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SpotlightLongines’ Storied Equestrian Associations Continue With The FEI World Equestrian Games 2018

WHAT GOES ON INSIDE YOUR WATCH

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The art of watchmaking and equestrianism, both have their roots in solving human problems in times when there was little industrialisation or technology. Longines has been uniting the two forms for 140 years now, from the time it produced its first chronograph movement.

Longines
Longines has been uniting the art of watchmaking and equestrianism for 140 years now, since the time it produced its first chronograph movement

By relentlessly pursuing innovation in the field of sports timekeeping ever since they have gone on to associate themselves with pretty much every prestigious equestrian event across the globe you can think of. All this, while making remarkably elegant wristwatches with a rare consistency. Watches that speak calmly, but with confidence and character.

Longines’ Passion For Sport And Precision

There’s no better way to demonstrate a watch brand’s sporting history and credentials than it having been the official timekeeper at the very first modern Olympic Games. A Longines stopwatch was used to time events at Athens 1896. The winged hourglass brand hasn’t looked back since. From the early 20th century, Longines was involving itself substantially in partnering with and timing sports events, from skiing to athletics.

Longines
Old sports chronometry equipment preserved at the Longines Museum

They put all their weight behind pioneering chronograph advancements, as sports timing and chronographs are inextricably linked. The results of this work were one of the first wristwatch chronographs in 1913, and the first chronograph with a flyback function in 1936—the iconic 13ZN movement, which is now a collectors’ favourite. In the midst of all this, one partnership that hasn’t wavered is that which Longines forged with the equestrian world. There were three distinct points in history that grew and cemented this relationship:

1880s: Longines produced a pocket watch chronograph engraved with a jockey and horse, which gained popularity in the USA with the equestrian community, and was seen at racetracks with judges and jockeys alike.

1912: Longines partnered for the first time with a horse competition in Lisbon, Portugal.

1926: Longines was the official timekeeper for a prestigious show jumping event in Geneva.

Longines
A Longines pocket watch chronograph from the 1880s, with an equestrian-themed engraving

An Unprecedented Equestrian Partnership

In 2013, Longines and Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world governing body for equestrian sports, announced a 10-year partnership, with a level of commitment and involvement unparalleled in the sport so far. Equestrian sports are fairly niche but did not deter Longines from investing further in a discipline it has supported since its early days. As with any fast-paced sport, in equestrian games too, a number of timing and scoring parameters are required to be measured simultaneously, to provide information to judges and viewers in real-time.

Longines
Longines and FEI jointly develop technologies for timekeeping and data handling, specifically for equestrian sports. These will be used in multimedia applications, viewer screens, scoreboards, and for broadcasters of FEI events around the world.

Under the agreement, Longines and FEI jointly develop technologies for timekeeping and data handling, specifically for equestrian sports. These will be used in multimedia applications, viewer screens, scoreboards, and for broadcasters of FEI events around the world.

Innovation In Equestrian Timing—A Longines Stronghold

Longines was responsible for developing technologies in the 1950s that coupled high-precision timers, down to 1/100th of a second, with a camera. Called the Chronocinégines, this mechanism provided a film strip that helped judge who the winner was in a photo finish. Furthering the same streak of innovation, Longines continues to steadfastly work on cutting-edge technology even today. It has created a proprietary technology called the Longines Positioning System (LPS). The USP of this technology is that it provides instant data on the exact position of horses during a race, their ranking, the distance between horses and their speed, with accuracy down to 5cm and up to 1,000 measurements per second.

Longines
Longines was responsible for developing technologies in the 1950s that coupled high-precision timers, down to 1/100th of a second, with a camera. Called the Chronocinégines, this mechanism provided a film strip that helped judge who the winner was in a photo finish.

To put this in context, a thoroughbred horse can run at 50kmph for more than a kilometre, with a burst of speed at 70kmph. At this speed, 1/100th of a second means a distance of 20cm. These are the kind of timings that have to be tracked. And that’s not all. In June this year, they debuted another technology called the Longines Tracking System, which provides accurate, real-time data similar to the LPS, but relies completely on satellites, without needing any permanent installation on the racecourse.

Longines
In June this year, the brand debuted a technology called the Longines Tracking System, which provides accurate, real-time data similar to the LPS (Longines Positioning System), but relies completely on satellites, without needing any permanent installation on the racecourse

It’s really quite amazing to see how Longines has continually gone on to chase the next frontier. The general image they have of making conservatively designed watches that veer towards the formal betrays the innovative powerhouse they actually are.

