Longines is a Swiss watch manufacturer. The company was founded in 1832 and the first Longines watches were produced ten years later
Since 1932, the company has been associated with numerous sporting events, including equestrianism and Formula 1 racing.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how this heritage brand has grown to become one of the biggest fashion brands in the world, as well as find out what to expect from their timepiece range today.
Longines was founded in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz, a watchmaker who previously worked for both Louis-Francois Cartier and Georges Favre-Jacot
Initially the company was known as the “Auguste Agassiz et Compagnie” manufacture; its seat was in Saint Imier.
In 1907, Longines opened an office in Moscow, which from 1914 became responsible for all sales outside of Switzerland. The branch still exists today under the name “Longines Rus”.
Longines has been involved in many sporting events since 1932, including equestrianism and Formula 1 racing (the latter thanks to its official timekeeping role). They are also closely related to swimming thanks to the company’s relationship with the International Swimming Federation (FINA)
Today Longines is one of the largest watch companies in the world. It has its headquarters in Saint-Imier and an office in Hong Kong. The brand also has several subsidiaries: Corum Watches and Rondo AG based in La Chaux de Fonds; Aqua Lung France based near Vouvra; Edox Watch Company based in Zurich; and Belfort Montres SA & Dreyfus Frères, based near Basel.
There are currently over 160 official franchises worldwide – making it a truly global fashion accessory!
The biggest competitors of the Longines brand are Raymond Weil and Tissot, which also make watches for everyday use.
Longines offers a wide variety of timepieces: from ultra slim models to those with diamond bezels; from quartz movements to Longines’ own automatic calibers (Ecológico, L888 or ETA); as well as avant-garde designs such as the rattrapante chronograph with a retrograde date display
The most famous models created by this watchmaker are the Conquest, Flagship and HydroConquest lines; not forgetting the sports watches.
The future of the Longines brand looks good and continues to expand internationally. Longines’ most famous models are the Conquest, Flagship and HydroConquest, and their future looks bright, especially after the opening of the first boutique in Russia and the continuation of international expansion, both geographically and through various branches around the world.