Best Longines Stainless steel Watch Replica, Luxury Watches Longines Stainless steel

Longines Presence 34.5 Automatic Pink Gold (L4.778.8.12.0)

I love how unique the diamond face is on this one. I enjoy the color purple and love being able to look at my Longines Presence 34.5 Automatic Pink Gold (L4.778.8.12.0) watch and not my cell phone!! Simple but effective. and especially love its water-proof abilities. I am not so nice to watches.

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

Review by Maksim, From USA Houston, Texas

Longines DolceVita XL Chronograph Stainless Steel Arabic (L5.687.4.73.6)

I just received this Longines watch and it is very beautiful. I had wanted the orange watch but sadly that sold out. However, the green watch is quite pretty and makes a bold statement. It is the perfect addition to my spring wardrobe. It is sturdy, trendy and keeps time! What's not too love?

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

Review by Myriam Dechelotte, From United States Elkhart, Indiana

Longines Saint-Imier Date 38.5 (L2.766.4.72.0)

A very lovely Longines Saint Imier watch. Dressy but also casual enough to wear with dressy jeans. I have a small wrist so this fits perfectly. I chose not to take out any links so it hangs like a bracelet. The only think I would change is the face size. I do have to look hard to read it, but I'm getting a little older (not old!!!!!!) so that could be the problem!!!

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

Review by Stylish I, From France Iffendic

The series of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League began in Bromont this weekend and was marked by the victory of Schuyler Riley on Dobra de Porceyo. As the Top Partner of the FEI, Longines is the Title Partner, Official Timekeeper and Watch of the fourteen legs of the series, which qualify the participants to the final of the Longines FEI World CupTM Jumping in Göteborg in March 2016.

The first season of the Longines FEI World CupTM Jumping North American League opened this week-end in Bromont, Canada, with the victory of Schuyler Riley on Dobra de Porceyo timed by Longines, the Title Partner, Official Timekeeper and Watch of the series. The 14 separate competitions that make up this series take place throughout the U.S, Canada and Mexico from August until the Longines FEI World CupTM Jumping final in Göteborg in March 2016. As Title Partner, Longines also serves as Official Timekeeper and Official Watch of this event.

Former Olympic showjumper, two-term President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), FEI Honorary President and Classic-winning racehorse owner, HRH Princess Haya received the honour in recognition of "Her outstanding elegance as a competitor, a leader and a woman working tirelessly for the good of equestrian sports" said Mr. Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President & Head of International Marketing of Longines.

HRH Princess Haya received the 2015 Longines Ladies Award consisting of a Longines pocket watch: The Longines Equestrian Pocket Watch Horses Trio 1911. The model that served as an inspiration for this 18-carat rose gold very limited edition is a Longines pocket timepiece dating from 1911 with a cleverly crafted background depicting a trio of horses. The heads of these three proud animals stand out against a background of delicately worked foliage. This model features the L878.4 calibre with manual winding, a Longines Manufacture movement.

The Longines Ladies Awards recognise the success and achievements of elegant women at the very highest level of the global equine sports industry. The jury featured three leaders in world equestrianism: Mr. Ingmar de Vos, President of the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale); Mr. Louis Romanet, Chairman of the IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities); and Mrs. Nathalie Belinguier, President of the FEGENTRI (International Federation of Gentleman and Lady Riders).

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.

Glasgow witnessed the Closing Ceremony of the XX Commonwealth Games on Sunday 3 August 2014. Mr. Charles Villoz, Vice President of Longines, attended this great show in the company of Glasgow 2014 Chairman Lord Smith of Kelvin. To honour the success of the event and the great collaboration, Lord Smith of Kelvin was presented with a Longines timekeeping bell by Mr. Villoz, created especially for the Games.

