On May 20, 1927, in New York, the “Spirit of St. Louis” left Roosevelt Airport to Le Bourget airport near Paris. A young American pilot named Charles A. Lindbergh was at the controls. After a thirty-three and a half hours flight, Lindbergh landed at Le Bourget after completing the first ever non-stop solo transatlantic flight. As official timekeeper for the World Air Sports Federation, Longines contributed to the homologation of this prowess by timing Lindbergh’s flight and adding it to the list of aviation records.
Shortly thereafter, a collaboration between the aviator and the brand produced the Longines Hour Angle watch. This watch allows for accurate determination of the longitude during long-distance flights. As a result, pilots and navigators can find their geographic location quickly, efficiently and with great accuracy.
Longines commemorates the 90th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s amazing feat and of its timekeeping, by releasing a new edition of the legendary timepiece in a numbered series limited to 90 watches. Equally as impressive as the original timepiece, this model measures 47.5 mm, which makes it easier to read and manipulate in the dark and when subjected to the vibrations that were common to aircraft of the era. Equipped with a rotating bezel that allows for correction of the equation of time and a rotating central dial that allows for synchronization to the second, this timepiece indicates the hour angle in degrees and in minutes of arc in addition to indicating hours, minutes and seconds.
The understated brushed silver dial displays the time on a “railtrack” minute circle with painted Roman numerals, and features a 180° scale for calculating the longitude. The synchronization of the second hand with a radio time signal is accomplished using the galvanic black rotating central dial, while the black PVD steel rotating bezel allows for daily variations in the time equation to be taken into account. The 90th Anniversary Lindbergh Hour Angle watch houses in its titanium case the L699 automatic caliber. The case is adorned with a large steel crown that is easy to wind or set, even with gloved fingers. The brown leather aviator-type strap equipped with an extension that allows the watch to be attached to an oversized pilot’s jacket puts the finishing touch on this timepiece.
