Howard Hughes
3 days, 19 hours, 14 minutes
Howard Hughes’ round-the-world flight record was timed by Longines in 1938. The eccentric American is famous for his twin passions: aviation and the world of film. He is the best-known user of the Longines Sidérograph, an on-board device for celestial navigation that was patented by Longines. The crew in Howard Hughes’ aircraft relied on Longines chronometer watches, set to Greenwich Civil Time and to Greenwich Sidereal Time, and wore Longines Second-Setting watches for observation.”Do the impossible, because almost everyone has told me my ideas are merely fantasies.” Howard Hughes, Pilot and Entrepreneur.
The Longines Spirit collection is designed in the same manner as the timepieces of the famous pioneers as they conquered the air, land and sea relying on their Longines time instruments. Legendary aviators and explorers like Amelia Earhart, Paul-Emile Victor, Elinor Smith and Howard Hughes put their trust in the winged hourglass brand on their incredible journeys. Today, Longines presents new timepieces that are a testimony to their pioneering spirit. A glowing tribute to these exceptional men and women who, by a record, an exploit or a display of courage, have left their mark on history – encouraging new generations to push the boundaries. All models from the Longines Spirit collection come with state-of-the-art technology, resulting in highly accurate movements that are all Chronometer-certified.
The collection brings this rich heritage back to life. Linking history with innovation, the new models take traditional features from pilot’s watches and combine them with contemporary lines and codes. The oversized crown, the flange, the pronounced step around the crystal, the font of the dial, the diamond shape indexes and the large, luminous “baton” hands are all elements drawn from the days of pioneering aviation. Reworked and updated, they blend harmoniously with the overall contemporary design. In addition, great care has been taken with the various finishes on the details, whether brushed, matt, polished or in relief.
The Longines Spirit’s elegance is equalled only by its state-of-the-art technology. Longines has fitted this range exclusively with self-winding movements (L888.4 and L688.4) with silicon hairsprings to guarantee extreme accuracy and increased longevity. The calibres, with a power reserve of 64 and 60 hours respectively, are chronometer-certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The advanced technology of this new collection is also complemented by the domed sapphire glass with multi-layered anti-reflective coating on both sides, screw-in crown, and engraved case back secured with six screws.
