Watches have long ceased to fulfill their direct duty - to show time. Rather, this function, of course, cannot be taken away from them, but today, good Swiss watches are a sign of status, good affluence and a special situation in society.
Even among Swiss watches there are few that can boast a rich history. In the middle of the 19th century, in this glorious country there were many manufacturers of ultra-precise mechanisms, and many of them have become world famous to this day. But among such a large selection there is literally a couple of brands with which something began. The Longines success story will be discussed in today's review.
Back to the past ...
Once upon a time there were three brothers back in 1832. One made gears for watches, another studied mechanics, and the third improved mechanisms. And the brothers did not have their own workshop, they did all the details at home, and then carried them to the factory, where the watches were assembled in one piece.
Sooner or later, the brothers got tired of this approach. They bought some land and built a small building, which later became a huge factory for the manufacture of watches. Under one roof, they were able to gather the best craftsmen and gave the name of their company Longines. Watches began to be sold immediately after the release of the first batch. The brothers were guided by the US market and did not fail. It was in this country that they received their first recognition.
First successes
Quickly earned success with the company "Longines." The brand’s watches were in many ways the first. For example, for the first time, a mechanism was mounted in them that allowed manual recharging from one wheel, while all the others required a key. For this innovation, the Longines were awarded a medal at the world exhibition in Paris.
Further more. In the middle of the 19th century, almost all watches were pocket-sized. Nobody was surprised with such products, and had to come up with something new. The first wrist straps were not accepted by society. But soon after the first successful game, users turned their attention to innovation. The serial production of straps and the new shape of the watch led to the reorganization of the factory and its production process. So the Longines watch was the first to be worn on the wrist.
Since the production and sale of watches was oriented to the west, I had to come up with my own exclusive logo. On the reverse side were an hourglass with wings.
But that is not all. The first non-traditional form of an ordinary bracelet was invented in Longines. Watches worn in pockets up to this point were strictly round. But the company was the first to offer a completely new design. The dials have become rectangular or square. At the beginning of the 20th century, a new design was advertised under the slogan "Elegance". The first women's watches, decorated with sapphires and diamonds, of the Longines company became the standards of the fashion of that time.
In the 20th century, technology developed very rapidly. It is not surprising that the superthin electromagnetic clock in 1960 was introduced by Longines. But the manufacturer did not want to stop there, and after 19 years he presents the world the new, thinnest model in the history of watches - Feuille d'Or. The case was only 2 mm thick. Competitors only bit their lips and wondered where the complex mechanism of the device fit. And the secret is simple - everything was hidden in the case.
Longines and Sports
For the first time, Longines entered the world of sports in 1912. Then in Basel competitions were held dedicated to the Federal Holiday of Physical Culture. The company proposed to measure the running time at a distance of 80 meters with its new invention - a watch with automatic timing. The tests were successful, which was the first step in the global sports arena.
After the first triumph, watches began to be used everywhere in sports and in 1952 they became a symbol of the Oslo Winter Olympics. Since then, almost all competitions of this magnitude have been sponsored by Longines. The watches of this brand have proven that they are super accurate.
Longines in aviation
Reviews about the Longines watches went around the world. It was them who were taken by the outstanding pilot Charles A. Lindberg with them on their first non-stop flight across the Atlantic. A little later, the company manufactured a special series of watches for pilots, which they use to this day. They have a built-in feature "hour angle".
Women pilots appreciate not only the quality, but also the elegance of the brand. In the thirties of the 20th century, the company became the sponsor and accompanying of many expeditions. One of the first to test a Longines watch was Amelia Earhart, who made the first flight among women from New Zealand to Ireland, flying the whole world along. This incident inspired the creation of another series of aircraft instruments - a sideograph.
star way
Today, many stars choose the Longines watch. Photos with them can be seen on the Internet and in bright glossy magazines. The faces of advertising companies are: Audrey Hepburn, Oleg Menshikov, Olga Kapranova, Maria Sharapova, Kate Winslet. It is known that the lover of the brand was Princess Diana.