Longines Automatic Watches Collection, Longines Automatic Watches Sale

Longines Presence 25.5 Automatic Yellow (L4.321.2.42.2)

excellent, first class WATCH OFFER

---- [Rating: 5 / 5 stars]

Review by Kevin Foxton, From USA Lafayette

Longines DolceVita 20 Quartz Stainless Steel Black (L5.155.4.76.6)

Great Longines DolceVita 20 Quartz Stainless Steel Black (L5.155.4.76.6) watch, I sleep with it

---- [Rating: 5 / 5 stars]

Review by Megan T, From India Ahmedabad

Longines GrandeVitesse Tachymeter Brown Rubber (L3.636.4.60.9)

I got this Longines watch as my first "big" face watch and so far I am very pleased.

---- [Rating: 5 / 5 stars]

Review by Cleo Lanyon, From United Kingdom Hornchurch

FEI's Top Partner Longines timed the victory of the German riders at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship 2015 in Blair Castle, in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II, who presented them the medals. The winners received team gold by more than 50 penalties and the matchless Michael Jung captured the fifth individual title of his career.

This equestrian event took place in the Scottish Highlands from 10 to 13 September 2015 and the Swiss watchmaker was associated to it as the Title Partner, Official Timekeeper and Watch. In addition, Longines is also involved as Official Partner, Timekeeper and Watch in both eventing competitions CCI4* Luhlmuhlen and CIC3* Luhlmuhlen in Germany.

The Official Watch in Blair Castle was a stainless steel Longines Conquest Classic Moonphase watch. This model houses a self-winding mechanical chronograph movement, a true symbol of precision and technique. Its refined silvered dial displays the moon phases, echoing the excellence and elegance of the equestrian sport stars.

On the occasion of the 2015, Longines also set a new clock at the start of the cross country round. This clock displays the countdown until the start of each run, which is determined at a fixed time. The new device also beeps the last five seconds prompting the rider to start the run, which should not occur before the last beep.

Longines, Official Timekeeper of the Dubai World Cupt and Presenting Partner of one of its highlights, the Dubai Sheema Classic presented by Longines, celebrated the 20th edition of the Dubai World Cup on Saturday 28 March 2015.

The winners of this year's Dubai World Cup, among which were His Highness the Aga Khan, Alain de Royer-Dupre and Christophe Soumillon, respectively winning owner, trainer and jockey of the 2015 Dubai Sheema Classic presented by Longines, as well as H.E.Sh. Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Saeed bin Suroor and William Buick, respectively winning owner, trainer and jockey of the 2015 Dubai World Cup, and Longines Ambassador of Elegance Aaron Kwok were presented with a special 20-timepiece-limited edition of the Conquest Classic Moonphase from the hands of Mr. Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President of Longines and Head of International Marketing and Mr. Patrick Aoun, Regional Brand Manager Longines Middle East. The sophistication of this rose gold chronograph, including a moonphase display, makes it an eminently refined timepiece and echoes the excellence and elegance of the stars of the equestrian universe.

In addition, this raceday witnessed the victory of Ana Pribylova at the Longines Most Elegant Lady prize and Marlon Weir at the Best Dressed Man prize. They were honoured by receiving refined Longines watches as well.
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The Night Turf St. Moritz took place on Friday evening 6 February 2015, on
the frozen lake of the renowned Swiss alpine resort,prior to the first White Turf race Sunday. Longines was the Official Timekeeper and Official Watch of this unique event, as well as the Title Partner of the Longines Show-Sprint Race, which Cheryl Schoch on Boccalino won in style.

The event was enlightened by many celebrities, such as Nicola Spirig, Triathlon World Champion, Ariella Kaeslin, Gymnastics European Champion, Bruno Kernen, Downhill World Champion and Sven Epiney, SRF TV moderator, and also the Longines Ambassador of Elegance Ingeborga Dapkunaite.

The Official Watch of the competition, a stainless steel Conquest Classic Moonphase model, houses a self-winding mechanical chronograph movement. Its refined silvered dial displays the moon phases, echoing the excellence and elegance of equestrian sport stars.

