Saint-Imier, Switzerland
Longines
VerifiedIn-house calibres, chronographs, navigation and precision timing
History
Longines moved from a comptoir trading operation to integrated factory manufacture, producing its own calibres and becoming closely associated with sports timing, aviation navigation instruments and chronograph movements.
Longines was founded in 1832 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, by Auguste Agassiz and his original partners. Ernest Francillon later joined his uncle in the business and shifted the company toward industrial manufacturing, eventually establishing a factory in 1867 at a site known as Les Longines. The company historically specialized in precision timing and chronograph movements, notably supporting aviation navigation and sports timing. Following a financial crisis in the 1970s, Longines was integrated into a larger group in 1983, which eventually evolved into the Swatch Group.
The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.
Timeline
Longines's recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.
1832 · Career
Longines was founded in 1832 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, by Auguste Agassiz and his original partners.
1867 · Career
Ernest Francillon later joined his uncle in the business and shifted the company toward industrial manufacturing, eventually establishing a factory in 1867 at a site known as Les Longines.
1878 · Career
The company developed its first chronograph movement, the 20H, in 1878.
early 1900's · Catalogued piece
1910-1919 · Catalogued piece
1920 · Catalogued piece
1931 · Career
Longines introduced the Hour Angle navigation watch in 1931 in collaboration with Charles Lindbergh.
1934 · Career
The firm released the first chronograph with a flyback function in 1934.
1935 · Catalogued piece
1940s (Approx) · Catalogued piece
Circa 1950 · Catalogued piece
circa late 1960s · Catalogued piece
Current watchmaking & later fate
- Longines is a Swiss luxury watchmaker based in Saint-Imier that has been part of the Swatch Group since 1983.
- The company produces a wide range of mechanical and quartz timepieces that are categorized into Classic and Sport lines.
As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-10-27. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.
Key models
- 20A
- Introduced in 1867, the 20A was the first in-house watch movement produced by the Longines factory.
- 20H
- Developed in 1878, the 20H was the company's first chronograph movement, featuring a crown-operated mono-pusher design.
- Weems
- Collaborating with P.V.H. Weems, Longines produced the first Weems avigation watch in 1927 to assist with aerial navigation.
- Hour Angle
- Introduced in 1931 in collaboration with Charles Lindbergh, the Hour Angle watch was designed to facilitate longitude determination during flight.
- Ultra-Chron
- Launched in 1967, the Ultra-Chron was a high-precision automatic watch featuring a movement vibrating at 36,000 beats per hour.
Major innovations
- In-house chronograph calibres including the 13ZN
- Navigation and hour-angle instrument work
- The company developed its first chronograph movement, the 20H, in 1878.
- Longines introduced the Hour Angle navigation watch in 1931 in collaboration with Charles Lindbergh.
- The firm released the first chronograph with a flyback function in 1934.
- Longines developed its first quartz movement in 1969.
Known markings
- Winged hourglass mark
- 'Longines' on movement and dial
- Longines registered its winged hourglass trademark in 1889.
Serial numbers
Longines maintains detailed production registers and provides archive extracts giving calibre, case and sale date for individual serials.
Collecting significance
The company archive makes Longines unusually well documented; extracts should be sought before accepting any dating.
In the object catalogue
58 catalogued objects are recorded under Longines. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.