Longines has been the Official Timekeeper and Watch of Glasgow 2014, the XX Commonwealth Games, as well as the Presenting Partner of the Gymnastics competitions. Over a period of 11 days of competitions, the Swiss watch brand put its skilled expertise in the service of the largest sporting event ever held in Scotland. It provided more than 190 timekeepers and 122 tonnes of equipment to support Glasgow 2014.

The Official Watch of the Games was a chronograph in steel from the Conquest Classic collection, housing an exclusive mechanical column-wheel calibre. With a diameter of 41 mm, 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 Conquest Classic collection, this timepiece is water-resistant to 5 bar and its screw-down case back is fitted with a sapphire glass.

Longines' involvement in the Commonwealth Games dates back to 1962, when it was the Timekeeper of the event in Perth, Australia.

The 44 mm circular steel case of the Longines Avigation - a contraction of "aviation" and "navigation" - referring to a navigation system invented during the 1920s - has the same diameter as the original one. It houses an L704 self-winding, mechanical calibre which shows the hours, minutes, seconds and date, and has a second time-scale. As in the 1949 model, the movement is encased in a soft iron plate and dome which protect it from the effects of magnetic fields.

The black dial features large white numerals as well as a 24-hour scale in red. The stick hands on the main dial are rhodium-plated and the lozenge-shaped hand on the second time-scale is red. All the hands are coated with Super-LumiNova®. The upper segment of the dial bears a distinctive sign, namely a broad arrow, used in the United Kingdom to denote government property, including military equipment and therefore the watches used by the British army.

The Longines Avigation is fitted on a black alligator strap with a buckle.

As part of the Longines Heritage Collection, The Longines Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece Chronograph models recall the very first chronograph wristwatches created by the brand in 1933. These timepieces housed the 13.33z calibre, the first chronograph movement made by Longines to equip wristwatches.

The Longines Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece Chronograph model houses the L788 calibre, a monopusher movement developed by ETA exclusively for Longines and which, like its illustrious predecessor, is equipped with a column-wheel and measures 13¼ lines. All the chronograph functions can be controlled by simply pressing the single push-piece.

The Longines Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece Chronograph comes in three versions, all with a 40 mm diameter. Two versions, one in steel and one in rose gold, feature Arabic numerals, and a third version, also available in steel, displays Roman numerals. The single push-piece, inserted into the fluted crown, recalls the original timepieces. The white dials are adorned with painted black numerals and a red "12", in a direct reference to the dials of the period. They are completed by two counters, at 3 and 9 o'clock, together with a date aperture at 6 o'clock and blued hands.

The cases are a particularly interesting feature of these timepieces. Two of the models have a well-rounded case, available in steel and in rose gold. Taking its inspiration from an historic timepiece, the third model in steel is fitted with moving lugs. This version has a thicker case with a more angular profile. On all three versions, the movement's blue column wheel can be admired through the transparent sapphire crystal case back. All models of The Longines Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece Chronograph are fitted with a brown alligator strap.

Longines will be launching a brand-new project: the Longines Future Ski Champions. This competition will take place in Val d'Isere from 12 to 14 December. Fourteen skiers under the age of 16 from 14 different countries will be competing against each other in a two-run giant slalom on the lower section of the official slope for the FIS World Cup. The conditions and the timing equipment will be the same as those for the official races. The prizes will be awarded in the presentation arena, just before the draw for the official competition on the following day. The champion for 2013 will win a Longines watch, a trophy and a cheque for USD 20,000 for its national skiing federation, intended to be invested in developing activities for young people. Longines ambassador of elegance and Norwegian skiing champion Aksel Lund Svindal will also be promoting this competition.
 This year, the Swiss watch brand will once again be presenting the Longines Rising Ski Stars prize to the two most successful young skiers, i.e. under 21 years of age for the girls and under 23 for the men, who take part in the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup. At the end of the season the winners will each receive a Longines watch, a trophy and a cheque for CHF 20,000. The two initiatives reflect Longines' commitment to promoting sport among young people. The brand also organises the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament during the French Open at Roland Garros. Moreover, at the Prix de Diane Longines the brand also holds the Prix Longines Future Racing Stars, a race for young jockeys organised in collaboration with international schools. A chronograph in the Conquest Classic line will be the official watch for the season. With a diameter of 41 mm, the steel case of this model houses the L688 exclusive column-wheel chronograph movement. The black dial features one Arab numeral and 11 hour symbols coated with Super-LumiNova®. This timepiece is water-resistant to 5 bars and has a transparent sapphire, screw-on back cover. 