Elegance Is An Equestrian Attitude

The FEI World Equestrian Games 2018 will have eight disciplines—jumping, dressage, para-dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining. Of these, jumping, eventing, driving and endurance are where precision timing is of utmost importance, as they are either based on speed and racing, or on a point system that runs together with timekeeping.

Longines
With formally-dressed riders and well-groomed horses performing carefully practised, graceful movements, which can perhaps only be summed up in one word—elegance—Longines’ association with the equestrian world feels like a natural fit

Beyond the competitive aspects in equestrian games, it’s the bond between the rider and their horse that’s very interesting. Horses themselves are associated with flair and confidence, and you can really see this come alive in dressage. You see formally-dressed riders and well-groomed horses performing carefully practised, graceful movements, which can perhaps only be summed up in one word—elegance. This is where Longines’ association with the equestrian world feels like such a natural fit. Its strength has always been in making watches that are classic and timeless, with a strong sense of respect for heritage and tradition. They also have a brand ambassador in Swiss horse rider Jane Richard, who was Swiss show-jumping’s ‘Rookie of the year’ in 2007.

Equestrian-Related Timepieces

The large clocks at Longines-associated equestrian events are shaped like Master Collection wristwatches. That refined design with its quiet show of muscle feels completely at home at the races.

Longines
Longines Master Collection clock at an equestrian arena

Longines have an Equestrian collection of ladies watches that derive their inspiration from different elements of riding equipment. The 22mm-wide rectangular cases are inspired by bridle buckles. The Arabic numerals on the silver dial are similar to what you would see in the Master Collection, with blued lance hands offering subtle contrast.

Longines
Longines’ Master collection displays the brand’s strength in making watches that are classic and timeless, with a strong sense of respect for heritage and tradition
Longines
The Arabic numerals on the silver dial of this Equestrian ladies’ watch are similar to what you would see in the Master Collection, with blued lance hands offering subtle contrast

There are watches from their other collections that are inspired by the sport, such as the Conquest 1/100th Horse Racing. This has a chronograph function which, as the name suggests, can record time with the precision of 0.01 seconds. The watch has a micro-controller with flash memory that allows it to be reset instantly for recording intermediary times. It has a modern design through and through, seen in the bold 12 markers on the dial in a 41mm case. Chronograph hands are coloured red, with the central red hand indicating 1/100th-second intervals once the chronograph is disengaged. The design element that is really appealing on the case is the integration of the chronograph pushers with the crown guard, making it seem like the brand’s winged hourglass itself—a great touch.

Longines
Inspired by the sport, the Conquest 1/100th Horse Racing has a chronograph function, which, as the name suggests, can record time with the precision of 0.01 seconds

Another watch featured prominently among equestrian pieces by Longines is the Conquest VHP. VHP signifies a ‘very high precision’ quartz movements that are developed by Longines and accurate to within five seconds per year. These are easily among the highest precision offered by watches of any renowned brand today. Notwithstanding the simple time and date display on the dial, the watch is a perpetual calendar, configured right up until the year, 2400 and requires battery changes only at five-year intervals. The blue dial has a radial pattern, giving it a nice texture with red accents bringing out its sporty character.

Longines
Another watch featured prominently among equestrian pieces by Longines is the Conquest VHP. VHP signifies ‘very high precision’ quartz movements that are developed by Longines and accurate to within five seconds per year.

But where Longines hits home runs time and again is its Heritage collection, which is no surprise for a brand that treasures where it came from and has a past design catalogue that would be the envy of watch designers. Even more so today when vintage-inspired watches are so heavily in vogue. This watch is reminiscent of their beautiful 1940s chronographs that housed the legendary 13ZN movement—a throwback to times when Longines was making chronographs with an aim to make timing equestrian and other sporting events easy and accurate.

Longines
Part of the Heritage collection, this watch is reminiscent of their beautiful 1940s chronographs that housed the legendary 13ZN movement—a throwback to times when Longines was making chronographs with an aim to make timing equestrian and other sporting events easy and accurate

Longines celebrated its 185th anniversary last year but is not one to rest on its laurels. They are a watch brand with impressive history, yet truly avant-garde, remaining at the forefront of pushing horological boundaries.

Longines
The FEI World Equestrian Games will be held from September 11 to 23 in Tryon, North Carolina, USA

Amish Behl is India’s first Watch Expert, certified by the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), Switzerland. He is a watch specialist and collector based in New Delhi, deeply passionate about the art and history of timekeeping. Behl is also the founder of Definitely Curry, a digital publication about modern ‘made in India’.

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