Brand Directory: Longines

Auguste Agassiz founded Longines in 1832 and is one of the oldest registered watch brands. The Longines factory was opened in 1867 in Saint-Imier Switzerland. From this date, the name Longines was present on their dials and the winged hourglass was engraved onto their movements. After visiting the Universal Exhibition of 1876 in the United States, Longines became pioneers in mechanised production. In 1880 the brand name was filed with the Federal Office of Intellectual Property; later their logo was registered in 1889. Their first wristwatch with a single pusher the calibre 13.33z was introduced in 1913. They became the official supplier of the International Aeronautical Federation in 1919.

Lindbergh, the aviator and adventurer, worked with Longines to create the Hour Angle watch in 1927. Their first self-winding calibre 22A was produced in 1945. With continued innovation and technical achievements, Longines became the official timekeeper for Formula one in 1983 for 10 years. They also in 2009 became the official timekeeper for the French Open at Roland Garros.

Purchased in 1971 by ‘Ebauches SA’, Swiss watchmakers SSIH who owned Omega, Tissot and Lemania and ASUAG who owned Certina, Endura, Eterna, Hamilton, Longines, Mido and Rado. were merged in 1983 to become the Swatch Group in 1998.