Longines Has A New Angle On The Pilot's Watch
Longines has announced an unusual pilot’s watch inspired by a model worn by the US Air Force more than 80 years ago. The dial on the Avigation Type A-7 1935 is positioned at a 40-degree angle, the better for pilots to read its indices while keeping their hand on their plane’s control yoke.
The Type A-7 1935 is based on a single-button chronograph produced by Longines during the Thirties, and sold to the U.S. Army Air Corps. The company first relaunched the A-7 in 2012, in a substantial 47mm case. A 41mm version with a white lacquered dial and ‘aged’ orange hands and numerals then appeared in 2016.
This new version, available this winter and also measuring 41mm, has a less in-your-face matte black dial. As with the previous models, all the chronograph functions – power, stop and reset – are operated by a single pusher located at 12 o’clock (or where 2 o’clock would normally be). The outsize crown is designed for ease of operation, even when wearing gloves. Meanwhile the long, straight lugs make no attempt to blend into the case, giving the A-7 even more of a pocket watch aesthetic, a style of watch for which Longines has form dating back to 1867. (Slightly more recently, a Longines pocket watch was favoured by Albert Einstein.)
The company is best known for its pilot’s watches, though, having worked with Charles Lindberg on the development of an hour angle watch, used to determine longitude, again in the Thirties. Earlier this year it announced Longines Spirit, a new family of pilot’s watches that paid tribute to early aviation heroes Amelia Earhart, Paul-Emile Victor, Howard Hughes and others.
If you’re in the market for a new watch that combines history, serious aviation chops and a conversation-starting design, this is for you.
Expected October/November, £2,500; longines.com
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