Fashion Longines White Watches, Cheap Longines White Watches

Longines Spirit 36 (L2.699.4.53.2)

Nice solid Longines Spirit 36 (L2.699.4.53.2) watch. Tne leather case scrapes the back of the watch. Better chain would be nice. Needs improvement.

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

Review by Carola Z, From Spain Sagunto

Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph (L2.749.4.52.0)

Great seller thanx A+++++

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

Review by Graeme Nicholls, From United States Troy

Longines Hydro Conquest White Dial Black Bezel Stainless Steel Men's Watch L36954136

I bought this Longines as a dress watch but found I'm wearing it almost every day! I've received many compliments on the appearance of this watch! The crystals sparkle nicely without being over the top, and the mesh bracelet is comfortable and very attractive! It also keeps excellent time! This is my first watch.

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

Review by Eva Quirk, From United States New London, Nh

The concept of the Jumping Longines of Crans-Montana seduced the watch brand: Longines becomes the Title Partner and Official Timekeeper of the show-jumping event taking place in summer 2016. Longines is partnering with an event which will be featuring high-level equestrian sports, while its values are in line with the ones dear to the Swiss watch company.

The Jumping Longines of Crans-Montana will take place from 28 to 31 July 2016. It will be situated in the center of the famous tourist station, in the heart of the Valais. The event is set up by the association Jumping Crans-Montana, which relies on a committee of three members: François Besençon (President) and Yves Rytz, both of them bly involved in the world of equestrian sports in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and Daniel Perroud, Director of the Jumping Longines of Crans-Montana and organiser of several sports event.

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.

The magical backdrop of Port d'Hercule and the Prince's Palace in Monaco provided once again a spectacular venue for the seventh round of the Longines Global Champions Tour from 25 to 27 June. Friday was marked by the victory of Iñigo Lopez de la Osa Escribano on Cascin and Abdelkebir Ouaddar on Cordano Sitte Z at the Longines Pro-Am Cup, while Scott Brash riding Hello M'Lady won the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco presented by HSBC Private Bank (Monaco) SA on Saturday. To honour these amazing performances, they were all presented with elegant Longines by Mr. Charles Villoz, Vice President of Longines.

This event offered a great opportunity to discover the new Conquest Classic Moonphase, Longines chronographs which include a moonphase display. The sophistication of these timepieces makes them eminently refined watches and echoes the excellence and elegance of the stars of the equestrian universe.

Longines is the Title Partner, as well as the Official Timekeeper and Watch of the Longines Global Champions Tour. This prestigious series brings together the Top 30 ranked show jumpers in the world to compete in some of the world's greatest cities.

The Prix de Diane Longines launching has taken place on 19 May, 2015, in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne. As Title Partner, Official Timekeeper and Official Watch, Longines joined France Galop to unveil the program of the 2015 edition.

The highlights of the day are the nine races including the Prix de Diane Longines, the world's top race for fillies, held during the afternoon on the Chantilly Racecourse. Longines will renew the Prix Longines Future Racing Stars where talented young jockeys from all over the world compete.
Moreover, amateur riders of the FEGENTRI (International Federation of Gentlemen and Lady Riders) will compete for the Prix de La Reine Marie-Amelie Longines.

Actress and former Miss World Longines Ambassador of Elegance Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be present at Chantilly. She will be presenting the "Mademoiselle Diane par Longines" award during the afternoon to a young lady chosen for her outstanding elegance.
The venue of Aishwarya Ray Bachchan coincides with the launch event of the renewed Longines DolceVita collection, which will be garden party thrown by the Swiss watch brand in Chantilly on Saturday 13 June. The Official Watch of the Prix de Diane Longines is a new Longines DolceVita watch cased in steel, decorated with diamonds and featuring a silver-coloured "flinque" dial adorned with painted Roman numerals.
Finally, on Friday 12, Longines and the Fondation de Chantilly will inaugurate the temporary exhibition of artistic and historical photography called "Turf", which relates to the world of horse racing.

Inspired by the Italian sweet life, the "Dolce Vita", it is worn on the wrists of women who know how to make the most of life's simple pleasures. As a tribute to those women, Longines has decided to offer a new interpretation of this collection, subtly combining geometric lines with soft curves. The lines of the rectangular case have thus been elongated and arched, some models enhanced with diamonds, to magnify the contemporary elegance and femininity of these new pieces.

