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Longines AvigationA tribute to aviation pioneers, signed by Longines
Developed during the 1920s by U.S. naval officer Philip van Horn Weems and co-patented with Longines under the name of Weems Navigation Watch, one of the first aviation watches has earned a lasting place in history as one of early aviation’s most reputed wrist instruments, the pride and prize of countless pilots and navigators. Today, Longines is re-launching this fabled timepiece as the Avigation Maxi, highlighted by a special limited edition featuring a 16¾-line Longines proprietary mechanical caliber in its man-size stainless steel case, the Longines Avigation Maxi Limited Edition. The Avigation Maxi recalls a proud chapter in Longines corporate history, not least the company’s pivotal role as the source of first-class flight instruments made available throughout the 1930s and beyond to a long series of distinguished aviation pioneers and to aviators the world over. Based on its inventor’s “Weems System of Navigation” instrument series, his watch design featured both a rotating internal dial and a turning bezel designed for to-the-second synchronization with a radio-borne time signal. His remarkable achievements earned him a gold medal from the International Aeronautics Federation and a teaching post at the Annapolis Naval Academy, where one of his students was a certain Charles A. Lindbergh—who was later to develop with Longines the hour-angle watch that still bears his name and Longines’ today. Besides the famous Lindbergh watch, the Weems System of Navigation has also inspired Longines’ watchmakers with the development of the brand’s legendary “Siderograph” model and many other watches, like the in 1997 launched Longines Avigation collection. Avigation Maxi Special Issue: return of a historic movement A limited edition of 500 Longines Avigation Maxi models is now available for watch connoisseurs and collectors of exceptional timepieces. The watch has been fitted with the original L878 (formerly Longines 550) handwound Swiss mechanical caliber, the last of Longines’ over-16¾-line proprietary movements. Similarly, the original Louis XV winding crown with the sharp ribbing, which was typical of the period, is featured anew on a water-resistant replica of the Weems Navigation stainless steel case. Further period styling touches come from a white dial circled by a classic double minute track and featuring Breguet figures and watch hands plus a subdial for the seconds at 9 o’clock. A brown genuine leather strap completes this remarkable timepiece, so powerfully evocative of the early, adventurous years of flight. In further salute to the rebirth of this horological hero of the skies, Longines has packaged it in a distinguished wood presentation case that adds measurably to its deserved prestige. Avigation: flying in formation Since no more than the stated number of 500 Avigation Maxi designs featuring the Longines proprietary movement will ever be made, a standard Avigation Maxi is also available. Inside its oversized case, also 47.50 mm across, beats a dependable L512 handwound mechanical movement. The design offers a choice of black or opal grey dial inscribed with luminous Arabic numerals and featuring a subdial for the seconds at 6 o’clock. A dark or honey-colored leather strap completes this attractive, non-limited Avigation Maxi design. Longines’ Avigation line furthermore includes a standard-sized model, i.e. with a case 38.50 mm across, fitted with a L619 self-winding mechanical movement and featuring a black or an opal grey dial with center seconds hand and date aperture at 6 o’clock plus a choice of two leather straps and one matching stainless steel link bracelet. The same but slightly larger case style, choice of dials, straps and bracelet accompany an L650 self-winding chronograph movement calibrated to 1/5th of a second, with 30-minute totalizer at 9 o’clock, date aperture at 6 o’clock and subdial for the seconds at 3 o’clock. Avigation GMT Also joining the Avigation today is a GMT model built around the L635 self-winding mechanical movement with date aperture at 3 o’clock and center seconds hand sweeping over a black or an opal grey dial that includes a rotating ring controlled by the crown and inscribed with the world’s 24 time zones and an outer ring featuring the names of major cities around the world. This globetrotter’s travel companion stands as a fitting addition to an Avigation collection that got its inspiration the better part of a century ago, when many of aviation’s most daring pioneers first charted the air routes of today with a Longines watch strapped to their wrist... Longines is a member of Swatch Group Ltd, the world’s leading watch manufacturer and marketer, with no fewer than 157 production sites in Switzerland. |
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