The Hampton Classic Horse Show took place in in Bridgehampton, NY, August 25-September 1. The brand joined the Hampton Classic as title partner of the Classic's Saturday afternoon Grand Prix, the $40,000 Longines Cup and presenting partner of Friday afternoon's $50,000 Spy Coast Farm/Young Horse Show Series Grand Prix Qualifier. Longines' partnership also included the initiation of the new Longines Rider Challenge which awarded $30,000 to the rider who accumulated the most points in the horse show's Open Jumper division.
Richie Moloney, winner of the Longines Rider Challenge and Longines Cup and Kent Farrington, winner of the Grand Prix, received a watch from Longines.
Longines also presented Jill Rappaport, The Today Show correspondent and animal enthusiast, with a donation, for her efforts benefitting the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Earlier this year, Longines entered into a long-term partnership with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) that involves a number of major rights packages and official timekeeper designations. A key element of its partnership with the FEI is a significant investment by Longines in the development of cutting-edge timekeeping and data-handling services, specifically for equestrian sport. The development of these services will be for multimedia applications, giant screens, scoreboards, and for broadcasters as part of the presentation of FEI events around the world.
Au debut de l'annee, Longines signait un partenariat a long-terme avec la Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), qui inclut un grand nombre d'evenements et d'implications en chronometrage. Au travers de ce partenariat, Longines s'investit de maniere significative dans le developpement de techniques de chronometrage et de gestion des donnees, particulierement pour le monde equestre. Le developpement de ces services comprend les applications multimedia, les ecrans de scores, ainsi que l'envoi d'informations aux diffuseurs pour les evenements de la FEI dans le monde entier.

All in steel, the three models - one with three hands, a 24-hour model and a chronograph- available in the Longines Heritage Military 1938 line have retained the characteristic simple appearance of the original design.
 

With its simple design, the model with 3 hands has a 40 mm diameter case and is the closest in design to the original product. It is fitted with the automatic calibre L619. The fluted, flat crown, which accentuates the 1930s look, is a direct reference to the original design. Large white Arabic numerals, coated with Super-LumiNova® and a minute circle white as well contrasts with the deep matt black of the dial. A black synthetic strap, stitched in white, adds a final touch to this new model.

Kristian Haagen: Mr. Von Känel, Longines seem to be doing very well these days. Do you recall having experienced such a favourable period during your time as CEO for Longines?

Walter von Känel: Well, in 2003 Longines sold watches for CHF 300 million and nine years later we sold watches for CHF 1.2 billion. In doing that I reached my target, as I wanted Longines to sell one million units in 2011 and to reach the one-billion Swiss franc mark in 2012.

That makes Longines the fourth best-selling Swiss watch brand after Rolex, Omega and Cartier, with Tissot just behind Longines. We are the Swiss watch industry's billionaires.

These are indeed impressive numbers, not least in light of the difference in prices compared to the top three brands…

The entry level for Longines models ranges from CHF 700 to CHF 900. Our best-selling watches, which represent 45 per cent of our sales, are priced between CHF 1,500 and 3,000, while 12-15 per cent of our sales are in the CHF 3,000 - 4,500 bracket.

What about the gender mix?

Longines is a 50-50 brand, meaning we produce equal numbers of watches for men and women. Longines has always been big on "pairs" watches. This goes for all our collections, except of course the Dolce Vita and Prima Luna which is only offered as a ladies' watch.

