In 1929, American aviator Richard Byrd attempted to become the first person to fly over the South Pole. Byrd and his crew took off from Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf and landed again 19 grueling hours later. They’d done it, and on his wrist was a Longines watch. Equipped with Longines instruments to chart the course and a solar compass to determine geographical direction, he’d successfully navigated 800 difficult miles over dangerous terrain with no visual landmarks.
Almost 100 years later, Longines is still creating watches inspired by that pioneering spirit, and drawing from the adventurous men and women who continue to push our understanding of what’s possible. It’s from that track record of excellence that Longines has launched its newest timepiece: the Longines Spirit Flyback. This watch pays homage to the company’s long history of being at the cutting edge of innovation and offers a nod to tradition in a sleek, modern package.
The Flyback
Longines invented Flyback technology and equipped its first watch with it back in 1925. At the time, the flyback (which offered a way to time different flight stages and therefore facilitate navigation) enabled explorers to confidently go after their big dreams in the air, sea, and over land. It was the most technologically advanced chronograph movements of the time.
The innovative spirit of the Flyback has become iconic. For the history buff or someone who appreciates a storied heritage, the new Longines Spirit Flyback is a nod to the past with a contemporary twist. Longines has worked to redesign this technology for a new watch for the last four years, creating a statement piece that actually has something to say.
Attention to Detail
Longines watches have a reputation: They’re sleek, precise, and of the highest quality. The brand is always adding or tweaking seemingly small things that take years of R&D to refine. The ceramic is scratch-resistant, the dock is luminescent for easy reading, the power reserve is 68 hours, and it’s officially certified as a chronometer by COSC (the independent institute that certifies the accuracy and precision of Swiss watches). Longines has long been trusted to serve as the official timekeeper for sporting events across disciplines, from world championships in alpine skiing to horse racing events. Longines is the official timekeeper of the Kentucky Derby. Their watches spurred an evolution in the accuracy of sports timekeeping as Longines developed watches that were accurate up to the millionth of a second. It’s that attention to detail that has remained a key component of Longines watches over the years.
Still, the coolest part of the Longines Spirit Flyback might be the back: It’s transparent and rotates to give a 360-degree view of the details of the mechanism. “On this watch, the main feature is the exclusive movement, so we want to show it,” says Giuseppe Miccio, head of product development. “We gave the Longines Spirit Flyback a see-through back so people could appreciate it. It’s a romantic homage to the past, and we added small elements that modernize it and give a contemporary look to it.”
The Deep Bench
Longines has been in business for almost 200 years, and has remained at the forefront of both precision and innovation throughout its history. Today, one of Longines' biggest strengths is that it’s a member of the Swatch Group, the world’s leading watch manufacturer, which means it can take advantage of the vertical integration of having a sister production company. “We can count on our long watchmaking expertise and heritage, as well as on the industrial power of the Swatch Group, providing state of the art technologies and synergies to the brand to achieve it,” says Matthias Breschan, CEO of Longines.
*This story was produced by WIRED Brand Lab for Longines.*
