Longines

In 1832, Auguste Agassiz began his watchmaking business in Saint-Imier with his partners. This enterprise would grow into Longines — a brand that remains tied to this Swiss town to this day. Original illustration inspired by the craftsmanship of the era.

In 1867, Ernest Francillon opened a factory in Saint-Imier, bringing the various stages of production together under one roof. The name of the site—Les Longines—became the name of the watches. An archival photograph shows the expanded facilities in 1925. Photo: Walter Mittelholzer / ETH-Bibliothek, LBS_MH03-0993, public domain.

In 1889, Longines registered its name and winged hourglass symbol as a trademark. This designation helps protect the brand's recognition and the origin of its watches. Original illustration relating to the trademark registration.

In 1913, Longines introduced the 13.33Z caliber, one of the earliest chronograph movements designed specifically for wristwatches. A single push-piece controls the start, stop, and reset functions in sequence. The original illustration pays tribute to the precision of watchmaking craftsmanship.

Longines collaborates with Philip Van Horn Weems on a navigation watch. A rotating seconds dial facilitates synchronization with radio time signals without stopping the movement. Pictured: Weems in the Sidereal Time version. Photograph: Longines183 / Wikimedia Commons, "Longines Sidereal Time Weems", CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), square crop.

Longines presents the Hour Angle Watch, developed with Charles Lindbergh. The special scales on the dial and rotating bezel assist with navigational calculations performed using a time signal, a sextant, and an almanac. Pictured: a historic Longines Hour Angle. Photo: Genève Diamant / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), square crop.

In 1954, Longines introduced the Chronocinégines, a system that combined high-precision timekeeping with a film record of the finish line. It made it easier for judges to analyze the order in which athletes crossed the finish line. The original illustration is inspired by 1950s athletics.

In 1957, the Flagship collection debuted, combining classic proportions with the elegance of an everyday watch. Its characteristic symbol became a sailing ship featured on the case back. Pictured: a gold Flagship from the late 1950s. Photograph: Genève Diamant / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), square crop.

In 1967, Longines introduced the Ultra-Chron with a high-frequency automatic movement. The balance wheel oscillates at 36,000 vibrations per hour. Pictured: an early variant with the Ultra-Chron movement and the Flagship marking. Photo: Genève Diamant / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), square crop.

In 2007, Longines introduced the Legend Diver, a contemporary reinterpretation of a 1959 diving watch. The model retains its characteristic internal rotating bezel and two crowns. The original illustration pays tribute to the collection's diving roots.