Longines was for the first time the Official Partner, Official Timekeeper and Official Watch of the Japan Cup, attended by Longines Ambassador of Elegance Chi Ling Lin. Inaugurated in 1981, the Japan Cup in association with Longines is a 2400 meter international Group 1 turf race for horses aged three-years-old and up.

To honour Christophe Soumillon's great performance, the winning owner, breeder, trainer, jockey and stable staff members were presented with elegant Longines watches by Mr. Walter von Känel, President of Longines, and Chi Ling Lin, Longines Ambassador of Elegance.

To celebrate both the sporting aspects of this exceptional day and the delicate Japanese-style elegance, Longines organized a Longines Elegance Prize that paid tribute to the kimono. Mrs. Miki Uehara was thus declared most elegant lady and received a magnificent Longines watch from the hands of Mr. Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President of Longines and Head of International Marketing.

As the Official Partner of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Longines was the Official Timekeeper for the 45th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, held in Nanning, China. During this world class event, the brand awarded the Longines Prize for Elegance to Kohei Uchimura (Japan), winner of the all-around title for the fifth year in a row and Yao Jinnan (China), silver medalist in the team competition. In addition, Longines Ambassador of Elegance Aaron Kwok came to congratulate the Chinese men's team on delivering a brilliant performance and winning the World Championships title.

Set up in 1997, the Longines Prize for Elegance is aimed at honouring the most elegant and charismatic sportswomen and men. Apart from purely technical considerations, the criteria applied by the jury are based on grace, harmonious movement and emotion during the performances. The winners of the Longines Prize for Elegance received a trophy, a Longines watch, as well as cheque worth US$ 5,000.

Symbolising the contemporary elegance of the brand, the Conquest Classic collection highlighted this important international competition in Nanning. Housing a mechanical calibre, the Official Watch of the event displays a white mother-of-pearl dial and 12 diamond indices. This magnificent timepiece in steel and rose gold cap is the perfect illustration of the famous Longines slogan: "Elegance is an attitude".

Longines first became involved in gymnastics in 1912, when it launched an innovative electro-mechanical timing system. For over twenty years the brand has been the official partner and timekeeper for artistic and rhythmic gymnastics competitions organised by the International Gymnastics Federation.

The Ladies Diamond Conquest models combine the brilliance of precious stones with the strength of ceramic in black and white. The dynamic beauty of those models, achieved through a marriage of sporty design and glittering diamonds, echoes the fine balance between performance and elegance. Sporty women who appreciate elegance will find exactly what they are looking for.

The Ladies Diamond Conquest models are aimed at those women who enjoy sport but are not willing to compromise on elegance. Thanks to the use of diamonds and the innovative combination with ceramic, these models add a touch of sophistication to the sporty beauty of Longines' range of products. With its delicate balance, the Ladies Diamond Conquest watch is the ideal timepiece to weapon many occasions; during an equestrian competition, a tennis tournament or while having fun on the ski slopes, but in the same vein it will add a touch of elegance worn for a cocktail party or a formal dinner.
These glittering timepieces boast a dynamic beauty which has been achieved by the use of ceramic embellished with 54 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds set around the inside of the bezel and on the dial. The bezel and the bracelet are reinforced by the use of white or black ceramic while the matching dial - white mother-of-pearl or black - completes the appeal of this model.
The Ladies Diamond Conquest models have a screw-down case back while the crown has a lateral protection. They are water-resistant to 5 bar and the bracelets have a triple safety folding clasp. The stainless steel case has a diameter of 35 mm and houses a quartz movement that shows the hours, minutes, seconds and date.

Thanks to their delicate balance between performance and elegance, these robust timepieces are ideal for women who enjoy sport but at the same time appreciate refinement. The Ladies Diamond Conquest models have added a new dimension to the Longines Sport Collection thanks to the inclusion of diamonds and the combination of these precious gems with the strength of ceramic.

