“The Longines Equestrian Pocket Watch 1878”, a 750‰ rose gold pocket watch, a replica of a model equipped with the first chronograph created by Longines.
In 1878, the Swiss watch brand Longines developed its first chronograph movement using new mechanical processes. This timepiece made it possible to measure performance to the nearest second, and thanks to it, Longines occupied, from the end of the XNUMXth centurye century, a prominent place on American racetracks. The purpose of producing this watch is crystallized in one of the first series of models that features a jockey accompanied by his mount. This chronograph is the first milestone in a long history that has led the Swiss watch brand to partner with renowned institutions, races, and show jumping competitions around the world.
Today, Longines is reissuing this exceptional piece.
This 750‰ rose gold pocket watch features an engraving on its caseback depicting a jockey and his mount, symbols of elegance, tradition, and performance—the brand's core values. At its heart, it houses a hand-wound movement featuring a column-wheel chronograph mechanism, produced exclusively for Longines. The latter can be activated by means of a single pusher on the winding crown. The caliber's blued-steel column wheel can be admired by opening the engraved cover. The metal Lépine pocket watch that inspired this reissue is housed at the Longines Museum in Saint-Imier.
This extraordinary model is produced in a very limited edition, each piece being numbered. With a diameter of 55 mm, it displays hours, minutes and small seconds at 6 o'clock using elegant blued steel hands. It also allows you to time to the second thanks to the central chronograph hand. Its white dial is adorned with large Roman numerals and a minute track punctuated with Arabic numerals. The bail of this piece is finely crafted in the image of the model of inspiration.
Technical characteristics – The Longines Equestrian Pocket Watch Jockey 1878:
Reference number L7.031.8.11.1 (limited series of 20 numbered pieces)
▪ Caliber: Hand-wound mechanical movement with column-wheel chronograph mechanism. Caliber L790.2 (ETA A08.L31). 13¼ lignes, 20 jewels, 28 vibrations per hour. 800-hour power reserve
▪ Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o'clock. Chronograph. Central 60-second hand
▪ Case: Round, Ø 55 mm, in 18-carat rose gold. Stamped caseback. Sapphire crystal with multi-layer anti-reflective treatment.
▪ Dial: Polished lacquered white, 11 Roman numerals
▪ Hands: Blued steel, “Breguet” type (hours, minutes). Blued steel, batons with ball counterweight (seconds and seconds counter)
Vincent Mareine
