Brand comparisons usually run on opinion. This one runs on settled transactions: 203 recorded sales of Longines and 125 of Bulgari, all in US dollars so the figures are directly comparable.
What each one actually costs
The median Longines result is $2,500. The median Bulgari result is $3,500. On typical examples, Bulgari carries roughly 1.4 times the price of Longines at auction.
Half of all Longines sales land between $1,250 and $6,875. For Bulgari the middle half runs $1,664 to $9,600.
Which one surprises the specialists
34% of Longines lots beat their high estimate, against 48% for Bulgari. That gap says the trade is more often caught out by Bulgari, which is a sign of demand outrunning the published guide.
Breadth of the record
Our archive covers 61 distinct Longines references and 23 for Bulgari, with results going back to 2004 and 2006 respectively. The top recorded result is $106,680 for Longines and $277,200 for Bulgari.
What this does not tell you
A median is not a verdict. These brands overlap heavily at the edges, and a well chosen example of the cheaper one will outrun a poor example of the dearer one. Condition, completeness and model matter more than the badge on the dial.
