History of Longines
The Swiss luxury watchmaker was founded in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz and is considered the oldest registered watch brand in the world. Owned by the Swatch Group, their logo is also the oldest unchanged trademark in the world, instantly recognisable by its elegant winged hourglass.
After crossing the Atlantic in 1927, aviation pioneer Lindbergh collaborated with Longines in the creation of the revolutionary Hour Angle watch. Today, the brand is still associated with famous figures, such as tennis legend Andre Agassi and actors Kate Winslet and Simon Baker.
Longines are based in Saint-Imier, in the same location where they were founded 186 years ago. The brand has evolved over time from being a comptoir, then becoming a manufacturer, and now an établisseur, producing everything from pocket watches to wristwatches.
Longines’ long-lasting connection to sports began in 1878 with the first chronograph manufactured by the brand, the 20H movement. Over the years, the watchmaker continued to develop relationships within the sporting world and is now a staple in many sports, such as archery, alpine skiing, gymnastics and horseracing. These sports share Longines’ passion for precision, performance and elegance.
In 1888, Longines became involved in high-precision timekeeping and created its first movement for a certified chronometer, the 21.59 calibre. In 1913, the brand developed its first calibre for a wristwatch with a single push-piece, the 13.33Z, which is accurate to within one-fifth of a second. Both this calibre and the 13ZN are now considered classic calibres in watchmaking.
The Swiss watchmaker launched its first self-winding movement, the patented calibre 22A, in 1945; this was a big challenge for the company, as it was also the first time they adopted the new winding technology for large-scale production.