87.7

Bovet - Artists for Peace and Justice

Slyde - SIAR 2013

Raymond Weil - 14th Annual Classic Brit Awards

Boucheron - Hiroshi Sugimoto exhibition

Eberhard & Co. - Gran Premio Nuvolari

Longines - Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Hamilton - Swiss Aerobatics Championship

Cuervo y Sobrinos - Antonio Banderas "latin hero"

Girard-Perregaux - "We Are Family"

A. Lange & Söhne - "Watches and Wonders"

The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving 70 teams of athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The largest multi-sport event ever to be held in Scotland, it will take place from 23 July - 3 August 2014. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years. Glasgow 2014 will be the 20th Commonwealth Games and will feature 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 261 medal events on show. The Games will play host to 4500 athletes and sell 1,000,000 tickets with the event aided by an army of up to 15,000 local volunteers.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II launched the Glasgow 2014 Queen's Baton Relay on its global journey on Wednesday 9 October 2013 in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace attended by some of Scotland's greatest athletes, inspirational young people and senior representatives from across the Commonwealth.
The Queen placed Her message calling the athletes of the Commonwealth to next summer's Games inside a baton specially crafted in Scotland which will now travel to the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth before being opened at the Opening Ceremony.
The Queen's Baton Relay is a unique tradition that unites two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace and rallies 4,500 athletes from the 70 nations and territories. The Queen's Baton Relay and the Queen's Baton hold special royal significance. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the Patron of the Commonwealth Games.
Longines' involvement in the Commonwealth Games dates back to 1962, when it was the timekeeper of the event in Perth (Australia).

The day spent in Saint-Imier provided the Taiwanese actress and top model an opportunity to see for herself the various steps in the production of Longines's famed timepieces. A visit to the Longines Museum, fully renovated last year, proved one of the high points of a day full of emotion and discovery. Chi-Ling Lin was obviously fascinated by all the watches that have written the company's history.
A Longines ambassadress since 2005, Chi-Ling Lin embodies to perfection the Longines catchline "Elegance is an Attitude". Every hour of her visit and its various activities as well as her graceful distinction and wit delighted the people she met.
At the end of her visit, Chi-Ling Lin declared "It gives me great pleasure to be in Saint-Imier and in its superb Swiss mountainous countryside. I really enjoyed my visit to Longines. You can really feel the company's expertise and the history of a brand that has long defined the ideals of elegance".

The Longines Prize for Precision 2013 has been awarded to the two most precise compound athletes of the season, Erika Jones (USA) and Braden Gellenthien (USA).
After four qualifying stages, in Shanghai (China), Antalya (Turkey), Medellin (Colombia) and Wroclaw (Poland), the top athletes were in Paris for the Final of the 2013 World Cup. Erika Jones (USA) and Braden Gellenthien (USA) have scored the most "10s" during the qualifications and the tournament of the season, 379 for Jones and 447 for Gellenthien. They each received a trophy, a Longines watch and a cheque for 5'000 CHF.
Representing the precision of Longines, a steel chronograph from the collection Conquest Classic was the official watch of this event. With a diameter of 41 mm, this model houses the exclusive mechanical column-wheel caliber L688. Its black dial is set with one arabic numeral and 11 applied indices with Super-LumiNova®. It displays the hours and the minutes, a small second at 9, a 30-minute counter at 3, a 12-hour counter at 6 as well as the date at 4:30. Just as the entire collection Conquest Classic, this timepiece is water-resistant to 5 bar and its screw-down case back is fitted with a sapphire glass.

Title Partner and Official Timekeeper of the Longines Global Champions Tour, Longines partnered the Monaco leg of the competition and presented two of its major events: the Longines Pro-Am Cup on Friday, won by Mark McAuley riding Loriot and by Maddalena Valenzano Menada on Quidana, and the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of the Prince of Monaco on Saturday, the latter won by Richard Spooner on Cristallo followed by the riders William Funnell and Edwina Tops-Alexander.
 

The winners were each presented with a Longines wristwatch as they improved their rankings in the Longines Global Champions Tour Ranking.
This year, the official watch of the Monaco show jumping competition is a model from the new Conquest Classic line, dedicated to Longines's support of equestrian sport disciplines. This new collection of models is fitted with self-winding calibres.
 

