Exactly 90 years ago, in 1927, the famous American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, explorer, and environmental activist, Charles Augustus Lindbergh, made the first ever nonstop solo transatlantic flight. He flew from Long Island, New York, to Paris, covering the 33.5-hour, 3,600 statute miles (5,800 km) alone in a single-engine purpose-built Ryan monoplane, Spirit of St. Louis. The first solo transatlantic flight, which is also the first non-stop flight between North America and Europe was timed by the Swiss watchmaker Longines. The most interesting thing about this extraordinary event is that Lindbergh never learned how to navigate. Instead, he navigated on the flight using dead reckoning - advancing from current position based upon known or estimated speeds over elapsed time and course.
To celebrate 90 years since Lindbergh’s fantastic achievement, Longines presents 90 numbered, limited edition timepieces of its Hour Angle Watch. This historical model was actually designed in collaboration with Lindbergh, produced by Longines and distributed in the USA by Longines-Wittnauer, in 1930-31. The Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch is an extremely attractive, vintage-looking model designed to allow for accurate determination of the longitude, pilot’s geographic location, during long-distance flights.
A new edition of the legendary timepiece measures 47,5mm in diameter, which makes it easy to read and manipulate, especially in the dark. The watch is crafted from titanium, fitted with a steel crown, and topped by a rotating bezel that allows for correction of the equation of time. A rotating center dial allows for synchronization to the second, while also indicating the hour angle in degrees and in minutes of arc.
The brushed silver dial displays time on a railtrack minute circle punctuated by Roman numerals. An additional 180° scale serves for calculating the longitude. The synchronization of the second hand with a radio time signal is performed via the galvanic black revolving central dial, while the black PVD steel rotating bezel allows for daily variations in the time equation to be taken into account.
Longines The Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch 90th Anniversary is powered by the automatic calibre L699, which is based on the ETA A07.L01. The movement is mounted on 24 jewels, it beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, and offers around 46 hours of power reserve. The watch is water resistant to 30 meters and held on a brown leather aviator-type strap equipped with an extension that allows the watch to be attached to an oversized pilot’s jacket.
The Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch – 90th Anniversary, reference number L2.678.1.71.0, retails for 5,000 CHF (around $5,015)
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