Time for a vintage winner: Longines Avigation Watch Type A-7 1935

Building on the long tradition which has shaped the Swiss watchmaker, Longines has once again taken inspiration from its multifaceted history to enrich its Heritage collection. The Longines Avigation Watch Type A-7 1935 illustrates the brand’s historic ties with the world of aviation. This exceptional chronograph, with an elegant vintage style, combines the performance and precision necessary to this field. Its honey-coloured accents and angled dial, which allow pilots to read the indices without having to release the plane’s control yoke, will appeal to lovers of the brand while illustrating Longines’ watchmaking expertise.

In honour of the accomplishments of aviation’s pioneers, Longines has drawn inspiration from its rich history to present a very special piece: The Longines Avigation Watch Type A-7 1935. At the start of the 20^th century, the watch brand associated its name with pilots who made history through their extraordinary achievements. Chief among them was Charles Lindbergh, the first pilot to cross the Atlantic solo, an achievement celebrating its 90^th anniversary in 2017. Precision and sturdiness were the key words for the design of the “Type A-7” watches, which needed to meet a very precise criteria in order to merit this distinction, the American army gave to these chronographs ordered from Longines in 1935.

The Longines Avigation Watch Type A-7 1935 sets itself apart with its dial angled at 40° to the right, displaying 12 large honey-coloured Arabic numerals. These allow perfect legibility and contrast with the polished white lacquer dial. Lastly, a “train track” chapter ring ensures the minutes can be easily read and the timepiece’s case is elegantly equipped with a fluted crown. Developed for the watch to be worn on the inside of the wrist, the particular orientation of the dial allows pilots to read the indices without having to release the plane's control yoke, while the crown was designed to be easily manipulated, even while wearing gloves.

A bold piece combining unparalleled design with the strict demands of performance and precision fundamental to the world of aviation, the Longines Avigation Watch Type A-7 1935 will not go unnoticed. The 41 mm stainless steel case houses a self-winding L788.2 calibre, a column wheel movement exclusively developed for Longines which enables control of the different chronograph functions (power, stop, and reset) by simply pressing the single push-piece inserted into the fluted crown. Elegant “pear skeleton” hands in blued steel and honeyed varnish complete the remarkable aesthetic of this piece. A brown alligator strap harmoniously enhances the overall piece.

Based in the Swiss town of Saint-Imier since 1832, Longines is a watchmaker that can boast a technical expertise born of tradition, elegance and performance. With many years of experience as a timekeeper for world championships and as the partner of international sports federations, Longines has over the years established solid and lasting links with the world of sport. Famous for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is today a member of Swatch Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. Known by its winged hourglass logo, the brand has commercial operations in over 150 countries.