How does Longines meet the new challenges of the Swiss Made regulations?

While there is a lot of confusion regarding these rumours, things are very clear for us at Longines. Right now the regulations require that 50 per cent of the watch should be assembled and/or produced in Switzerland. We (Editor's note:Swatch Group) will however be inventing heavily in case production machinery and my goal is to offer all Longines watches with a 60-40 percent ratio in terms of Swiss and Asian production. These figures, which does not include bracelets, but covers hands, dials, cases etc, are definitely reachable for Longines within just a few years. And we will produce at costs similar to current Asian production costs. Of course all our movements are already made in Switzerland (Editor's note: ETA).

What has been your biggest achievement in your 25 years as president of Longines?

Undoubtedly reaching the CHF billion mark that makes the brand a billionaire!  

To mark its 180th anniversary, Longines is launching various new models throughout the year.

Founded in 1832 in the town of Saint-Imier, the famous Swiss watchmaker has a long tradition marked by the continual elegance of its products. Longines Heritage 1940 and Longines Heritage 1942 both symbolise the brand's rich history and are thus perfect products for celebrating this anniversary and extending Longines' Heritage segment. The distinctive shape of the watch case lends these models a striking look.

Longines Heritage 1940

Boasting a contemporary spirit, this watch is based on a model dating from 1940. It keeps indeed its central lines, such as the high bezel that gives it a b character and reminds the Longines' models of that time. Longines Heritage 1940 immediately catches the eye through its sleek lines and shaped contours. The circular steel case with a diameter of 38.50 mm houses a self-winding, mechanical movement, the calibre L615. The lacquered dial is available in white or black and features a railway-track minute ring and 11 Arab numerals. The hands are of blued steel in the white-dial version and rhodium-plated in the black version. And finally, the small seconds and date aperture at 6 o'clock complete the image of Longines Heritage 1940, which is mounted on a black alligator strap.

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Longines Heritage 1942

Longines Heritage 1942 has been directly inspired by a model dating from 1942 which was fitted with calibre 13ZN. This new timepiece has a circular steel case with a diameter of 40 mm which houses calibre L688, a column-wheel chronograph movement designed exclusively for Longines. The round push-pieces blend perfectly into the distinctive shape of the case and remind the Longines' chronographs of that period, which are exceptional and much sought after models. The lacquered dial, available in white or black, features 9 Arab numerals to contrast with the dial and a railway-track minute ring as well as a tachometric scale around the rim of the dial. Finally blued steel hands, for the white-dial version, or rhodium-plated hands, for the black-dial version, harmonise beautifully with the elegance of the dial. Longines Heritage 1942 is fitted on a black alligator strap.

Worldtempus - 12 March 2012

Tissot sold more than three million watches in 2011 and Swatch Group colleague Longines passed the one million mark in 2011. In other words, these two Swatch Group companies comfortably perch on many wrists around the world, not the least of whom are located in China - which undoubtedly is these two brands' biggest single market.
The tactile success
"13 years ago Mr. Hayek asked who wanted to produce a tactile watch, and I was the only one who raised my hand," Tissot CEO Francois Thiebaud said.
The tactile watch, of course, is the highly successful T-Touch, a multifunctional watch that has been a pearl of the Tissot collection since its launch in 1999. "I am a private pilot myself and enjoy a multifunctional watch," Thiebaud revealed. "I had no doubt about the success of this kind of technology put into a wristwatch"

No regrets
"The T-Touch collection today accounts for more than 250,000 pieces of our annual sales," Thiebaud revealed, clearly not regretting his choice of production at the fateful Swatch Group meeting 13 years ago.
The success of the T-Touch, however, is not the only reason why he is all smiles. The company he captains experienced a sales increase of 45 percent from 2009 through 2011 - years in which many other brands struggled. This primarily occurred thanks to the huge demand from Chinese clients buying both from their mainland retailers and foreign outlets when traveling.
With an average price of 200-500 Swiss francs, Tissot offers both classic Swiss timepieces and innovative, sporty watches such as the T-Touch. Thiebaud and Tissot must be doing something right since one in five exported Swiss watches is a Tissot. "We sold 3.4 million watches in 2011 and I expect to sell four million watches in 2012," Thiebaud smiled.

