"Longines". Clock. History of success

Wrist watches have long ceased to fulfill their direct duty - to show time. Rather, they certainly do not take away this function, but today a good Swiss watch is a sign of status, good prosperity and a special position in society.

Even among Swiss watches there are few such that boast a rich history. In the middle of the 19th century, in this glorious country there were many manufacturers of ultra-precise mechanisms, and many of them have become world-famous to this day. But among such a large selection there is literally a couple of brands from which something started. The history of the success of "Longines" will be discussed in today's review.

Let's go back to the past ...

Once upon a time, there were three brothers in the distant year of 1832. One made gears for hours, another studied mechanics, and the third perfected the mechanisms. And the brothers did not have their own workshop, they did all the details at home, and then carried them to a factory where the watches were assembled in one piece.

Sooner or later, but this approach is boring brothers. They bought some land and built a small building, which later became a huge factory for making watches. Under one roof, they were able to collect the best masters of their business and gave the name of their company, Longines. The watches began to be sold immediately after the release of the first batch. The brothers focused on the US market and did not lose. It was in this country that they received their first recognition.

First successes

The success of the company "Longines" was quick. The brand watches became the first in many respects. For example, in them for the first time the mechanism was installed, allowing to carry out manual charging from one wheel, while all the others required a key. For this innovation, "Longines" were awarded a medal at the World Exhibition in Paris.

Further more. In the middle of the 19th century, almost all the watches were pocket watches. Such products did not surprise anyone, and we had to come up with something new. The first wrist straps were not accepted by society. But soon after the first successful batch, users paid attention to the innovation. Serial release of straps and a new form of watches led to the reorganization of the factory and its production process. So the watch "Longines" became the first to be worn on the wrist.

Since the production and sale of watches were oriented to the west, I had to come up with my own exclusive logo. On the reverse side, an hourglass with wings was depicted.

But that's not all. The first non-traditional form of an ordinary bracelet was invented in "Longines." The watches, worn in pockets until this moment, were strictly round. But the firm was the first to offer a completely new design. The dials are rectangular or square. In the early 20th century, the new design was advertised under the slogan "Elegance". The first women's watches, decorated with sapphires and diamonds, firms "Longines" became the standards of the then fashion.

In the 20th century, technology developed very rapidly. Not surprisingly, the super-thin electromagnetic clock in 1960 was represented by the Longinas company. But the manufacturer did not want to stop at this, and in 19 years he presents to the world a new, the most thin model in the history of the watch - the Feuille d'Or. The case had only 2 mm in thickness. Competitors only bit their lips and wondered where the complex mechanism of the device fit. And the secret is simple - everything was hidden in the body.

"Longines" and sport

For the first time, "Longines" entered the world of sports in 1912. Then in Basel there were competitions dedicated to the Federal Holiday of Physical Culture. The firm offered to measure the running time at a distance of 80 meters with its new invention - a clock with automatic timing. The tests were successful, which was the first step in the world sports arena.

After the first triumph, watches became widely used in sports and already in 1952 became a symbol of the Winter Olympics in Oslo. Since then, almost all competitions of this magnitude have been supported by Longines. The watches of this brand proved that they are super-accurate.

"Longines" in aviation

Reviews of the watch "Longines" went around the world. It was them who took with them to the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic, the distinguished pilot Charles A. Lindberg. A little later the company produced a special series of watches for pilots, which they use to this day. They have a built-in "Hour Corner" function.

Female pilots appreciate not only the quality, but also the elegance of the brand. In the thirties of the 20th century the company became a sponsor and accompanyer of many expeditions. One of the first to test the wristwatch "Longines" Amelia Irhart, who made the first flight among women from New Zealand to Ireland, flying the whole world along. This case inspired the creation of another series of aircraft instruments - a siderograph.

Star Trek

To date, many stars choose the watch "Longines". Photos with them can be seen on the Internet and in bright glossy magazines. The faces of the advertising companies are: Audrey Hepburn, Oleg Menshikov, Olga Kapranova, Maria Sharapova, Keith Winslet. It is known that the lover of the brand was Princess Diana.