Swiss Watchmaking Brand Longines is the Official Timekeeper and Watch of The Preakness Stakes, Presenting Partner of the International Pavilion, Dixie Stakes

Longines had a prominent presence throughout Pimlico on Preakness day serving as the official Timekeeper and Watch with a large chronograph at the finish line and hosting the Longines Most Elegant Woman at Preakness Fashion Contest. To highlight its partnership, the watchmaker had a digital "Longines Preakness Stakes Countdown Clock" on the official Preakness Stakes website,  and served as the presenting partner of the International Pavilion, the premier hospitality destination. Positioned at the finish line, the International Pavilion brings the world to the Preakness by selecting a different country each year to serve as the host nation with its respective embassy and Ambassador serving as Honorary Host. The embassy of Japan and Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae served as the 2013 host nation.

The Longines Most Elegant Woman at Preakness Fashion Contest celebrated the elegant style of The Preakness Stakes. With the help of celebrity judges Torrey Smith of the Baltimore Ravens and "Miss Racing Queen" Tatiana Schoeppler, Longines chose the most elegant woman and awarded her a stainless steel and rose gold watch of the Longines Saint-Imier Collection featuring a stunning diamond bezel. Watches from The Longines Saint-Imier Collection were also presented to the winning horses' owner, trainer and jockey of the Dixie Stakes presented by Longines.

About the Watches

Based in Saint-Imier since 1832, The Longines Saint-Imier Collection is inspired by the watchmaking heritage of the brand's hometown. To celebrate its rich history and roots within the village of Saint-Imier, the collection includes a series of luxurious timepieces in stainless steel and rose gold bracelet combinations, as well as rose gold and stainless steel leather band combinations. The chronograph watches within the collection are fitted with the column-wheel movement specially developed and produced by ETA exclusively for Longines.

Emanating the core values and aesthetic of the brand - tradition, elegance and performance - the Longines Saint-Imier Collection is rooted in the unique shape of the case inspired by a 1945 Longines watch model. The watches in the collection display sleek lines and distinctive lugs, giving them a classic yet contemporary appeal. All models are fitted with mechanical movements whose intricate workings can be admired through the transparent sapphire back cover.

Singapore, Saint-Imier (Switzerland) - 11 November 2012 - The third installment of the Longines Singapore Gold Cup 2012 raised a total of S$236,728 for the Chaoyang School through a charity luncheon. The crown jewel event of local turf with a S$1.35 million prize purse, ensures that this domestic Group One race is one of the most prestigious races in the region. Alan Munro aboard Better Life was the first to dash past the finishing line, joining the realms of local racing legends immortalised by their triumphs in the high profile race. The Longines Saint-Imier Collection was also awarded to the winning jockey, Mr. Alan Munro, the horse-trainer, Mr. Takaoka and owner, Mrs. Kusumoto to recognize their merits.  

This milestone race was attended by Guest-of-Honour, Chairman of Tote Board, Mr Bobby Chin, Longines Vice-President and Head of International Marketing, Mr. Juan-Carlos Capelli and Longines Ambassador of Elegance, Ms. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.  

Traditionally, the Singapore Gold Cup Day is designated as an annual Charity Race Day. Since Longines took on the title sponsorship in 2010, Longines has continued to dedicate this event towards charity, raising funds for Chaoyang School, one of the social service programmes supported by Community Chest. A charity auction was held showcasing Mr. Ong Kim Seng's painting, a timepiece from The Longines Saint-Imier Collection, a stunning hat donned by Longines Ambassador of Elegance, Ms. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Prix de Diane Longines in June 2011, as well as six art pieces done by the students of Chaoyang School to raise funds together with table sales and outright donations. The charity luncheon raised S$236,728. 

Commenting on Longines' role in the Longines Singapore Gold Cup, Mr. Juan-Carlos Capelli, Longines' Vice President & Head of International Marketing said, "As the Official Partner and Timekeeper of the Singapore Turf Club, Longines is proud to present the Longines Singapore Gold Cup for the third year. We are enthusiastic about the good synergy formed from this partnership and look forward to continuity." 

Longines' passion for horses began with the manufacture of a pocket chronograph depicting a jockey and his mount, engraved by hand on the back of the case. Since 1881, Longines is committed to horseracing and its chronographs have been highly sought after by racegoers ever since. The brand today is official partner and timekeeper to numerous prestigious events around the world embracing horse racing, show jumping and endurance riding. Alongside the Longines Singapore Gold Cup, it is affiliated to other iconic races such as the Prix de Diane Longines, the Dubai World Cup, the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Royal Ascot, the H.H. The Emir's Trophy presented by Longines, the Longines Hong Kong International races, the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Longines Handicap de las Americas, the Grand Prix Longines Lydia Tesio, the Longines Grosser Preis von Baden and the Kentucky Derby. 