Cased in steel, and sometimes decorated with diamonds, the Longines DolceVita collection comes in four dimensions. A silver-coloured "flinque" dial adorned with painted Roman numerals and a black lacquered or white mother-of-pearl dial with diamonds decorates the watches of this line. Slender rhodium-plated or blued-steel hands point to the passing hours and minutes. With their quartz movement, the timepieces are finished by a choice of black, white, grey or red leather straps or by a stainless steel bracelet.

The 140^th Kentucky Derby was held this past weekend in Louisville, KY, and kicked off the first in the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. Right there through it all - the entire Kentucky Derby weekend and for the upcoming races - is Longines. In fact, Longines is the Official Watch and Timekeeper of the   Kentucky Derby, the Entitlement Partner of the Longines Kentucky Oaks 140 that is the races and festivities that take place the day before the Derby, and the Official Watch and Timekeeper of the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes (the upcoming two legs of the Triple Crown).

The brand's role in equestrian sports dates back to the late 1800s when it created its first chronograph movement, which later appeared on racetracks to time performances and races to the seconds. In the early 1900's Longines began its show jumping involvement and then moved on to flat racing and endurance competitions -- where precision is everything.

The Kentucky Derby represents the epitome of thoroughbred racing and Longines provided its guests with access not only to the Turf Club for prime viewing of the two days of races, but also with attendance to the incredible Taste of Derby event (wherein chefs from across the USA are flown in to demonstrate their skills and offer a taste of their most special dishes), to the Winner's Party (thrown after the Derby with the owners, trainer and jockey of the winning horse present), and with an exclusive tour of the paddocks. In all, the event is a breathtaking experience not to be missed.

In evidence of its support of the Kentucky Derby, Longines' overwhelming presence could be seen everywhere at Churchill Downs thanks to free-standing clocks, a digital Longines Kentucky Derby Countdown Clock on the Churchill Downs' track and more (the same will hold true at the two upcoming races). Additionally, the brand hosted a fashion show on the Kentucky Oaks Day, and presented the winner with a Conquest watch. On Derby Day, the brand presented Conquest watches to the owner, trainer and jockey of the wining horse, California Chrome.

"This year we celebrate 60 years of Conquest," says Juan-Carolos Capelli, vice president, head of international marketing of Longines Watch Co. "It is also the year of the horse and so we are very excited to present some new Conquest watches, including a limited edition in gold that is a re-edition of the first one. It is a real pleasure to be a part of the Kentucky Derby and all of the equestrian sports we support."

The Conquest Classic collection is a tribute to the early chronographs the brand produced for race enthusiasts and jockeys in New York. The new watches are fitted with self-winding movements offering a mix of tradition and watchmaking savoir-faire. 

As part of this agreement, the Swiss watch brand will this year present the Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano. This flat racing event is the perfect occasion at which to discover Conquest Classic, a collection dedicated to the world of horse racing. The event's Official Watch will be a steel chronograph from this line. With its 41 mm diameter, this timepiece has a black dial and is equipped with an exclusive column-wheel self-winding movement. As is the case with all models in the Conquest Classic collection, the watch's movement can be admired through its sapphire crystal case back.

Longines supports the activities of OSAF (Organización Latinoamericana de Fomento del Sangre Pura de Carrera), an institution involved in the promotion and development of horse races and thoroughbred horses throughout Latin America. OSAF is present in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Don Marcel Zarour, President of the OSAF said: "In the name of OSAF, I am very proud to count with the support of Longines as OSAF's first Official Partner, and their great contribution for the promotion of horseracing in Latin America. The materialization of this agreement with the prestigious firm Longines means another important achievement for OSAF, by promoting the Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano which features our best Latin American thoroughbreds, and supports our spirit of tradition, excellence and constant improvement."

Mr. Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President of Longines and Head of International Marketing, said: "Longines is proud to be the Official Partner and the Official Watch of the OSAF. Our brand and this prestigious institution share common values such as tradition, performance and elegance. We'll work together for the good of equestrian sports in a part of the world known for its horse culture. In addition, we are happy to announce that Longines will be the Title Partner and the Official Timekeeper of the Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano."

The Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano is the most important international Group 1 horse race in Latin America. This annual event is held in a different country in the region every year. On 15 March 2014, the Monterrico racecourse in Lima will host this prestigious event.

La Grande Classique de Longines 100 Diamonds maintains all the characteristics of the original creations of this emblematic collection but now combines the classical elegance of those ultra-slim models with the sparkle of 100 diamonds. 

A large part of the attraction of La Grande Classique de Longines is the ultra-slim case - only 4.60 mm for the new models. This profile has been achieved through the particular design of the case, which incidentally Longines has patented, whereby the back incorporates the lugs for the bracelet.

The glittering timepieces set with 100 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds around the bezel and 12 diamond indices on the dial are made of steel and equipped with a quartz movement.

La Grande Classique de Longines 100 Diamonds has a diameter of 29 mm. The models are fitted either on black alligator straps with buckle or on steel bracelets with folding safety clasp.

The Longines Asthmometer-Pulsometer Chronograph demonstrates the fact that the precision of a chronograph is necessary not only in sport. This new instrument is based on a model brought out in 1963 which was intended essentially for medical use. The new product not only shows the time but also measures heart rate and respiration. While the pulse and respiration scales can be extremely useful in a sports context, during training sessions for example, they also provide a doctor with valuable information as to the patient's vital functions.
 

The Longines Asthmometer-Pulsometer Chronograph echoes the principal design features of the product on which it is based. The red heart rate scale and the blue respiration scale can be easily read off from the outer edge of the silvered dial. The 12 numeral and the eight gilded applied indices blend with the hands and the counter circles, which are also gold-plated. The steel case, which has a diameter of 38.50 mm like the original model, is enhanced by the bevelling of the horns. A black alligator strap adds the final touch to this doctor's watch.

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!  

Last year after Longines' elegant event (can we link to my story from 9.5.11 here?), I reported how I kept betting on jockey Andrasch Starke in the wrong races. Learning from my mistakes, I bet on him when it counted. As did the stall that brought Danedream to Iffezheim, Germany's premier horse racing event.
Over the weekend, I kept thinking of how Danedream's story reminded me a lot of Seabiscuit, the horse who made it to Hollywood. A German thoroughbred racehorse who no one wanted at the beginning (her eventual owners only paid € 9,000 for her), four-year-old Danedream is the most successful racehorse to ever come from Germany. Her races were chiefly won in 2011 and 2012. This past weekend she raced for the last time in Iffezheim: apparently racehorses retire at the zenith of their careers.
 

This is all great news for Longines, as the interest surrounding Danedream led the main Iffezheim race called the Grosser Preis von Baden - in which Longines offered a total of 250,000 euros and the prize of honor, including a watch, to the winners - to be nationally and internationally televised, preempting even soccer on German television.
 

Grand Prix for a Hat
The Iffezheim week is a highpoint of the social calendar in the Germany's Baden in addition to being the most important event on Germany's horseracing calendar. In addition to participating in the grand prix ball celebrating the sporting occasion, Longines, the event's timing partner, also awarded the Longines Prize for Elegance to the most elegant female visitor to the races. As you probably know, hats are grand tradition at equestrian sporting events, one that is also honored in Germany. Congratulations to Ines Wallraff for going home with a timepiece from the Saint-Imier Collection as well as a beautifully sunny day at the races.
 

Longines has been involved in the world of sport since 1878 and has vast experience of timing equestrian events. This expertise will now be put to use at four stages of the 2012 Global Champions Tour, namely in Doha, Valencia (Spain, 4th - 6th May), Wiesbaden, (Germany, 25th - 28th May) and Shanghai (China, 4th - 6th October). To mark this new association, Longines, which celebrates its 180th anniversary in 2012, is presenting a series of exceptional timepieces named after the company's birthplace, The Longines Saint-Imier Collection.
Speaking about this new partnership, Longines' President Walter von Känel said: "By becoming the official timekeeper of four stages of the Global Champions Tour, Longines strengthens its commitment to show jumping. We are proud to commit ourselves to a competition that gathers the most successful riders and horses."
Global Champions Tour President Jan Tops welcomed the new collaboration and said: "I am delighted to welcome Longines to four Global Champions Tour events this year. Longines has outstanding experience in the world of equestrian sport and I look forward to a successful relationship through 2012."