- 1943 Longines Weems Pilot's Watch Ref. 22384Pilot's watch · 1943
- 1969 Longines Dress Watch (Ref. 8319 3) TURLER DialHand-wound wristwatch · 1969
- Longines 'Chronometre' Eight-Day Deck WatchShip's & marine clock · circa 1922
- Longines 'Nautilus' Skin Diver Wristwatch, Ref. 6921-1Diver's watch · 1958
- Longines 'Sei Tacche' Wristwatch with 24-Hour DialMilitary & trench watch · c. 1945
- Longines 'Weems Navigation' Special Edition for Swiss AirPilot's watch · 1980s
- Longines 14K Gold Manual Wind Wristwatch, Retailed by Enrique MasiniHand-wound wristwatch · Circa 1938
- Longines 18 Karat Yellow Gold Flyback Chronograph WristwatchChronograph · Circa 1945
- Longines 18ct White Gold Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · 1920
- Longines 18K Gold Manual Wind WristwatchHand-wound wristwatch · c. 1940s
- Longines 18K white gold diamond jewelry wristwatchJewellery & cocktail watch · 2nd half of 20th century
- Longines 30CH Ref. 5982-1 Chronograph WristwatchChronograph · Circa 1950
Show 46 more
- Longines 44mm Open Face Pocket Watch in 14k Yellow GoldOpen-face watch · 1910-1919
- Longines Art Deco Tonneau WristwatchJewellery & cocktail watch · Circa 1920
- Longines Automatic 9K Gold Dress Watch, c. 1960Automatic wristwatch · c. 1960
- Longines British military-issued ‘Dirty Dozen’ mechanical wristwatchMilitary & trench watch · 1940s
- Longines Caliber 10.68Z Wire Lug WristwatchMilitary & trench watch · 1935
- Longines Comet 'Mystery Dial'Hand-wound wristwatch · circa late 1960s
- Longines Competition Chronometer MovementWristwatch movement · Circa 1960
- Longines Conquest Chronograph wristwatch, ref. L3.701.4Chronograph · ca. 2010
- Longines diamond-accented pendant watch with broochEnamel, form & pendant watch
- Longines Flyback Chronograph Reference 5681Chronograph · circa 1950
- Longines Flyback Chronograph Wristwatch, Ref. 5415Chronograph · 1948
- Longines full hunter pocket watchHunter-case watch
- Longines Gold and Enamel Pendant Watch and ChainEnamel, form & pendant watch · early 20th century
- Longines Gold Chronograph WristwatchChronograph · 1950s
- Longines Grand Prix Chronograph Hunting Cased Pocket WatchChronograph & split-seconds watch · circa 1920
- Longines Greenlander British Military issue stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch, reference 8707Military & trench watch · circa 1945
- Longines Heritage Legend Diver Reference L3.674.4.50.0Diver's watch · 2020
- Longines L'Heure de l'Observatoire Deck ChronometerDeck watch & deck chronometer · circa 1935
- Longines Legend Diver Ref. 7150-2Diver's watch · 1964
- Longines Li Quartz wrist watchQuartz & electronic watch · circa 1969
- Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle Chronograph Ref. L26026Chronograph · 1990s
- Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle Ref 3210Pilot's watch · 1938
- Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle Wristwatch L 628.1Pilot's watch · circa 1990
- Longines Manual-Winding WristwatchHand-wound wristwatch · 1966
- Longines Marine ChronometerMarine chronometer (duration not stated) · 1940s
- Longines Marine Chronometer Deck Watch in Wood BoxDeck watch & deck chronometer
- Longines Marine Chronometer in Wood BoxMarine chronometer (duration not stated) · circa 1940
- Longines Minute Repeating ChronographRepeating watch · circa 1905
- Longines Monopusher ChronographChronograph · 1920s
- Longines Monopusher Chronograph 'Chronostop' WristwatchChronograph · 1949
- Longines Observatory Calibre 26.99 deck chronometerPocket chronometer & deck watch · circa 1913
- Longines Open Face Pocket Watch with ChainOpen-face watch
- Longines platinum rectangular manual-wind wristwatchJewellery & cocktail watch · early 1900's
- Longines Purse WatchEnamel, form & pendant watch · circa 1930
- Longines Ref. 5161 'Sommatore' Flyback Chronograph WristwatchChronograph · circa 1946
- Longines Ref. 5824 Chronostop oversized pilot's flyback chronograph wristwatchChronograph · 1958
- Longines Ref. 5966 Stainless Steel Flyback Chronograph WristwatchChronograph · circa 1952
- Longines Royal Navy Hydrographic Service H.S.3 Deck WatchPocket chronometer & deck watch · 1940s (Approx)
- Longines Sei-Tacche Reference 23788Military & trench watch · Circa 1948 or 1951
- Longines Single Button Chronograph WristwatchChronograph · 1926
- Longines Tank with Hooded LugsHand-wound wristwatch · circa 1950s
- Longines Tonneau Wire Lug Wristwatch Ref. 1342Hand-wound wristwatch · 1904
- Longines US Navy Torpedo Boat ChronometerPocket chronometer & deck watch · circa 1906
- Longines Weems Second-Setting wristwatch, circa 1930sPilot's watch · circa 1930s
- Longines WWW 'Greenlander' Ref. 23088Military & trench watch · circa 1945
- US Military Longines Deck Watch with Wind IndicatorPocket chronometer & deck watch · c. 1913
Provenance
Where the 58 catalogued pieces by Longines were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.
