• Website: longines.com
• Founded: 1832, Saint-Imier, Switzerland.
• Founder: Auguste Agassiz
• Owned By: Swatch Group
• Known For: Master Collection, Conquest, HydroConquest, Spirit, winged hourglass emblem, sporting timekeeping
• Category Focus: Mechanical watches, quartz watches, dress watches, diving watches, aviation watches, chronographs, GMT watches
Longines is one of Switzerland's most established watchmaking houses, renowned for elegant timepieces, precision, and a rich connection to sport and aviation. Founded in Saint-Imier in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz, the company developed from a watchmaking business into an international brand offering dress watches, chronographs, diving watches, and aviation-inspired collections.
Known for combining Swiss craftsmanship, technical expertise, and enduring design, Longines balances everyday elegance with practical performance. Brand signatures—including the winged hourglass emblem, Master Collection, Conquest, and heritage-inspired timepieces—connect its historical achievements with contemporary watchmaking.
Today, Longines is part of Swatch Group, continuing to develop its collections and international sporting partnerships under President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Aoun.
Master Collection Moonphase
Conquest
HydroConquest
Spirit Zulu Time
Spirit Flyback
Legend Diver
Flagship Heritage
DolceVita
Longines' story began in 1832, when Auguste Agassiz entered the watchmaking trade in Saint-Imier. The business initially relied on local craftspeople working from their homes, reflecting the traditional production methods of the region.
His nephew, Ernest Francillon, later brought production together in a factory built at a site known as Les Longines. This development established the company's name and supported a more coordinated approach to manufacturing, technical research, and quality.
Longines subsequently built a reputation through chronographs, navigation instruments, and sporting timekeeping. Its involvement with pioneering aviators helped establish precision as a defining value, while elegant collections broadened its appeal. Today, the brand draws on its archives to create watches that connect historical design with modern functionality.
Key milestones:
• 1832: Auguste Agassiz establishes the watchmaking business that becomes Longines in Saint-Imier.
• 1867: Ernest Francillon opens the Longines factory, bringing watch production together under one roof.
• 1889: Longines registers its name and winged hourglass emblem as a trademark.
• 1913: Longines introduces the 13.33Z calibre, an early chronograph movement designed specifically for wristwatches.
• 1931: The Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch is developed to assist pilots with navigation.
• 1954: The Conquest collection launches, becoming the brand's first watch collection with a protected name.
• 1957: Longines introduces Flagship, establishing an enduring collection of elegant timepieces.
• 2005: The Longines Master Collection launches, showcasing classical design and mechanical watchmaking.
• 2020: The Longines Spirit collection debuts, drawing inspiration from the brand's pioneering aviation connections.
• 2025: Patrick Aoun becomes President and Chief Executive Officer of Longines.
Longines transformed a regional watchmaking business into an international symbol of Swiss elegance, combining precision, adventurous heritage, and a lasting connection to sporting performance.
“Longines brings elegance and precision into everyday life. Its strength lies in combining Swiss watchmaking tradition, pioneering heritage, and enduring design across both refined and sporting timepieces.”
Longines matters because it connects nearly two centuries of Swiss watchmaking with elegant design, practical innovation, and a longstanding dedication to precision.
Its influence can be seen across:
• The development of wristwatch chronographs
• The relationship between watchmaking and aviation navigation
• The evolution of precision sporting timekeeping
• The reinterpretation of historical watch designs for modern wear
By combining Swiss craftsmanship, technical expertise, and recognizable collections, Longines continues to shape contemporary watchmaking.
