The Longines RailRoad

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The Longines RailRoad - Longines
The Longines RailRoad is a tribute to the adventure of the railway.

Punctuality has been a vital ingredient in the development of a secure and reliable railway service. With this in mind, a precise and good quality timepiece constitutes a must-have piece of equipment. The watchmaking expertise Longines quickly gained momentum and popularity amongst international railway companies. The brand therefore put its name and experience to the service of the railway adventure, and at the beginning of the 20th century, its watches were worn by the employees of railway companies in Romania, Serbia, Persia, Italy, Chile, Canada, the United States, Turkey and China.

The Longines RailRoad is inspired by a model developed in the 1960s that was worn by railwaymen and fulfilled specific requirements in terms of aesthetics, quality and precision. The letters “RR” (for Rail Road) that were seen on the original dial can also be seen on the current dial. The complimentary indication “280” that was seen on the original dial and referred to the timepiece’s calibre of movement, has been replaced by the inscription “888” on the reissued model – which is nod to the movement that drives the new Longines Railroad.

Longines - The Longines RailRoad

The 40-mm diameter steel case of the Longines RailRoad houses a highly reliable L888.2 automatic winding calibre, produced exclusively for Longines. Ensuring excellent readability, the off-white polished dome dial displays an hour circle composed of large black Arabic numerals – with a 0 instead of a 12 – and a 24-hour scale subtly enhanced by black shiny hands. A minute ring enhances the reading of the time. The back of this model shows a finely worked engraving inspired from the original decorations that adorned the pocket watches designed for railway companies in the 1920s. An elegant black alligator strap adds an additional touch of refinement to this model.

 

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