New
Timekeepers Club / July 1, 2024

Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition

With the Longines Pilot Majetek, launched last year, the winged hourglass brand marked the return of a pilot’s watch with an emblematic design. In 2024, the Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition comes in dark grey and black in a Grade 5 titanium version, limited to 1,935 pieces and chronometer-certified by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres). This watch follows in the footsteps of the Longines precision instruments worn by the greatest pioneers during their legendary exploits.

On 1 April 1935, Longines registered the Pilot Majetek model with the International Bureau of Industrial Property in Berne, Switzerland. Initially designed for aviators, this timepiece has gradually won over a wider public looking for a reliable, robust and precise watch. Almost 90 years later, in 2023, the brand resurrected this singular pilot's watch, with completely revamped technical and ergonomic features.

This year, the collection has been extended with a special series in Grade 5 titanium, an alloy that is both lighter and stronger than steel. The Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition is limited to 1,935 pieces, in reference to the model's year of birth. Faithful to its predecessors and asserting its original character, this tool-watch is distinguished by a fluted bidirectional bezel mounted on its cushion-shaped case.

At 9 o'clock, the exterior of the 43 mm Grade 5 titanium case is fitted with an engraved “1935” commemorative plaque, housing an innovative gear mechanism. It guarantees waterresistance up to 10 bar (100 m) of the external fluted rotating bezel system coupled to the internal luminescent mobile triangle marker, or Starting Time Indicator. The latter is positioned under the sapphire crystal, from which it is independent, and above the dial. On the historic 1935 model, the bezel and the glass fitted with the marker rotated as a single unit. On today’s model, the sapphire crystal is fixed and contributes to the water-resistance of the new case.

Combining bold design and cutting-edge technology, the Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition is powered by the exclusive Longines calibre L893.6. Equipped with a silicon balancespring and innovative components, this movement offers a resistance to magnetism that exceeds the requirements of the ISO 674 standard by a factor of more than ten, and has a power reserve of up to 72 hours. The entire watch is chronometer-certified by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres), an independent testing body. This certification process subjects the finished watch – case and operating movement – to a trial period of 15 consecutive uninterrupted days. The entire watch is subjected to a series of operating tests in different positions at three different temperature levels to confirm its accuracy.

This new model has a matt black grained dial. The hours are indicated by struck Arabic numerals treated with grey Super-LumiNova® with bluish luminescence and accentuated by a railway-style minute track. Baton hands skim over them, also coated in grey Super-LumiNova® with bluish luminescence. The oversized sub‑second dial, recessed in the dial at 6 o’clock, is a reminder, together with the fluted bezel, of the original functional character of this pilot’s watch.

The Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition comes with a black technical fabric strap. This limited series comes in a special Heritage box in the same colour.

Starting Time Indicator

Associated with aviation and its pioneers for over 100 years, Longines also invented the rotating bezel in the early 1920s. Some Longines pilot's watches, such as the Pilot Majetek, are fitted with rotating bezels with a moving luminescent index, the Starting Time Indicator. Its function: to display the departure time of a mission and accurately measure the flight time between each change of course. Like the flyback complication, also invented by Longines, this innovation played a key role in the conquest of the skies in the early 20th century.

Technical specifications


Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition

Reference: L2.838.1.53.2

Limited edition of 1,935 pieces

Case

  • Material: Grade 5 titanium
  • Diameter: 43 mm
  • Thickness: 13.30 mm
  • Sapphire glass with multi-layer anti-reflective coating on both sides
  • Bidirectional rotating bezel with Starting Time Indicator
  • Screw-in crown
  • Case back engraved with “PIONEER EDITION / ONE OF 1935”
  • Plaque engraved with the inscription “1935” at 9 o'clock
  • Distance between lugs: 22 mm
  • Water-resistant to 100 meters

Dial and hands

  • Matt grained black
  • Raised indexes and Arabic numerals with Super-LumiNova® treatment with a bluish luminescence
  • Hands: Grey, with Super-LumiNova® treatment with a bluish luminescence

Movement

  • Self-winding mechanical movement
  • Exclusive Longines calibre L893.6
  • Complete watch officially chronometer-certified by the COSC
  • Diameter: 11½ lines
  • Number of jewels: 26
  • Frequency: 25,200 vph 
  • Magnetism-resistant (ISO 764), with silicon balance-spring
  • Power reserve: up to 72 hours

Functions/Indications

  • Hours, minutes and small seconds at 6 o'clock

Strap and buckle

  • Black technical fabric, with Grade 5 titanium tongue buckle

MSRP: CHF 4'550

For more information, please visit longines.com

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