I don't want to offend any Longines owners and/or fans on this sub, but this happens to me with (almost) all their releases/watches. I see a new watch on their IG, watch videos from a few reviewers, and get all hyped. Then I go to my local AD and see the models in person and they just look... Clunky, Dull? I don't know how to describe it.
My wife wholeheartedly agrees with me, I hyped her up about the Zulu Time GMT in 39mm with a green dial to the point where she told me to go buy it. So we went to see them, wallet ready and her first words where "these are it??". The details of the Spirit Zulu Time GMT stand out so well in photos and videos, and in person it just seems dull.
And this doesn't happen for all brands, for example I think Grand Seikos look waaaaay better in person than in photos, the complete opposite case. Or Rolexes, APs, Langes, and even Tags in my opinion look just as good in person than in photos.
The only Longines watch I've actually liked in person is the Bronce Legend Diver. But other than that they all look... different. I don't want to say "cheap", but kind of(?).
Complete turn off from pictures and reviews to actually holding the watch in my hands.
Am I alone in this?
Actually this common across many brands, especially that offer sunburst dials… Just depends on the photography. That’s regardless of type of dial actually. Photography/ colour grading of their images.
There’s a whole video dedicated to Omega Aqua Terras on YouTube by WatchAdvisor who goes over this exact issue when showcasing colours of watches.
Not to say that there may be genuine cases of these discrepancies from what we’re shown and then what we get.
Much like how the new green Santos photographs in good lighting, then in person it looks almost black unless you’re in direct sunlight. I like it but if I purchased based on photos alone I can see how many would be disappointed