Longines History with Pioneers and Achievers
Watches not only represent time. More often they symbolize the exquisite craftsmanship required in creating the timepiece. And historically speaking one watch brand represents history, craftsmanship, elegance, and luxury – and that is Longines.
During the early times in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, there were individual family workshops where one can buy parts that can be assembled into a watch. That system is called classic établissage. It was in this atmosphere that the Longines company was born in 1832 through the partnership of Auguste Agassiz, Henri Raiguel, and Florian Morel. It was originally named Raiguel Jeune & Cie.
A Series of Collaborations
The heritage of Longines is not solely based on history but the relationship it has built along the way. One of the very first tie-ups was with Italian explorer Prince Luigi Amedeo, the Duke of Abruzzi. He was a renowned mountaineer and Arctic explorer. It was in 1899 during his trip to the North Pole where he proudly wore his Longines timepiece.
In the 1900s Longines broke into the field of aviation with the help of John PV Heinmuller (an aero-philatelist and past president of the American Air Mail Society). He served as a chief timer to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. In 1919 with his help, Longines was designated the official supplier of navigation instruments for the federation. He also officiated the 1927 Lindbergh transatlantic flight. His action gave Longines its place in aviation history.
Walter Mittelholzer, a Swiss pilot and photographer, was the first of the record-setting pilots to take Longines on a record-breaking flight from Zurich to Tehran between 1924-25. He took it again on his flight from Zurich to Cape Town between 2016 to 2017. Next to him was Italian military pilot Antonio Locatelli who flew from Ghedi, Italy to Iceland in 1925 wearing his Longines. Francesco de Pinedo was next, and he traveled for several months in a seaplane on a journey that would take him to four continents again with his Longines timepiece.
In 1927 a tie-up with another pioneer in naval, air, and space created what is now known as the Weems Second Setting Watch by Longines. The collaboration was made between Longines and Philip Van Horn Weems, an American naval officer whose system helped many aviators hone their navigational skills. This was interpreted in the timepieces by creating a central rotating seconds dial. It can be adjusted according to a GMT radio signal to ensure the utmost accuracy in navigation. This timepiece became popular amongst pilots.
Another symbol of Longines achievement was the success of Charles Lindbergh. He piloted the Spirit of St. Louis from New York to Paris on the very first solo nonstop trans-Atlantic flight. He was wearing his Longines timepiece during the whole flight. He helped design the Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch in 1931. With the help of a sextant (an instrument used to determine the angle between the horizon and celestial body) and a nautical almanac, wearers can calculate their precise geographical location.
In June 1927, Longines was there to witness the first pilot to carry a passenger aboard a nonstop flight from New York to Eisleben, Germany. The achiever was American pilot Clarence Duncan Chamber. Not long after that, Longines also kept time in 1928 aboard the “Southern Cross,” piloted by the Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith, who became the first pilot to fly from the United States to Australia and to cross the Pacific Ocean.
Another truly historical collaboration was that of the 1932 14-hour flight by Amelia Earhart across the Atlantic Ocean. She is known in history as the very first female pilot to accomplish this feat.
How can anyone ever forget Howard Hughes? This person was known during his lifetime as one of the most influential and financially successful individuals in the world. He initially came into the limelight as a film producer, and later on his enthusiasm in flying made him an important figure in the aviation industry. Longines was there to help him achieve the world record of going around the world in three days, 19 hours, and 14 minutes in 1938.
The legacy of creating a tie-up with the best and the finest in any field of endeavor continues with the most recent collaboration with famous personalities like Andre Agassi. This person is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Winning over 50 tennis world titles during his career Andre was famous for his exquisite precision and timing. Despite retirement, he has remained a Longines model along with his wife (another world tennis champion) namely, Stefanie Graf.
Japanese artistic gymnast Kohei Uchimura is another one of the modern ambassadors of Longines. He has been breaking records in the field ever since he won a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics. His level of consistency and extraordinary elegance under tremendous stress is what makes him a winner. These are the same qualities Longines has maintained since the 1800s.
Armed with the support of the best and the finest, Longines has rewritten history by introducing the most exquisite models of timepiece models in history which include:
- Weems Second-Setting Watch
- Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch
- Conquest Watch Collection
- Flagship Watch Collection
- Longines LCD Watch
- Feuille d’Or Watch
Longines Pays Tribute to Achievers
As a tribute to the great works and achievements of everyone with whom they collaborated with, Longines launched the Spirit Collection of 2020. Basing the design on its aeronautical roots, this watch lives up to the Longines standard of legibility. It features bold Arabic numerals and half-onion crowns.
In 2021 this model was upgraded into the Longines Spirit of Green. The attractive green shade of olive in mossy texture paired with slightly beige hand and hour makers. This model comes in colors such as blue, silver, and black and comes in 40mm and 42mm.
Conclusion
As a takeaway from all of this, one can only conclude that Longines is indeed the emblem of excellence. This applies not only in the watch structure but more so with the contribution the company has made in history. Every model they have has a history that goes with it. Owning one is like owning a piece of the greatest achievements from the past.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