Founded by Olympic gold medalist Jan Tops in 2006, Global Champions Tour is the premier international show jumping circuit attracting the top-ranked riders and horses to its events in stunning locations around the world. Riders compete for some of the highest prize money in the sport and the shows are watched by millions on Eurosport worldwide. GCT has significantly increased the passion for show jumping in Europe, the Middle East and will travel to the Far East for the first time this year.
The partnership between the Swiss watchmaker and the Global Champions Tour enables Longines to draw on over a century of experience in sports timing. Longines can boast a long tradition of sports timing, which dates back to 1878, with the production of a simple column-wheel chronograph. Longines has opted to support equestrian sport because it combines strength, endurance, technique, precision and elegance, values that the brand holds dear. Its partnerships in equestrian disciplines include show jumping, horseracing but also endurance competitions.
Longines has acquired experience in equestrian timing, starting at the Geneva International Horse Show in 1926. Today, Longines is an official partner and timekeeper for many equestrian events, such as most of the CSIO of the Nations Cup show jumping competitions, the CSIO Barcelona, the Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters, the Longines Hong Kong Masters, the Emirates Longines Show Jumping League which includes the President Cup presented by Longines, as well as the Dubai Show Jumping Championship.

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.

Longines proudly presents the winners of the 2011 Longines Press Award for Elegance. To round up the season, the Swiss watch brand awarded Beezie Madden (USA) and Eric Lamaze (CAN) at the CHIO Rotterdam, the final stage of the season. Longines would like to congratulate them on their distinctive elegance as well as on their exceptional sporting performance throughout the 2011 Nations Cup season. American rider Beezie Madden also won the Longines Grand Prix Port of Rotterdam.

Longines is proud to have served for the sixth consecutive time as official partner, timekeeper and title sponsor of the Longines Grand Prix Port of Rotterdam at the CHIO Rotterdam.
Among the best performing riders throughout the six previous CSIO events (La Baule, Rome, St. Gallen, Falsterbo, Hickstead and Dublin), Beezie Madden (USA) on Coral Reef Via Volo and Eric Lamaze (CAN) on Hickstead convinced the international jury of equestrian experts most with their incomparable elegance at the CHIO Rotterdam.
Beezie Madden said: "I am very happy to have won the Longines Press Award for Elegance. To me, when you ride with elegance, it means that you probably do most things right with your horse".

Eric Lamaze said: "I was surprised to be awarded with this prize. I am very thankful and honoured. I have to say my horse Hickstead is very elegant and it was very helpful."
Both riders have been awarded yesterday the 2011 Longines Press Award for Elegance receiving a trophy, a set of Longines watches and a cheque for 20,000 Swiss francs.

Beezie Madden has been the queen of the day as she also won the last Grand Prix Longines of the season, namely the Longines Grand Prix Port of Rotterdam. Eric Lamaze also achieved a great performance in Rotterdam by winning two competitions.
Despite the difficult weather conditions, the CHIO Rotterdam was very successful. A brand new grandstand has been inaugurated on Friday 26th August in presence of Prince Willem Alexander.

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)

Dubai (UAE), 11 January 2011 - Longines is delighted to announce its new partnership with the HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum Endurance Cup. On the strength of its long standing involvement in equestrian sports and sports timing, the famous Swiss watchmaker will now be official partner and timekeeper for this prestigious event. In endurance competitions, the rider must be in perfect harmony with his or her horse in order to manage its pace over the set distance. Endurance riding requires intensive training, fine concentration, good judgement and a great deal of experience. In keeping with the noble character of this discipline, The Longines Master Collection Moon Phases in rose gold is the official watch for this event.

Taking place on 15 January in Dubai, the HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum Endurance Cup by Longines will bring together the world's leading endurance riders for the fourth consecutive year. Organised by the Dubai Equestrian Club, the competition will start at 6 a.m. in the Dubai International Endurance City and will be attended by a host of prestigious guests who will be able to follow the riders into the desert in vehicles provided specially for this purpose. Longines is proud to announce its involvement in this elegant event which demands tremendous discipline on the part of the riders, in terms of the training, precision and the total mastery of their horses' ability throughout the event.

