Longines BelleArti 24.6 Modern Diamond (L2.504.0.97.0)

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.