Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch Limited Edition in Yellow Gold
Swiss watch brand Longines presents Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch limited edition in yellow gold in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s exploit.
Following his transatlantic solo flight from New York to Paris in 33 hours and 30 minutes, timed by Longines, Charles Lindbergh conceived the design of the Hour Angle Watch whose production was then entrusted to Longines.
Produced again in 2006 in its original 47.5 mm diameter size, this time with a state-of-the-art selfwinding movement. In commemoration of this year’s 80th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s exploit the same watch has been enhanced in 18 carat gold and is limited to 80 pieces.
This model, in the original dimensions (47.5 mm), is based on the patent for a watch registered in conjunction with Longines by Captain P. V. H. Weems – a simple and decisive invention whereby the watch could be synchronized to the nearest second with a radio time signal using the outer bezel of the central dial.
In the early decades of the last century, a large-sized watch like this one was far easier to read and handle in the gloom, noise and vibrations of the plane cockpits of the period. What’s more, its oversized knurled crown could easily be manipulated by a pilot or navigator’s gloved fingers.
Demonstrating its invaluable contribution to the development of manned flight, Longines’ Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch was soon instrumental in setting any number of new world records.
In 1931, for instance, it helped Clyde Panghorn and Hugh Herndon to complete the first direct single-engine transpacific flight from Japan to the state of Washington, in the US, Amelia Earhart to set new woman’s solo transcontinental and transatlantic flying records in 1932, Amy Johnson to fly solo from England to South Africa and back, Paul Codos and Maurice Rossi to set a new New York to Syria flying record, Wiley Post to establish a new solo round-the-world speed record in seven days 18 hours and 49 minutes or Henry T. Merrill and Jack Lambie whose same-day round trip from New York to London was wildly celebrated.
Longines’ Lindbergh watch is either available with a stainless steel or now with an 18 carat yellow gold case in a limited edition of 80 pieces. It shows the hours and minutes with a pair of blued steel “Breguet” style hands plus the seconds on a white lacquered dial, protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
Along with black painted double minute track and Roman numerals, the dial features 12 blue painted Arabic numerals serving to calculate and display longitudes. The seconds hand is synchronized to a radio time signal via the silvered rotating center dial featuring a black painted double minute track and red numerals.
The blue and black Arabic numerals engraved on the case’s rotating bezel serve to adjust it to daily variations in the equation of time.
The L699 movement equipping Longines’ new Original-Size Lindbergh watch provides this model with 42 hours of power reserve, longer than the entire duration of Charles Lindbergh’s epochal 1927 flight from New York to Paris.
With 16 1/2 lines in diameter, 24 jewels and a 28,800 vibrations per hour beat, this first-class movement possesses more than enough resources to keep a watch so steeped in history running smoothly and dependably for a long time to come. A hinged and engraved back cover can be lifted to reveal a transparent sapphire plate through which the movement’s sparkling dance can be observed.
The Lindbergh Original-Size by Longines is sold in an exclusive presentation case which also contains a book describing the history of the relationship between the famous aviator and the watch company.
Technical details
Model: Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch in 18 carat yellow gold
Reference number L2.678.6.11.x (men’s model)
Edition
Limited and numbered edition of 80 pieces
Movement
Selfwinding mechanical movement L699 (ETA A07 111)
16 1/2 lines, 24 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour
Power reserve of 42 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes and seconds
Indication of longitude (in degrees and minutes of arc)
Rotating center dial for synchronization of the seconds hand with a radio time signal
Rotating bezel to adjust to daily variations in the equation of time
Case
Round, in polished yellow gold, 47.5 mm Ø
Hinged engraved and numbered back 1 / 80 that opens to reveal a transparent sapphire protective plate
Crown: “Louis XV” style
Bezel: Circular satin-finished yellow gold engraved with blue and black Arabic numerals
Water resistance: To 30 meters (~ 100 feet)
Crystal: Scratch-resistant sapphire
Dial
White lacquer
Black painted double minute track
12 black painted Roman numerals
Degrees shown with blue painted Arabic numerals
Silvered rotating center dial
Black painted double minute track
Red and black painted Arabic numerals
Hands: Blued steel, “Breguet” style
Strap
Genuine brown leather, with “Charleston” clasp and extension
