Longines

One of the Swiss brands where the price was fairly reasonable for the quality obtained, Longines was considered of utmost premium in the past. The company opted to stick with gold cases that were expensive while other firms in the industry switched to plated bezels that were stainless. Even if the firm did not follow the trend, it still experienced success especially with the brilliant movements incorporated to the watches. Such timepieces were regarded a “delight to behold” which were then thought to compete with the rest of the chronometers available in the market way back then.

Longines was established in the year 1832. Founded by Ernest Francillon, he ordered the construction of a factory in Saint Imier. As his watches were launched, they were identified by a system called “Fadenriss” which was intended for sports activities. The timepieces from the brand were considered of exceptional caliber due to the innovation that was not yet noticed in the horological devices from other companies in the industry. As a matter of fact, Longines watches have been the favorite among individuals who were passionate to reach even the remotest islands in the world.

Watches from Longines were actually employed by Charles Lindbergh who went to the North Pole for an exploration. Same was also true with Richard Byrds who traveled to the South Pole. The two are among the significant personalities that faced the challenges in their adventures with the timepieces from the brand worn on their wrists. You can just imagine how reliable the horological devices produced by the company were to even one of the most dangerous endeavors in history. However, before the acclaimed recognition of Longines watch, it also had its own share of humble beginnings.

Going back to Ernest Francillon, the factory he ordered to be constructed was finished in the year 1866. This brainchild of Longines is actually the grandson of one of the pioneers of the Swiss watch industry, Auguste Agassiz, whose name still appears in high grade timepieces. It was through his grandfather that he was able to acquire the skills in producing horological devices as he exposed himself to the assembly shop even at a tender age. Later on, Francillon was appointed director of the said assembly shop. He was thirty- two then where he immediately dawned on him the limitations of the comptoir so he ventured to other areas.

Two years after the construction of the factory was finished, the first of the watches from Longines arrived in the United States. By the year 1873, the brand was awarded a gold medal from the Universal Exposition of Vienna for precision of the timepieces. To save the company from the rampant concern of imitations, Ernest Francillon decided to trademark the dials. He employed a winged clepsydra where the name of the firm can be seen. The device utilized controlled the stream of moisture through a tiny opening. If you carefully observe the face of the horological device, you will learn that there is that small box on the center.

Such method was not employed by Longines for a long haul though since there are plenty of watches that did not display the logo. In the year 1889, the brand was able to produce five chronometers to a certain Luigi Amadeo from Italy. He attempted to arrive in the North Pole but his efforts failed. By 1904, the company supplied the American Navy with chronometers. If you browse through the old chronicles, you will understand that Robert Peary was the first individual that set foot in the North Pole. Around the early stages of the 1900’s, the firm collaborated with other manufacturers in Switzerland where they soon sold to the whole of Europe.

With these and more, Longines has richly contributed in the bygone eras.