The watchmaker Maison from Saint-Imier takes back models from the 1930s, which were then designed for the pilots of the Czechoslovak Air Force. A pleasant reminder of the close links between the Maison and the world of aviation.
Watches are inseparable from the military. While it is impossible to minimize the extremely powerful impact of war on human existence, we cannot help but be fascinated by the series of legendary horological works designed for soldiers. soldiers from all over the world. Among these relatively famous military watches, Longines’ Majetek pilot’s watch has exceptional simplicity and unexpected beauty. This model was delivered to Czech Air Force soldiers in the late 1930s and early 1940s, similar to the Eterna and Lemania watches. This model has the signature cushion-shaped case, black dial, and simple Arabic numerals. At the time, its overall design was very minimalist, easy for the wearer to read without embellishment.
Precisely in 1935, Longines designed a military watch called “3582”, at the request of the Czechoslovak Air Force. They came up with very precise specifications: among them, a rotating, movable, easy-to-operate bezel, luminescent indexes and a cushion-shaped case. Longines then registered protection for this unprecedented design on April 1, 1935, at the Bern office of the Industrial Property Organization. Watches later stamped “Majetek Vojenské Spravy” – or “Property of the Military Administration” – equipped thousands of Czech pilots. These soldiers were determined to continue fighting even after their troops had demobilized and left the country to join the Allied forces under the command of the British RAF, where they served in squadrons 310, 311 , 312 and 313 are famous.
Longines Pilot Majetek: (re)born
Today, 90 years after it was first introduced, the Majetek has come out of the Longines archives and received a modern makeover to match current trends while keeping the watch’s overall design intact. watch in 1935. Its proportions were reconsidered, but the overall model retained the cushion-shaped case, slightly more curved with rounded lugs.
This 2023 version of the Pilot Majetek has a larger case, with a diameter of 43 mm instead of the original 40 mm. This new tool watch from Longines is crafted in steel and is equipped with a screw-down caseback with a commemorative plaque engraved “1935”. It sports an attractive rugged design with a black, matte, textured dial. Like the original, a sub-dial features a small seconds hand that flies across the dial at 6 o’clock. Together with the fluted bezel, this highlights the functional aspect of this pilot’s watch. Additionally, it displays white Arabic numerals that are artificially aged, embossed, painted and coated with Old Radium SuperLuminova. The Maison also added a classic railway minute scale, a treat for purists. For the hands, they chose a classic baton shape with a rhodium-plated luminescent tip to ensure optimal visibility of the details.
Most importantly, to honor the original model, Pilot Majetek has retained the fluted rotating bezel combined with a triangular, luminescent, movement tracker called the “Start Time Indicator.” This system, which allows the wearer to record previous times, is placed above the dial and independently fixed below the sapphire crystal. In 1935, the bezel and crystal turned into one unit. The sapphire crystal is now fixed, increasing the water resistance of the new case up to 100 meters. As for the movement, Longines decided to power their latest offering with an exclusive in-house movement equipped with a silicon anti-magnetic balance spring capable of a 72-hour power reserve . This movement has been certified by COSC.
Finally, this neo-classically designed watch comes with multiple strap options: you can choose between a brown or green leather strap with beige stitching or a khaki NATO strap for style. 100% away from the military.