Longines

Longines PrimaLuna Watches

As we know them today, the Longines brand dates back to the 19th century, with its roots in the town of Saint lmier in Switzerland. Back in the day, the watchmaking profession was run by families, focusing on the different components. The parts then visited the comptoirs or assembling facilities. After that, the final products went back to the families, and upon further testing, they went out for sale.

Auguste Agassiz was a businessman who ventured to start a watchmaking enterprise with his two partners in the town Saint lmier, which eventually gave birth to the company in 1832, almost two hundred years ago.

After his partners’ retirement, Auguste appointed his nephew, Francillion, into the enterprise from which he himself retired due to poor health in 1850. Francillion was behind the company’s many revolutionary changes. He purchased land for a watchmaking factory south of the town. The area was called 'Les longines,' or long meadows, which eventually contributed to the company’s modern name in 1866.

Since then, Longines has walked the path that no other watchmakers were walking. The company's then-director Francillon made some radical changes in the manufacturing process. The conventional method was more concerned with the movements that had cylinder escapements. They needed keys to wound. Longines discarded the key-wound system and introduced their crown-wounded mechanism in 1867.

It was also in 1867 when the company officially named itself Longines. Soon, the company brought out different calibers in watches; there first was the caliber 20A. Moreover, it came with an anchor escapement system with a pendant winding facility.

Later, they introduced their first chronograph movement with the20H. After that, the company introduced a series of calibers, heavily optimized from the previous generations. 1922 saw a big shift in watchmaking technology, as they introduced a modified split-second chronograph. By World War II, their chronographs yielded a frequency of 50HZ, making them capable of measuring elapsed time to 1/100th second. In 1945, they introduced their first automatic movement watch.

Later in 1969, they came up with their first quartz movement, and in 1972, the first LCD display watch came out. It consumed much less power than its contemporaries, the LED watches.

Later in 1979, Longines introduced the 'paper-thin' quartz timepiece, called 'the Golden Leaf.' The watch sported an analog display while keeping the thickness unimaginably low, only at 1.98mm.

Since then, their innovation and design have further improved, and they have successfully positioned themselves as one of the finest and prestigious watchmakers in the world. Along with that, they have long associated them with prestigious tournaments and sports events such as the French Open and several Derby.

No doubt that Longines makes high-end, luxury timepieces. The technical expertise, coupled with unmatched craftsmanship and design, makes the watches a connoisseur's first choice. Their Primaluna collection is a fine example of quality, reliability, and functionality.

The watches come in a robust, stainless steel casing. Stainless steel is a very tough material that can withstand temperature fluctuations, scratches, and shock. They also use gold for their chains and casings. The combination of steel and gold resembles a perfect marriage of class and durability.

The watches offer three sizes for the case. The slimmest width stands at 30mm, and the biggest case one is 40mm. All the case sizes vary between these numbers. The dials come in two variants – regular silver and the mother of pearl. The silver ones have painted roman numbers. All the cases come in a round shape.

There are two mechanisms present in the Primaluna collection. The quartz movement has been a long favorite in watchmaking, as the craftsmen have preferred them for their usefulness and reliability. On the other hand, automatic movements are more of a modern solution for uniqueness and the scarcity of quartz.

Diamond is among the holy grail of gemstones in jewelry, but it has many uses in many industries. For example, diamonds in watch construction play a pivotal role, increasing the items' value a lot. The watches from the Primaluna collection come in both variants – with or without diamonds to suit a collector’s taste.

Let’s know more about their popular models:

• Primaluna L8.115.4.71.6 – this model has a stainless steel case with scratch-resistant, anti-reflective glass. The water resistance is 3 bars, and it comes in a silver dial. It has a special feature called the moon phase display.

• PrimaLuna L8.112.5.89.6 – the casing is made of 18k rose gold with a 48 diamond set. The chain is also a combination of steel and rose gold. The watch comes with a mother of pearl dial and quartz mechanism.

• Primaluna L8.112.5.78.6 – the watch is small, 3cm wide, with stainless steel and 18k pink gold casing and chain. The dial is silver 'flinque’ This watch shows time and date and runs on quartz.

• Primaluna L8.110.5.79.6 – this model features a pink gold steel casing with 48 certified diamonds. The dial is silver ‘flinque' and shows time and date. It also has a special feature called EOL. The roman numerals look timeless as well.

Longines watches are truly a class on their own in the craft of fine watchmaking. Their design, reliability, and looks challenge generations.  

Watches and timepieces have been an invaluable part of human interactions and civilization. From the times of hourglasses and sundials to pocket watches and the usage of advanced electronics and other technologies – it has helped shape our present and future. 

Since an early age, watches have been a considerable item to possess and gift special people in our lives. A beautiful watch is not just spectacular to look at, but it also brings up a chapter from history; that adds to the item's value.

There are many respectable watchmaking brands that produce high-quality and luxurious watches. These brands just don't make them; they craft the items with pinpoint precision and high artistic inputs with technological innovation. Such a company from Switzerland has surpassed the parameters of finest watchmaking, and their innovation has pushed the bar forward. This article talks about Longines, the Swiss brand, and their finest collection, the Primaluna.