Longines’ association with the military included designing a pilot’s watch for the Czechoslovak Air Force, who requested a rotating bezel with a moving luminous hour marker. The Swiss watchmaker further worked on a curved cushion-shaped case, whose unique design was registered on April 1, 1935.
The resulting Reference 3582 model was engraved with Majetek Vojenske Spravy, which means Property of the Czechoslovak Army. Several series with different calibres were produced, and some 1,700 fighters were equipped with the pilot’s watches during the global conflict from 1939 to 1945.
The Reference 3582 makes a comeback as the new 43mm stainless steel Longines Pilot Majetek with the characteristic bi-directional fluted bezel and oversized small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock.
In the 1930s, Longines developed a simple rotating mobile bezel and a luminescent moving hour marker. Aligning the hour marker with the minute or take-off time hand provided a reference point for the exact time of a mission’s departure. This function could also time the flight from each new change of course.
Under the Heritage Avigation collection, the Longines Pilot Majetek features the external rotating bezel system coupled with an internal fluorescent mobile triangle marker, or starting time indicator, independently displayed below the sapphire crystal and above the dial.
On the original from 1935, the bezel and crystal rotated as a unit whereas the latter is fixed on this new model while contributing to the case’s water-resistance of 100m.
Longines has also overhauled technical and ergonomic features of the watch for everyday wear and upcoming adventures.
Its revised proportions, original slightly curved cushion shape and more rounded lugs are in keeping with current trends.
For optimum legibility, the matte black dial contrasts with Arabic numerals coated with Super‑LumiNova old radium and phosphorescent rhodium-tipped baton hands.
Thanks to the L893.6 calibre, the Longines Pilot Majetek offers a power reserve of 72 hours. The entire watch head is chronometer-certified by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres.
Straps come in a choice of brown or green leather as well as a Nato-type option made of polyester fibre created from recycled materials.
