This is architecture as much as it is a watch, its sharp angles and clean lines echoing the bold silhouettes of brutalist icons like London’s Barbican Estate and the Tesla Cybertruck which sort of resembles this watch. This is not a watch that whispers; it asserts itself with the same unapologetic presence as a concrete monolith rising from the earth, unafraid to challenge your perception of beauty.

Brutalism, after all, has always been misunderstood; decried as cold and devoid of emotion. However real brutalism is not a lack of feeling but an abundance of it. It is raw honesty, a refusal to adorn, a celebration of the underlying material, texture and form. And so too is this watch, a deliberate focus on substance over decoration.

The black dial is a void that draws you in and refuses to let go. No unnecessary flourishes, no distractions; just pure design. Beneath the austere exterior beats the self-winding caliber L633.1; and like the concrete giants, a movement built to endure.

This is a timepiece for those who see the elegance in exposed concrete, who are moved by the interplay of shadows and texture, who understand that sometimes the most profound statements are made in silence. It is not for everyone and that is precisely its power.

Presented here in unpolished excellent condition with some light patina on the dial.