Press release

Longines FEI World Endurance Championships at Euston Park

Euston Park, Suffolk (UK) / Saint-Imier (Switzerland), August 26th 2012 - Held across 160km of land in the beautiful grounds of the Euston Estate, the seat of the Duke and Duchess of Grafton, and several local landowners, the championships were truly a test of skill and stamina for both horses and riders.

The event saw a star studded field of riders and horses tackle the course in a single day across terrain such as forest tracks, river meadows and open farmland. The individual winner of the Longines FEI Endurance Championships 2012 was His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on his horse Madji du Pont who completed the event in 7hr00min45sec with the UAE team winning gold followed by France and Oman respectively. Longines presented watches from the new Longines Saint-Imier collection to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as well as the four UAE team riders. Longines also presented a prize to the horse in the best condition after the race, won by Spanish competitor Ikland. The Longines Saint-Imier Collection has been inspired by the origins of Longines' watch-making tradition and the sleek lines and the distinctive lugs provide these new models with a subtle balance between classical and contemporary design.

Longines' passion for equestrian sports dates back to 1878 with the production of a chronograph engraved with a jockey and his horse. The Swiss watch brand has a vast experience in timing equestrian events. Seen on the racetracks in 1881 and extremely popular among jockeys and horse-lovers, this model, which enabled its user to time performances to the second, was already being used by most of the sports judges in New York as early as 1886. In addition, in 1926 the brand was appointed official timekeeper for the Concours Hippique International Officiel de Geneve for the first time. As an official partner and timekeeper at the Longines FEI World Endurance Championships, the famous Swiss watchmaker demonstrates a commitment to the world of equestrian sports, disciplines that represent its values of tradition, precision and elegance. For more than 80 years, Longines has taken part in over one hundred national and international equestrian events. The brand has established numerous partnerships around the world as timekeeper and partner of prestigious horse-shows and Longines' involvement in equestrian sport includes show jumping and flat racing as well as endurance.

Longines has been based at Saint-Imier, Switzerland, since 1832. It is celebrating 180 years of non-stop craftsmanship in 2012 and its watchmaking expertise reflects a b devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations. Over the years, the brand has built b and long-lasting links with the equestrian sports. Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world's leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.

Revue FH - 3 June 2010

The tastes of the 1920s are considered to be among the most important stylistic trends created in the 20th century. Their creative freedom and imagination helped to perpetuate a unique style within the Art Deco movement which exerted a marked influence even in watchmkaing during the 1920s.

As it does each year, Longines has sought inspiration in this artistic trend for creating elegant ladies' timepieces and is now presenting three new watches models inspired by the exuberance of the 1920s to make up its 2010 edition of Les Elegantes. The first is a rectangular watch in yellow gold, set on an elegant strap in black satin. The second, a delicate piece in rose gold, has a tonneau-shaped case that fits snugly on to a bordeaux satin strap. And the third is a graceful white gold model with an almond-shaped case and a white satin strap.
The cases of all three models have been hand-engraved in the Art Deco style and set with 24 to 42 diamonds. The Arabic numerals add a delicate charm to the silvered dials and blued hands. The brand has selected an authentic hand-wound movement dating from the 1970s for this elegant collection - the Longines L805 calibre, set with 17 rubies and beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour. This precious trio has been produced in a limited series of ten pieces only.

