A Closer Look At The Longines Pilot Majetek

Just recently, Swiss watch brand Longines unveiled its new Pilot Majetek watch that is a deft blend of its rich aviation history and contemporary appeal. The watch, inspired by the first pilot watch made by Longines in 1935, has a true vintage appeal with tis crisp, clean matte- black dial and tan Super-LumiNova coated hands and Arabic numerals. Even the highly knurled stainless steel bezel is reminiscent of pilot watches of yesteryear.

Of course, the 43mm watch is powered by a current movement and made with state-of-the-art technology but boasts many features of the original. The watch case is a cushion-cornered squared design with fluted bezel and  ergonomic lugs. Offering  hours, minutes, seconds and a Super-LumiNova triangle arrow to indicate “starting time,” the watch also features an outer railway track for the individual minutes.  The case back is screwed in to allow for better water resistance – 100 meters.

The  watch is powered by a mechanical self-winding movement, the Longines L893.6 caliber, equipped with a new patented gear mechanism and a magnetic-resistant silicon balance spring. A certified chronometer – by the COSC – ensures high precision and 72 hours of power reserve. It is sold with a brown or green leather strap with beige topstitching or with a NATO strap made from recycled materials.

The watch is a fitting tribute to Longines’ rich history in the aviation field. As far back as 1919, the brand was the official timekeeper for the FAI and timed 34 record-setting flights in the ensuing two decades.  Charles Lindbergh wore a Longines on his epic nearly 34-hour-long flight across the Atlantic – marking the first solo flight from New York to Paris. Similarly, Amelia Earhart wore Longines in 1928 when she became the first woman to cross the Atlantic from Canada to Northern Irelands in less than 15 hours.