Understanding the Chinese
How did Tissot become so hugely popular in China? We asked Longines CEO Walther von Känel, one of the most experienced and respected CEOs in the Swiss watchmaking industry, attending his 37th Baselworld.
"Longines sent its first invoice to Chinese clients back in 1867. Our history with the Chinese market goes way back. I visited China for the first time in 1971 and made business directly with the government. A few years later, the first Chinese delegation visited Switzerland," von Känel explained his first acquaintance with the largest consumer of Swiss watches today.
"In the 1980s, we opened our first representative office in mainland China (including Omega and Tissot --ed). Doing this gave us the opportunity to study the culture and get to know the Chinese customer up close," von Känel explained. "Understanding local culture is essential for any sale."

One million watches
Longines produces watches that are b in the 1000-1300 Swiss franc segment. "We passed one million watches in 2011," von Känel revealed. "That means that we sell 6-7,000 watches a day of sales," he laughed, declining to comment on what markets will come after BRIC.
"Longines is everywhere. Right now in China there's no limit for the next ten years. As long as Longines stays focused and maintains our continuing production and consistent quality and development then we will stay on top of the world. As I tell my colleagues every year, we need to reach the magic numbers and stay positive," von Känel leaned in over the table to emphasize his remark.

 
WORLDTEMPUS - 14 November 2011

An independent transforming into a brand without losing its soul: this seems like an impossible task, but with Peter Speake-Marin, really, anything is possible.
This talented watchmaker named a brand after himself in 2000, but continued doing contract work for other watchmakers and companies up to 2008. Only in that year when the world seemed to go financially awry did Speake-Marin decide to fully focus on his own watches and invest all of his energy in this venture.
This also meant a change in strategy. While Speake-Marin previously focused on unique pieces that were often collaborative in nature - both with other artisans such as engraver Kees Engelbarts and the future owners of his bespoke pieces - since 2008 the London-born watchmaker working in Switzerland has tried to put something more like model lines on the market. This was achieved to great critical acclaim in the past two years with the Thalassa model and Speake-Marin's own Caliber SM2.

Spirit Pioneer
Making a huge splash at SalonQP, which closed on Saturday, was Speake-Marin's latest work of art: a 38 mm stainless steel beauty housed in his typical Piccadilly case. The case isn't the only element taken from previous Speake-Marin watches: the hands are also the same shape as those on the experienced watchmaker's original Foundation Watch, which is currently undergoing refurbishment. Turning the watch over, one finds Speake-Marin's typical rotor design winding Caliber FW2012.
The immediate question that enters a connoisseur of this brand's mind upon seeing this watch is certainly its departure in style: an aviation-style timepiece is definitely new within Speake-Marin's collection.
"Spirit is inspired by a timepiece I bought fifteen years ago when I was restoring antique pieces in Piccadilly," 43-year-old Speake-Marin explained at the event. "It was an authentic military watch from the first half of the twentieth century that I restored in my own time and wore regularly as my personal timekeeper. I always wanted to create my own piece based on this personal favorite and have toyed around with ideas to realize this ambition ever since I founded Speake-Marin."

That timepiece, a vintage Longines, seems to have meant much to him. However, this model symbolizes even more to Speake-Marin. First off, it is an "affordable" Speake-Marin released in part as a gesture to his many fans wishing to own one of his timepieces (retail price is 9,800 Swiss francs). This was made possible by the use of the rest of his stock of Caliber FW2012, a truly reliable ETA-based movement that he also used in the original Piccadilly line. The limitation of 68 pieces is a natural one dictated by the number of movements he had left.
Perhaps most striking, however, is the message engraved into the case back: "Fight, Love & Persevere." This is a personal message from the watchmaker, but also sort of a personal motto.

