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Grande Vitesse

Introduced: Mid-2000s (circa 2007)

Purpose / Inspiration: The Grande Vitesse—French for “high speed”—was Longines’ take on the modern racing chronograph, created during the rise of oversized sport watches. It was inspired by motorsport design, with tachymeter scales, bold hands, and a strong presence on the wrist. Meant to compete with TAG Heuer and Omega’s racing lines, the Grande Vitesse packed serious spec into a big, bold case.

Designer: Developed in-house during Longines’ 2000s-era push to recapture the sport-luxury segment, especially in motor racing and performance-based watch design

Case size:

  • 42mm (three-hand version)
  • 44mm (chronograph)
  • Thick profile, short lugs, strong wrist presence

Case options:

  • Stainless steel
  • Some PVD black-coated versions (rare)
  • Polished case with brushed elements
  • Large screw-down crown and pump pushers on chrono models

Powered by:

  • Automatic movements:
    • Caliber L667 (ETA 7750 base) in chronograph models
    • Caliber L633 (ETA 2824-2 base) in three-hand models
  • Chronograph versions with 12-hour, 30-minute, and running seconds counters
  • Tachymeter scale on dial or rehaut for race timing

Bezel:

  • Fixed bezel with integrated tachymeter scale
  • Steel or PVD depending on model
  • Narrow polished bezel for dial-forward design

Dial options:

  • Black, white, silver, or carbon-fiber-style textured dials
  • Bold Arabic numerals or applied markers
  • Lumed sword or baton hands
  • Red or orange accents on chronograph seconds for visibility
  • Date window at 3 or 4:30

Water resistance: 100m

Bracelet:

  • Stainless steel bracelet with solid end links and deployant clasp
  • Rubber strap with “racing tire tread” texture on some editions
  • Sporty taper and high-wear durability

Discontinued, but still available on secondary markets—particularly favored by collectors wanting a bigger, sportier Longines from the early 2000s performance era

Why it matters: The Grande Vitesse was Longines stepping into the racing chronograph game with real firepower. It’s big, fast-looking, and built like a machine. If you want vintage Longines elegance, look elsewhere. If you want raw early-2000s chrono energy, this is it.

Built Like a Race Car. Named Like One, Too.

Chronograph Muscle with Swiss Engineering

Not a Watch for the Quiet Crowd

Big. Fast. Longines’ Boldest Move of the 2000s

References for Grande Vitesse