During the competition the riders have to cover a distance of 160 km, managing their pace to the best advantage, which demands a high level of discipline and precision - values which are of great importance at Longines too. The rider must know his or her horse extremely well and be totally at ease with him in order to manage his pace. The competition is divided into 5 stages; between each stage the horses are refreshed and checked by a vet to ensure that they are not over-exerting themselves. It is not necessarily the first past the post who wins the competition; the horse's condition must also be checked by a vet and passed - only then will it be a true winner. In addition to the winner, the first 10 riders who cross the finishing line in the following hour may be awarded the prize for the Best Condition horse.

As a perfect example of its famous slogan "Elegance is an attitude", the Swiss watchmaker has chosen its Longines Master Collection Moon Phases as the official watch for the event. The rose gold case houses a self-winding L678.2 calibre. The silvered dial shows the phases of the Moon at 6 o'clock and the date at 12 o'clock as well as having a 24-hour hand at 9 o'clock. This watch also offers chronograph functions and is mounted on a brown leather strap or a rose gold bracelet with a folding safety clasp.

Sixteen children from all around the world will be playing in a mini-tournament leading up to an exciting mixed doubles final involving Gustavo Kuerten and Mary Pierce, who both won the French Open ten years ago. After this event, Longines will be continuing its support for disadvantaged children through its sponsorship of the charity foundations set up by Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf, two of the brand's ambassadors of elegance. Finally, at a gala dinner a representative of the famous Swiss watch company will have the singular honour of presenting the Longines Prize for Elegance to a sportsperson whose commitment to helping those in need deserves recognition.

Longines has chosen to look to the future at Roland Garros this year by focusing on young tennis talent. In order to promote sport, respect for others, fair play and tolerance that the sport entails, the Swiss watch manufacturer will be hoping to find the tennis champions of tomorrow. In line with its slogan "Elegance is an attitude", Longines has become more and more involved in elegance in sport by supporting, as a first step, the charity foundations set up by Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf, who are among its ambassadors of elegance. This year Longines will again be sponsoring the Andre Agassi Foundation and Children for Tomorrow, but also wants to help discover new young talent in the field of tennis by sponsoring promising players in the long term.

Longines will be inviting 16 children (8 boys and 8 girls between the ages of 10 and 12) from all around the world to come to Paris. Having been selected in their own countries on the basis of their tennis skills, these young hopefuls will play mixed doubles in a mini-tournament based on tie-break scoring. The children will be coached by Mansour Bahrami, who set up the Legends Trophy, as well as by Agnieszka Radwanska and Tsung-Hua Yang, who are also among Longines' ambassadors of elegance. The two winners of the tournament will then team up with Gustavo Kuerten and Mary Pierce for a show final that will take place on Saturday, 5 June 2010, on court no. 7. This match will give the children an opportunity to play alongside two tennis legends and to gain immeasurable experience: Gustavo Kuerten and Mary Pierce won the French Open ten years ago, walking away with the Musketeers Cup and the Suzanne Lenglen Trophy respectively. To reward and support the young victors, Longines will be offering them an annual stipend until they are 16 to help them to develop their tennis career. After the final, Longines will also be donating a cheque for $100'000 to the foundations set up by Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf, which will be presented personally to two children from the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas.

At the gala dinner on the Saturday of the weekend when the finals are held, Longines will have the honour of presenting an award to a sportsperson whose commitment to helping the needy deserves recognition. In awarding the Longines Prize for Elegance, the Swiss watch manufacturer will be paying tribute to a tennis player who has demonstrated true elegance in his or her heart.
 
Finally, Longines will also be taking advantage of the occasion to launch its Longines Admiral Chronograph Ceramic. The face of this magnificent self-winding, mechanical chronograph is surrounded by a black ceramic bezel and is a perfect example of beauty combined with performance. Longines' latest model in its line of elegant sports watches is mounted on a stainless steel bracelet whose central links are also in ceramic.

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.