Jewellery & Watch News
In their 190-year long history, Longines have mastered the creation of sports watches, dive watches, dress watches but most notably, pilot’s watches. Since the early 1920’s, daring pilots have replied on the Swiss watchmaker to provide them with durability, accuracy and legibility in the cockpit. One of their earliest designs was the Longines Czech Pilot watch, a design developed in the 1920’s and supplied to the Czechoslovakian Air Force in the 1930’s. The watches became known as the Longines Majetek, named after their markings which read “Majetek Vojenske Spravy” meaning “property of military administration”. For 2023, Longines have reimagined this historic piece in more detail than ever before with the new Longines Pilot Majetek watch…
Back in 2014, Longines paid tribute to the original Longines Majetek watch with the Longines Heritage 1935. While a beautiful timepiece, this watch was more of a modern-reinterpretation and lacked several key features of the original. The new 2023 Longines Pilot Majetek watch on the other hand, while still classed as a modern reinterpretation, does a much better job in our eyes at remembering the original. There’s the same cushion-shaped case, black dial with large white Arabic numerals and importantly, a fluted rotating bezel with an internal marker. Just like the original, the bezel turns in both directions with the pronounced triangular marking allowing you to make simple but useful timing functions.
The new Longines Pilot Majetek watch measures a little larger than the original, sitting on the wrist at 43mm compared to 41mm. It’s a large watch in many respects but its vintage-inspired cushion-shaped profile and rounded lugs allows it to wear more comfortably than you’d expect. The case also features improved sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment for increased scratch resistance and legibility on the front while the case back is left closed for a water resistance of up to 100 metres. Its water pressure rating is engraved on the case back alongside lettering to mark its magnetic resistance and chronometer certification. From the side, the Longines Pilot Majetek watch also reveals a special plate engraved with the year 1935 to remember the year the original Majetek watch went into production.
Alongside the addition of the rotating bezel, the 2023 Longines Pilot Majetek watch trumps the 2014 modern reinterpretation with its dial which remains faithful to the original with no date window in sight. Instead, the dial retains its clean aesthetic with a matte black backdrop, large white Arabic numerals, a printed railroads minutes track and a recessed small seconds dial at 6 o’clock. The numerals are embossed and generously adorned with “old radium” coloured Superluminova to match with lume used on the large sword-shaped hour and minute hands at the centre. Powering the time-only complications is the automatic winding Calibre L893.6, an in-house developed movement based on the ETA A31.L91 with a silicon balance spring for magnetic resistance. The Swiss made movement is chronometer certified, as promised on the case back, and delivers a power reserve of 72 hours and a frequency of 25,200vph.
The Longines Pilot Majetek watch is currently available on a choice of three straps. The first is a retro NATO-style strap crafted from recycled polyester fibre in military green. The second is a dark brown calfskin leather strap and the third is a dark green calfskin leather strap. You can also order the Longines Pilot Majetek watch as part of a special Box Edition which delivers the watch in a special presentation box with both the brown leather strap and an additional green textile strap included.
If you’d like to learn more about the Longines Majetek for 2023 and shop the collection for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 43mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fluted and rotating
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Screwed and engraved
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Calibre L893.6 automatic winding, silicon hairspring
- COSC: Yes
- Functions: Hours, minutes and small seconds
- Power Reserve: 72 hours
- Jewels: 27
- Frequency: 25,200vph
- Dial: Matte black with “old radium” Superluminova numerals and hands
- Strap: NATO-style khaki, brown calfskin leather or green calfskin leather
- Limited: No
- RRP: Starts from £3,400
