Longines has recently unveiled a new addition to its Heritage Collection – the Pilot Majetek, a watch which is inspired by Longines’ rich aviation heritage. All the details, live photos and prices below.
Longines has an extensive catalog of historical watches, allowing the brand to potentially release a new re-edition every year for the next two decades. With their re-editions, Longines prioritises maintaining the authenticity of the original design, ensuring that each detail is carefully considered. These pieces are included in the brand’s Heritage line. This year Longines brought back an aviation watch, which was originally launched in 1935 and had been created for the Czechoslovakian Air Force, though there was a commercial version too. I’m talking about the Pilot Majetek, which features a rotating bezel designed to assist with flight time calculations.
The new Pilot Majetek features a cushion case with a diameter of 43 mm. At 9 o’clock, the outside of the steel case, which has a screw-in back, is fitted with a commemorative plate marked “1935”. This refers to the original date of the first Longines “Majetek” model, and conceals a newly patented gear mechanism. It guarantees the water-resistance of 10 bar (100 m) of the external fluted rotating bezel system coupled with the internal fluorescent mobile triangle marker, or “Starting time indicator”. The latter is displayed below the sapphire crystal, from which it is independent, and above the dial. On the 1935 model, the bezel and the crystal with the marker rotated as a unit. On the current model, the sapphire glass is fixed and contributes to the water-resistance of the new case.
Like watches designed specifically for aviators, the new Longines Pilot Majetek has a matte black dial offering optimum legibility. The white Arabic numerals, coated with Super-LumiNova old radium, indicate the hours, highlighted by a railway minute marker. Rhodium-tipped baton hands move across them. They are phosphorescent, ensuring optimal night-time legibility. The oversized small seconds dial, lowered into the dial at 6 o’clock, is a reminder, together with the fluted bezel, of the original functional character of this pilot’s watch.
Powered by the exclusive Longines L893.6 calibre equipped with a magnetically resistant silicon balance spring, the new Longines Pilot Majetek has a 72-hour power reserve. The entire watch head is chronometer-certified by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC), an independent control body. This timepiece has a two-stitch strap, available in a choice of brown or green leather with beige topstitching. A NATO-type strap made of polyester fibre, created from recycled materials, is also available. The watch can be purchased for 3,950 euros, or as a ‘Box Edition’ which comes with an additional strap and a tool for changing straps, priced at 4,050 euros. More details about Longines watches on www.longines.com.
