Watch of the Week: Longines Avigation BigEye Titanium
When it comes to historically important events, Longines was often in the middle of it. In particular, when it comes to aviation history. As the concept of aircraft matured in the 1920s, planes became more common, powerful, and able to fly higher as well as longer distances. This also meant the introduction of new problems, like how to determine your exact location when airborne. To do this a very precise watch was an absolute necessity, as time was used to navigate. In 1929 Navy Captain Phillip Van Horn Weems teamed up with Longines to develop a special system for a watch that would make it easier to navigate. While initially created for use at sea, it was quickly adopted by aviators alike. One of those aviators was Charles A. Lindbergh, who was in 1927 the first man to fly non-stop from the North-America to Europe. He later on also designed a watch with Longines, which became the legendary Hour Angle, aimed at making navigation in aircraft easier and more reliable.
For Longines, this marked the beginning of a rich tradition making aviation watches. Today it remains one of the pillars of their collection, yet while they are often inspired on the past, they don’t dwell on it. A good example of this is the Avigation BigEye, which was initially introduced in 2017 and inspired by watches Longines made in the 1970s for military pilots.
This also explains why the case of the Avigation BigEye has a utilitarian look. It not only perfectly fits the theme but also frames the dial so very nicely. Where the initial version was fitted with a traditional black dial, the latest model features a textured one in petrol blue with a gradient effect. This means that it gets darker around the edges. This also means that a key feature of the watch stands out even more: the oversized 30-minute counter. This characteristic gives the Longines its name ‘BigEye,’ and made it easier for aviators to check the elapsed minutes.
While its design may be inspired by the past, the rest isn’t. The 41mm large case is made from grade 5 titanium, making the watch pleasantly light for its size. A box-shaped sapphire crystal combines a vintage look with the strength of this material that can only be scratched by diamond. The watch is fitted with caliber L688, an automatic movement with a column-wheel operated chronograph, silicon balance spring, and a generous power reserve of 54 hours. To stay in theme, this movement is not visible, as Longines opted for a closed caseback made from titanium engraved with a plane and the brands’ name. A calf leather strap with a titanium pin buckle is the finishing touch on what is arguably one of the best-looking chronographs currently available.
