Longines

As one might expect, the history of Longines is a rather storied, evolutive one. Originally named “Raiguel Jeune,” the company was set up in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz (alongside a few other business partners) in Saint Imier - an ancient township in the shadow of Mont Soleil.

By 1867, Ernest Francillon, Agassiz’s nephew and company director at that time, set up a new workshop for the purposes of serially manufacturing movements - sited on an area nicknamed “Les Longines,” giving rise to the company’s modern name. Francillon would continue to shepherd the company until his death in 1900, solidifying Longines’ status as one of the earliest examples of a modern watch manufacturer.

Widely regarded as one of the most vaunted makers of precision timing instruments in the 20th century, Longines’ watches have long been associated with lofty pursuits in equestrian sport and aviation.

The company is famous for supplying military pilots with a range of chronographs throughout the early 20th century, including US naval officer Philip Van Horn Weems, with whom Longines collaborated on a unique “Hour-Angle” design. Among lovers of classic mid-century movements, the brand is also revered for inventing the caliber 13ZN - the first serially manufactured chronograph with a flyback function.

Fun fact: the brand’s “winged hourglass” logo is one of the oldest continually active trademarks in the world - first registered in 1889.

Ref. 4270, 30CH Flyback, Ref. 5193 “Sei Tacche,” Master Collection “190th Anniversary”