Longines history has concentrated on the lengthy process of mastering the measurement of time. Over the years and through its different guises, the Saint-lmier brand has constantly striven to complement its quest for precision with exacting aesthetics. These aspects still characterise its production today. Over 185 years of know-how, shaped by tradition, elegance and performance, have elevated the brand to the inner sanctum of great watchmakers. As such heritage deserves to be honored and perpetuated, the brand has continually worked to preserve its legacy.
This desire can been seen from the brand's very beginnings in the consecutive numbering of its watches. Every Longines timepiece has its own unique serial number, initially recorded in the workshop books until 1969, then on microfiches during the 1970s and 1980s, before the advent of the digital age. All watches can therefore be identified down the decades and have their own individual identity. To preserve this historical legacy, Longines benefits from a one-of-a-kind database, the Longines Electronic Archives (LEA), which bring together all the existing archives concerning each serial number. Longines can therefore quickly and accurately inform clients and brand enthusiasts on each of the 50 million timepieces produced to date.
While this complete traceability simplifies the authentication of Longines pieces, it also makes it possible to accurately crack the development of production. In 2018, the winged hourglass brand therefore exceeded 50 million watches produced – a true testament to its longevity and legitimacy. This constitutes another historic landmark for Longines, which has created a unique piece which the serial number 50,000,000 for the occasion. The timepiece, issued from The Longines Master Collection, is intended to be iconic of the brand's rich heritage and a preview of a new model available soon. Combining classic elegance and excellence, this model houses the new and exclusive L897 automatic calibre within a 40 mm-diameter rose gold case while offering a 64- hour power reserve and displaying an annual calendar at 3 o'clock.
The hours, minutes and seconds move whichthe blued-steel hands that stand out against a silvered dial stamped with a barleycorn motif. A commemorative inscription adorns the timepiece's transparent case back, which reveals the intricate workings of the movement.
Presenting a contemporary interpretation of the brand's heritage, this timepiece will add to Longines considerable historical Collection, which can be admired at the company's Museum in Saint-lmier, the village that saw this long-established watch brand emerge and flourish.