"The global economic downturn and natural disasters of the last few years have meant that people all over the world - myself included - have had to face up to increasing challenges that can test the limits of endurance," he explains. "But what has struck me in my experiences is the drive people possess to fight on, to adapt and to forge forward, with their capacity for love never diminishing. The themes of determination, tenacity and love were at the forefront of my mind when I created this timepiece and so I have paid tribute to them by christening it 'Spirit' and by engraving the motto on the case back."
Powerful and striking on so many levels, Speake-Marin's Spirit hit a real chord among the visitors to SalonQP, where the independent hall was literally buzzing. It would seem that the collection sold out.

Kent Farrington from the USA won the prestigious Longines King George V Gold Cup on his debut at The Longines Royal International Horse show. He withstood tough competition from runner-up and three-time Gold Cup winner Robert Smith (GBR) on Talan and Leon Thijssen (NED) on Tyson who came in third.

Points won during the Longines Royal International Horse Show count towards the total score for the 2011 Longines Press Award for Elegance. The winner is announced at the final international show-jumping competition of the season in Rotterdam on 28th August 2011. The top scorers at Hickstead were:
Women: Aniek Poels (NED)
Men: Kent Farrington (USA)

After four events, the following riders lead the intermediate global ranking of the Longines Press Award for Elegance:
Women: Christine McCrea (USA)
Men: Nick Skelton (GBR)

As the official timekeeper for the World Cup Alpine skiing competitions organised by the International Skiing Federation (FIS) during the 2010-2011 season, Longines will be present on the slopes for a whole series of events to be held in Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Finland, France, USA, Italy, Norway, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland and Slovenia. This year the brand will be launching its Conquest Chronograph, a timepiece that combines all the technical characteristics required by the most demanding sportsmen and women. During the season all eyes will be on Longines Ambassador of Elegance, Aksel Lund Svindal, the Norwegian whose performance in 2009-2010 was truly remarkable. Longines would like to take this opportunity to wish him every success in the coming events.
As Walter von Känel, President of Longines, said, "Longines is looking forward to the new skiing season and the magnificent competitions that we can expect. We are delighted to now be present in all the countries of the FIS World Cup! "

Meanwhile, Gian-Franco Kasper, President of the FIS, commented "The FIS is delighted that the long-term relationship between Longines and the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is going from strength to strength. The sport of Alpine ski racing relies 100% on accurate timing. A total of 78 competitions will be staged in 14 countries, which requires an experienced global partner equipped to handle this massive task. With Longines we know that we are in the best possible hands."
The brand's long association with competitive skiing started in Chamonix in 1933. The winter contracts for timing international skiing events that followed gave Longines the opportunity to introduce many technological innovations, since each era has presented its own specific demands. Over time, the technical requirements in timekeeping have become much more stringent. For the men's downhill, for example, the FIS now requires five intermediate times and two speed measurements as well as the final time. In addition, all measurements must be to one hundredth of a second.

During the 2010-2011 skiing season Longines will be launching its Conquest Chronograph, a model that perpetuates the spirit of conquest demonstrated by those who dared to go just that little bit further to reach new horizons. It is on the basis of this spirit of adventure and its own heritage that Longines has designed the Conquest Chronograph models. They aim to attract today's sportsmen and women, who demand efficiency and performance without sacrificing elegance.
During the coming season all eyes will be on Aksel Lund Svindal, one of Longines' Ambassadors of Elegance. His performance during the 2009-2010 season was truly outstanding and Longines takes this opportunity to congratulate him and wish him every success during the coming months. The brand is looking forward to seeing its Ambassador of Elegance on the podium again very soon.

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.

