The links between Longines and St. Moritz date back over a century. Indeed, in 1894, Longines sent two chronographs fitted with a proprietary hand-wound movement to the town in the Engadin valley. This marked the start of regular partnerships for timekeeping activities, particularly for alpine skiing, gymnastics and horse racing events. Since 2015, Longines is the Official Partner and Watch of St. Moritz. In the context of this partnership, the Tourist Office, the Swiss Ski School and the ski lifts of the alpine destination are featuring the colours of the winged hourglass brand.
Since 1907, the annual White Turf St. Moritz event takes place on the frozen lake of the Graubünden tourist resort during three Sundays in February. Attracting more than 30,000 visitors yearly, it is considered as one of the sporting and social highlight in the winter calendar. For the fifth year in a row, Longines was the Main Partner, the Official Timekeeper and the Official Watch of this event which took place on Sundays 3, 10 and 17 February 2019. After three Sundays of races, the Longines 80. Grosser Preis von St. Moritz saw the victory of Kieren Fox on Berrahri, followed by Eddy Hardouin on Jungleboogie and Kieran O'Neill on Nimrod. With its CHF 111,111 prizemoney, this race was the highest endowed in Switzerland. Longines also honored Dennis Schiergen, the best jockey of the competition, with the “Longines Jockey Silver Trophy”.
The Official Watch of the event is a model from the Record collection, combining classic elegance and excellence. Each of its calibers includes a single-crystal silicon balance spring and is certified as a “chronometer” by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).
Longines and the equestrian world
Based in Saint-Imier, Switzerland since 1832, Longines watchmakers enjoy an expertise steeped in tradition, elegance and performance. With generations of experience as the official timekeeper for world championships, and as a partner of international sports federations, the brand has created strong and long-lasting relationships in the world of sports, over the years.
Longines has been associated with the equestrian world since its inception. The oldest known Longines watch decorated with equestrian motifs dates from 1869, and ushered in a series of equestrian-themed pocket watches. The brand’s early ties with horses encouraged the watchmakers of Saint-Imier to pursue advances in sports timekeeping for equestrian competitions. In 1878, the winged hourglass brand developed its first chronograph movement, the legendary 20H. Today, Longines is passionately committed to the equestrian world and its various disciplines.
