Introduction to The Longines Master Collection
As a legendary watchmaking brand, Longines has been making stunning timepieces since the very start. These days, the Longines Master Collection is the ideal showing of this famous philosophy, something which can be viewed from the joy created by this family after it was released back in 2005.
Longines has made a home for itself at Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832. Its horological brilliance indicates a serious love for history, sophistication and excellence. With decades of experience as a timekeeper for elite level sports events or as a sponsor of international sports federations, Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the world’s largest maker of horological products and watches.
The company known for its winged logo now boasts stores in more than 150 countries. When, in 1832, Auguste Agassiz entered the world of horology, little could he have known that Longines would become one of the world’s most renowned watchmakers. The man entered a trading office created in St. Imier. He quickly went to become the boss and the brand changed names to Agassiz & Co. At this point, he was making watches under the “établissage” style, in which craftsmen worked from their home and gave their models to the different trading offices.
Agassiz made a group of commercial friends, which allowed him to sell his watches on other lands, in particular in the United States of America. In the 1850s, Ernest Francillon took the reins of the brand. As the founder’s nephew, Francillon took his role very seriously, endlessly looking for ways to improve the methods employed in horology in the region.
He decided that it would make sense to attempt to blend the various stages that go into creating a watch into one facility. Francillon’s idea was to create a place where he could put together and finish off each of his watches, bringing in some mechanisation. He therefore purchased two chunks of land next to one another in 1866.
More on the History of Longines
Known to locals as Les Longines, Francillon took this name for the factory itself, which he ended up building there in 1867. With the help of a young engineer, he made the machines required for crafting the perfect watches. In the 1870s, Francillon’s decision of industrial proved a good one as the factory frequently grew until, in 1911, the Longines factory was the place of work for more than 1,100 people, vending watches across the globe.
The level of the research done at Longines led to a range of prizes and recognition from across the industry. This is what led to the brand gaining such a solid reputation, winning more awards and prizes than any other watchmaker in the first quarter of the 20th century. These days, Longines is the oldest trademark or logo in continued use in its original style registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In 1867, Longines was selling watches with the winged hourglass symbol on, using the name of “Longines” as a universal assurance of luxury.
The Longines collection constantly keeps elegance as an attitude. No wonder Australian actor Simon Baker has been a Longines Ambassador since 2012. He currently plays the part of 'Patrick Jane' in the popular series 'The Mentalist,' one of the highest-rated shows breaking records. With actress Kate Winslet, they embody the values of elegance that Longines is famous for. Whatever Longines piece you go for, the promise of elegance is not compromised. For more than a century, Longines has stayed true to its original watchmaking tradition, without sacrificing modern sophistication. The combined result is nothing short of excellence.
