The Longines brand stretches back to the 1830s and holds the oldest registered logo for a watch company. Longines is now owned by the Swatch Group and produces high-quality watches with both quartz and mechanical movements.
Vintage Longines watches are some of the most sought after vintages watches by collectors due to their design and precision. Longines watches have been used by famous aviators, explores and pioneers.
History of Longines Watches
Louis Amédée de Savoie
Longines provided timers used at the first modern day Olympics in 1892. In 1899, Louis Amédée de Savoie took five navigation chronometers designed to withstand the extreme temperatures of the Arctic.
It was the introduction of automatic timing at the Federal Gymnastics at Basel in 1912 that proved to be the most important event in this development of Longines association with sports. With the ever-increasing demand for accurate instruments to record sporting events Longines created a pocket chronograph, which allowed 1/10th and 1/100th intervals to be recorded.
Vintage Longines 1938 Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch
In 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh made the first solo and nonstop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris, timed by Longines. In 1931, he designed a new instrument for Longines that earned a place in history as the hour-angle air navigation watch.
Since 1952, Longines has been responsible for the timing of nearly all of the Olympic Games, both Summer and Winter. In 1990 Longines was appointed the official timekeeper for the World Grand Prix Motorcycle Championships, and in 1991 Longines timed the World Alpine Ski Championships in Saalbach. From 1997 onwards Longines is the official timekeeper for all events in gymnastics competitions.
In aeronautics Longines has provided the watches required to set and then certify numerous world flight records – not least Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 first nonstop solo crossing of the North Atlantic
In 1973, Longines was the first world watch maker to introduce a LCD-display watch on the consumer market.
Buying Vintage Longines Watches
Vintage Longine watches can vary significantly in price. The two greatest factors being the rarity and the materials the watch is made of. Many Vintage Longines watches are made with precious materials such as Gold and diamonds that can significantly increase the costs.
Costs of Repairing a Vintage Longines Watch
If your vintage Longines watch is damaged and needs repairing or servicing the following source provides estimates of the costs involved in replacing or repairing various parts of a vintage longines watch. Whether it is repairing the crowns, the glass, replacing the case, straps, bracelets, dial or the batteries.