The 2010 CHIO Rotterdam, where Longines was the official partner and timekeeper, again proved to be a thrilling show-jumping spectacular. Under a cloudy sky, the enthusiastic crowd was treated to many memorable performances and nail-biting competitions.
The prestigious Longines Grand Prix was won by the Swede Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (Casall La Silla), with the French Penelope Leprevost (Mylord Carthago*HN) and Laura Kraut (Cedric) from the USA in second and third place respectively.
Points won during the CHIO Rotterdam count towards the total score for the 2010 Longines Press Award for Elegance. The winner is announced at the final international show-jumping competition of the season in Dublin on 8 August 2010. The top scorers at the CHIO Rotterdam were:
Women: Candice King (USA)
Men: Pius Schwizer (Switzerland)
After four events, the following riders lead the intermediate global ranking of the Longines Press Award for Elegance:
   
Women: Penelope Leprevost (France)
Men: McLain Ward (USA)
 

1832s: The birth of LonginesThe Longines story began in 1832 when Auguste Agassiz moved to the tiny Swiss town of Saint-Imier and found work at the Comptoir horloger Raiguel Jeune, a watch parts trader. A year later, he and two associates, Florian Morel and Henri Raiguel, set up the Comptoir Raiguel Jeune & Cie. One of Agassiz's sisters, Olympe, then married Charles-Marc Francillon, a Lausanne-born businessman, and in 1834 they had a son, Ernest.When Henri Raiguel retired, in 1838, ownership of what had become Comptoir Agassiz & Cie passed to Auguste Agassiz and Florian Morel. In 1847, Auguste Agassiz became the venture's sole owner. In 1852, his nephew Ernest Francillon joined the company, finally taking over from his uncle in 1862. Now styled Ancienne Maison Auguste Agassiz, Ernest Francillon, Successeur, the company was ready for business. At that time, watchmaking in the area was still largely a cottage industry, with all the work done at home on parts later assembled elsewhere.1860s: The first Longines watchIn 1866, Francillon acquired two plots of land on the outskirts of Saint-Imier, on the right bank of the Suze river near a place called Les Longines (meaning "long and narrow fields " in the dialectal French of the area). There he built the first Longines factory, an investment that finally allowed him to gather his entire workforce under one roof for the first time.In 1867, Longines' first movement, called L20A, entered production in the new premises. At the time, watches were all key-wound. Longines' first watch broke with this tradition, its lever movement being wound and set by the crown. Ernest Francillon personally presented his novel timepiece at the 1867 Universal Exhibition in Paris. He returned to Saint-Imier with a bronze medal.Starting with his very first watch movement in 1867, Francillon's entire production featured the engraving of a winged hourglass as identification. By 1874, the company had already sent out its first circular warning customers against counterfeit movements.1880s: Registration of the Longines name and trademarkOn July 19th, 1880, at 11:00 am, Ernest Francillon entered the premises of the Swiss Federal Office of Intellectual Property to register the original Longines brand and its winged hourglass symbol under numbers 118 and 119 respectively. The new Longines logotype was first registered under number 2684 at 4:00 pm on May 27th, 1889 at the Swiss Federal Office of Intellectual Property and under number 14 on March 27th, 1893 at the International Office of Intellectual Property (today WIPO, World Intellectual Property Organization).Universal Exhibitions
In 1885, Longines won its first Grand Prix at the Universal Exhibition in Antwerp. Further success followed in Brussels, in 1897, Paris in 1889, 1900 and 1925, Milan, in 1906, Genoa, in 1914, Bern, in 1914, Philadelphia, in 1926 and Barcelona, in 1929. Longines' record of ten Grand Prix and 28 Gold Medals has never been equalled by any other watch manufacturer.