In 1933 the American aviator Charles Lindbergh set off with his wife on a trip of 47,000 km around the North Atlantic. Having achieved a remarkable technical and human feat in being the first man to fly non-stop across the North Atlantic in his Spirit of St. Louis, Lindbergh wanted to explore possible future air routes across the far north before returning to the USA via Cape Verde and Brazil. The equipment Lindbergh took with him on his long expedition included a wrist chronograph created specially by Longines for this very purpose. Today Longines is re-issuing this exceptional timepiece, known as the Longines Lindbergh's Atlantic Voyage Watch, as a tribute to the historical feat achieved by this pioneer of the skies.

In the wake of his solo flight in 1927 from New York to Paris - the first non-stop flight across the North Atlantic - Charles Lindbergh gained international fame and was in great demand by aviation companies, which were being developed at the time. Wanting to be of service, Lindbergh decided in 1933 to investigate possible air routes across the far north with his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The young couple set off from New York on a trip of some 47,000 km that would take them to New Foundland, Greenland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, the Azores, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde before returning to the USA via the Gambia, Brazil and Cuba.

For this expedition, Lindberg decided to take a powerful aircraft with a 710 hp engine and a variable propeller. He also took two radios and an inflatable canoe in case they were forced to eject from the aircraft. During their trip, they christened their plane the Tingmissartoq, which is an Inuit word meaning "the one that flies like a great bird". Lindbergh's navigational instruments included a directional gyroscope, an artificial horizon, an icing gauge and two aperiodic compasses, all of which were the very latest equipment at that time. But Lindbergh also took with him a Longines chronograph developed specially for his flight to Greenland and the far north.
This time-piece had a wristwatch chronograph movement with a 30-minute counter. It measured time to the fifth of a second and the chronograph mechanism also had a tachymeter that could measure speeds of up to 500 kph. With the flying conditions that were experienced by the Lindberghs, a reliable time-piece was one of the final safeguards as far as navigational instruments were concerned.

Longines' creation of this timepiece for the Lindberghs' trip around the North Atlantic was evidence of the confidence that the American aviator had in the Swiss watch manufacturer. In 1927 the time-measuring instruments created by Longines enabled the International Aeronautical Federation, for which the company had been an official supplier since 1919, to measure the duration of Lindbergh's flight from New York to Paris with great precision. Subsequently, by virtue of his experience as a pilot and navigator, Lindbergh devised a system to improve the aerial and nautical navigation of the period. He contacted Longines, who put his invention into practice by producing the Lindbergh Hour Angle watch. Together with a sextant and a nautical almanac, the watch could be used to determine geographical position by calculating one's exact longitude. In 1933, to mark its productive collaboration with Lindbergh, Longines designed the watch chronograph especially for the Lindbergh's' trip around the North Atlantic.
Today, Longines is re-issuing this time-piece under the name of the Longines Lindbergh's Atlantic Voyage Watch as a tribute to the long trip undertaken by the couple across the far north. This mechanical wrist chronograph has a diameter of 47.50 mm and a self-winding movement. Just like the original model, it has small seconds at 9 o'clock and a 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock. The time and time measurements are displayed using hands of blued steel on a silvered dial with a white surround and the watch has a tachymeter for measuring speeds of up to 500 kph. The model has a sapphire glass and a solid case back that protects a transparent back cover through which the workings of the movement can be admired. The watch is mounted on a genuine brown alligator strap. The new versions are in either steel or rose gold. The Longines Lindbergh's Atlantic Voyage Watch constitutes an exquisite contemporary version of a timepiece that was part of a great aeronautical adventure.

The winner of the Longines King George V Gold Club on Sunday was Peter Charles (GB) on Murkas Pall Mall H, followed by his two compatriots Tim Stockdale and Ben Maher. A very good day for the British riders indeed!

At the sixth stage of the Longines Press Award for Elegance, the following horseriders were the most performing female and male riders in Hickstead:

Female horserider:
Christina Liebherr (Switzerland)

Male horserider:
Guy Williams (GB)