Timepieces JANUARY 2018 : ISSUE 80
Flying the Flag Having celebrated its 185th anniversary last year, our columnist Tariq Malik believes its high time to reflect on some of Longines’ most prized pieces, and how they have been reinvented for its Heritage Collection
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WoRds: TarIq MalIk
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ere it possible to go back far enough in time, right to the turn of the last century – before the first man walked on the moon, and before the great wars – you would find very few men wearing wristwatches, let alone dress watches. Men only carried pocket watches, as they were practical at the time. You could close the lid, and stuff it in your waistcoat pocket to protect it from the rain and which would easily ruin such a rare and intricate thing. It was during the tumultuous decades of war that sturdier wristwatches first appeared – they were called ‘wristlets’ back then. Only women wore dress watches which were always delicate, often adorned with jewels, and easily broken. As watches became sturdier and of better quality, men finally saw a need for a dress watch – something that would be fitting for a formal occassion. As a reflection of the times, in 1957 Longines created its distinctive Flagship line of men’s dress watches, a line now hailed as highly representative of the era. In a Navy fleet, the ‘flagship’ is the one that carries the commander, and the flag of honour. It’s the ship which is usually at the frontline of the battle, the most heavily armed, and the best equipped. Fittingly, for 34