Longines
Saint-Imier, Switzerland · Est. 1832
Founded by Auguste Agassiz
Founded in Saint-Imier in 1832, Longines is one of the oldest Swiss watch brands still in continuous production and holds the oldest registered trademark in watchmaking history, dating to 1889. Now part of the Swatch Group, the brand is a major force in elegant sports watches and maintains a strong presence in equestrian sport and tennis.
- Founded
- 1832
- Headquarters
- Saint-Imier, Switzerland
- Group
- Swatch Group
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Spirit (2020) — Longines Spirit is the brand's modern pilot-inspired family, built around explorer imagery, chronometer credentials, GMT utility, and clean aviation-watch clarity. Key references: Longines Spirit L3.410.4.93.6, Longines Spirit L3.410.4.63.6, Longines Spirit Zulu Time L3.802.4.93.6, Longines Spirit Pilot Flyback L3.721.4.53.6.
- HydroConquest (2007) — Longines HydroConquest is the brand's core dive collection: practical, modern, and aimed at buyers who want a capable sports watch with broad mainstream appeal. Key references: HydroConquest L3.779.4.90.6, HydroConquest L3.781.3.78.9, HydroConquest GMT L3.890.4.56.9, HydroConquest L3.782.4.56.6.
- Master Collection — Longines’ Master Collection is the brand’s enduring classic-mechanical dress line, pairing restrained styling with moonphase, annual calendar, chronograph, and other refined complications across a broad range of case sizes. Key references: L2.357.4.99.6, L2.793.5.97.7, L2.893.4.59.6.
- Heritage (1957) — Longines Heritage is the brand’s vintage-inspired pillar, grouping re-editions and historically rooted designs that reinterpret 1930s to 1950s Longines models with contemporary mechanical watchmaking and faithful design cues. Key references: Heritage, Heritage Classic, Flagship Heritage.
Timeline
- 1832 — Auguste Agassiz establishes a watch trading business in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, which becomes Longines.
- 1867 — Ernest Francillon, Agassiz's nephew, builds the first Longines factory in Les Longines (long meadows), giving the brand its name.
- 1889 — Registers the winged hourglass logo — now the oldest unchanged active trademark at WIPO.
- 1927 — Provides timing for Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight; later co-develops the Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch.
- 1983 — Becomes part of the Swatch Group (then SSIH/ASUAG), positioned in the accessible luxury segment.
- 2025 — Launches the Spirit Flyback Chronograph in 42mm with the L791 column-wheel calibre. Unveils new HydroConquest GMT models and celebrates its 193rd anniversary with heritage reissues at Watches & Wonders 2025.
- 2026 — Launches a ground-up redesign of the HydroConquest dive watch with slimmer cases (39mm/42mm), ceramic bezels in five colours, Caliber L888.5 with 72-hour power reserve and silicon balance spring, and a new Milanese mesh bracelet option.
Frequently Asked Questions about Longines
- What does the Longines logo represent?
- A winged hourglass, registered in 1889. It is the oldest unchanged active trademark registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
- Who owns Longines?
- Longines is a subsidiary of the Swatch Group, positioned in the mid-range luxury segment alongside brands like Tissot and Hamilton.