Provenance map
Each piece is linked to the museum, auction house or dealer whose record it comes from, and to any other house or collection its own provenance names. Select a name to see its pieces.
Museums · 1 piece
Auction houses · 33 pieces
Dealers & other listings · 24 pieces
Antiquorum
Auction house · 13 pieces · Directory entry
Longines 'Chronometre' Eight-Day Deck WatchShip's & marine clock · circa 1922 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 247
Longines 'Weems Navigation' Special Edition for Swiss AirPilot's watch · 1980s · Record source
Longines Competition Chronometer MovementWristwatch movement · Circa 1960 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 209
Longines Flyback Chronograph Reference 5681Chronograph · circa 1950 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 74
Longines Gold Chronograph WristwatchChronograph · 1950s · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 162
Longines Grand Prix Chronograph Hunting Cased Pocket WatchChronograph & split-seconds watch · circa 1920 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 182
Longines L'Heure de l'Observatoire Deck ChronometerDeck watch & deck chronometer · circa 1935 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 381
Longines Marine ChronometerMarine chronometer (duration not stated) · 1940s · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 118
Longines Marine Chronometer in Wood BoxMarine chronometer (duration not stated) · circa 1940 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 78
Longines Minute Repeating ChronographRepeating watch · circa 1905 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 370
Longines Monopusher ChronographChronograph · 1920s · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 43
Longines Purse WatchEnamel, form & pendant watch · circa 1930 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 123
Longines Single Button Chronograph WristwatchChronograph · 1926 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 178
Collectors, owners and donors
- Special edition for Swiss AirProvenance · Longines 'Weems Navigation' Special Edition for Swiss Air
- The John Mitchell Collection of Military HorologyProvenance · Longines British military-issued ‘Dirty Dozen’ mechanical wristwatch
- Scarsdale, NY estateProvenance · Longines diamond-accented pendant watch with brooch
- VenezuelaProvenance · Longines Legend Diver Ref. 7150-2
- General Charles de GaulleProvenance · Longines Li Quartz wrist watch
- Casullo, PanamaProvenance · Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle Ref 3210
Auction history
| House | Sale & lot | Object |
|---|---|---|
| Antiquorum | lot 247 | Longines 'Chronometre' Eight-Day Deck Watch |
| Antiquorum | lot 96 | Longines 'Weems Navigation' Special Edition for Swiss Air |
| Bonhams | lot 0009 | Longines 14K Gold Manual Wind Wristwatch, Retailed by Enrique Masini |
| Hindman | lot 3001 | Longines 18 Karat Yellow Gold Flyback Chronograph Wristwatch |
| Bonhams | lot 44 | Longines 18K Gold Manual Wind Wristwatch |
| Auktionshaus Eppli | lot 214 | Longines 18K white gold diamond jewelry wristwatch |
| Hess Fine Auctions | lot 8460 | Longines 30CH Ref. 5982-1 Chronograph Wristwatch |
| LiveAuctioneers (auction platform) | lot 0182L | Longines 44mm Open Face Pocket Watch in 14k Yellow Gold |
| Antiquorum | lot 209 | Longines Competition Chronometer Movement |
| Setdart Auction House | lot 281 | Longines Conquest Chronograph wristwatch, ref. L3.701.4 |
Show 23 more
Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.
Photographs
Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.
Sources & references
- Longines, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Longines, Wikipedia (German), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Longines, Wikipedia (French), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Swatch Group, Wikipedia (French), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Longines archive practice as reported in auction catalogues
- Period manufacturer literature
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.