2002 Longines Heritage Avigation Maxi 47mm Limited L2.639.4
Ref: L2.639.4
Specification
Lugs : 25mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as “Watch Only” and therefore comes without its original Longines box or paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original 25mm leather strap and an original pin buckle. The watch is from Circa. 2002 and is sold in used condition, however, as you can see from the photos the watch is in fair, worn condition. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IrDp7EBiXngpS5lEIzBCNDkD9ib2lUWr?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 24:50 - https://youtu.be/Qule_MKRu60
The Watch
Here we have a classic 2002 Longines Heritage Avigation Maxi 47mm L2.639.4 Limited Edition of 500 pieces, launched in honour of Philip van Horn Weems, inventor of Navigation instruments and Navigation methods, who was the mentor of Charles A. Lindbergh. The shapely 47mm polished stainless steel case sits on your wrist with elegantly curved lugs, and a lug-to-lug length of 57mm and a case thickness of 13mm give the watch an impressive wrist presence. On the right side is an onion crown in keeping with the vintage aesthetic. A smooth polished bezel holds a high domed sapphire crystal above a crisp white enamel dial, and an outer minute rail track surrounds black Breguet numerals marking the hours, at 9 o’clock a silver small seconds perfectly executed, thermally blued Breguet hands sit majestically in the centre. At 12 o’clock, the Longines motif completes this vintage-inspired pilot's Avigation timepiece. On the reverse a polished case back with expertly engraved details of the watch and the number out of 500, inside a manually wound Longines Cal. L878.4, 17 jewels and Rhodium plated. The watch comes paired with its original 25mm leather strap and an original pin buckle.
Personal Note
This Longines Heritage Avigation is not for the faint of heart at 47mm, it is a beast on the wrist and one that proudly presents the history of Longines. This reference L2.639.4 is limited to 500 watches total and very rarely comes up for sale, this is a great opportunity to add one to your collection. If you have a large enough wrist this is a seriously cool watch to wear, but I see this more as a collector item, someone serious about Longines, aviation, or both.
The Brand
Longines was founded in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz and is considered to be the oldest registered watch brand. 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.