This summer, Longines announced that the newly crowned European Vault Champion and silver medallist at the World Championships was to become its latest brand ambassador. Ariella can currently be seen in the international advertising campaign for the new Longines PrimaLuna Ladies Collection.
Autumn 2009 has been an exhausting though very rewarding time for Ariella. As always, the young athlete trained diligently and untiringly for the climax of the international gymnastics season - the World Championships in London. Since she sensationally took silver in the vault, the buzz around this young woman has grown ever louder. The first Swiss female gymnast to win a medal at the World Championships found some time in her busy schedule to pay a visit to Longines' headquarters in Saint-Imier.
Ariella was welcomed by Longines President Walter von Känel before good-humouredly answering questions from the waiting media. She then signed autographs for the young members of the local gymnastics club, to their great delight. This was followed by a tour of the Longines' watch and timekeeping museum, as well as its production facilities. At the end of her visit, she chose a watch from the collection "La Grande Classique de Longines", which will accompany her on the road to even greater success.
Although she is only 22 years old, Ariella has already scooped the 2008 Swiss Sports Personality of the Year award. Her talent has delighted the viewing public, and the precision, harmony and elegance of her every movement has won over the professional judges. With her elegance, natural charm, flair and exactness, Ariella perfectly personifies the Longines core values and philosophy of "Elegance is an Attitude".
„My coach has always encouraged me to execute my gymnastic exercises in a precise way, just like clockwork. That's why Longines and I fit together perfectly."
Ariella Käslin.
Longines has long enjoyed close ties with gymnastics, dating back to 1912 when it was the official timekeeper of the Swiss Federal Gymnastics Meet in Basel. During the 80-meter sprint event, it unveiled its new revolutionary electromechanical timekeeping system with start and finish tapes. A world-first, this automatic timing system would mark a turning point in Longines' already longstanding partnership with the world of sport. Thanks to its technological breakthroughs Longines has been the official timekeeper of all artistic and rhythmic gymnastics competitions organised by the "Federation Internationale de Gymnastique" (FIG - the gymnastics world governing body) since 1985. This enduring partnership was bolstered further in 2009 when the FIG extended Longines' contract for an additional four years.

The Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph

On the strength of its long experience in timing, Longines has designed a timepiece that pays tribute to the various timing mechanisms developed during the company's history. Named the Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph, this model houses a brand new calibre whose exclusive development by ETA was mandated and financed by Longines and other brands within the Swatch Group. This self-winding, chronograph movement has a column wheel which drives the mechanism that measures periods of time - a technical device used by the famous St. Imier brand since 1878.
Longines started manufacturing timing equipment in 1878 with the launch of a simple 20 line chronograph; reference number 20H, that had a column wheel (covered by a washer) that governed the chronograph mechanism. Following Longines' progression into the field of timing, almost all the measuring equipment devised by the company used this same principle. Both calibres for pocket chronographs made by Longines, such as the 19CH (1889), the 19.73 (1887), the 19.73N (1909) and the 19.73N with a split-seconds function (1922), the 18.72 (1929) or the 24 line calibre intended specifically for sports timing (1939) and movements for the brand's wrist-chronographs, such as the 13.33Z (1913), the famous 13ZN (1946) or the 30CH (1947) thus all incorporated column-wheel systems for controlling and activating the chronograph functions, which varied according to the specific calibre.
This collection of timing equipment formed the foundation for Longines' history of involvement in timing and the world of sport. The mechanical, column-wheel chronograph thus became a traditional and authentic technical device at Longines. The new Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph model continues this horological heritage into the 21st century.
Having identified the modifications that have affected the world of mechanical timepieces over the past few years (a marked demand for high-quality mechanical watches, the popularity of mechanical chronographs and a fascination for traditional horological devices among the general public), Longines and other brands within the Swatch Group mandated and financed the exclusive development of a self-winding movement with a column wheel for a wrist-chronograph which has now been produced by ETA. This calibre is a contemporary embodiment of a long tradition of mechanical timing which is Longines' heritage.
Fitted with 27 jewels, the L.688.2 movement is a self-winding calibre with a diameter of 30 mm and a height of 7.90 mm. The blued steel column wheel controls the chronograph functions (start, stop, return to zero) and is part of a work of art that is a stylish update of a traditional technique. Beyond its sleek design, the L.688.2 calibre is an inspiring creation designed specifically to meet the demands of timing.
 To house this brand-new, exclusive movement the watchmaker has chosen classical and elegant lines that are reminiscent of the timepieces that contributed to its success during the 20th century. The Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 40 mm that houses the L.688.2 calibre whose intricate workings can be admired through the transparent case back. The gold-plated Dauphine-style hands are mounted on top of a silvered dial featuring, gold-plated applied hour symbols, a small seconds at 9 o'clock, a 30-minute continuous action counter at 3 o'clock and a 12-hour continuous action counter at 6 o'clock. The timing features of the Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph combined with a classical design make this model a contemporary watch that echoes the great tradition of mechanical timing.
Based in St. Imier in Switzerland since 1832, the watchmaker Longines can look back on more than 175 years of non-stop craftsmanship, as well as a solid heritage as timekeeper for world championships in various sports and collaborator with different international sports federations. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World's leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 130 countries.