NEXT LEVEL PRECISION
BUILDING ON ITS LEGACY OF CREATING HIGH-FREQUENCY MOVEMENTS, LONGINES PRESENTS THE SUPERBLY-ACCURATE LONGINES ULTRA-CHRON
The balance-spring or hairspring is the very heart of a mechanical watch. It’s what makes a watch tick and is the one component that orchestrates a watch’s precision. Now, when a movement is equipped with a hairspring that oscillates at 36,000 beats per hour, it’s considered a “high-frequency” movement. And in the realm of watchmaking, high frequency means high accuracy.
Throughout its long history, Longines has played a pioneering role in high-frequency movements. In 1914, the winged hourglass brand introduced a timekeeping device that could precisely measure time increments in 1/10th of a second. Only two years later, in 1916, Longines up the ante with a movement that could measure 1/100th of a second. Several decades (and several milestones) later, Longines would introduce the Ultra-Chron in 1966, which was followed in 1968 by the Ultra-Chron Diver, the first hig-hbeat watch for underwater use.
And now, the Ultra-Chron Diver’s legacy lives on in the new Longines Ultra-Chron.
Much like its predecessor, this year’s
Longines Ultra-Chron comes with an instantly-recognizable cushion-shaped case and features a number of professional dive features, including a unidirectional rotating bezel, a screwed-in caseback and crown, as well as a water resistance rating of 30 bars or 300 meters.
Another eye-catching detail of the watch is the diving bezel with its sapphire insert featuring luminescent accents. Moving inwards from the bezel, we come to the black grained dial with its white minute track composed of alternating Super-Luminova-coated batons and rhodium-plated appliques. Against this monochromatic background, the red minutes hand stands out in stark contrast, adding yet another distinct visual element to the watch. The dial is then completed by the original Ultra-Chron logo, which is applied up front above the 6 o’clock position. The same logo is embossed on the caseback.
Furthermore, the new Longines Ultra-Chron can be worn at the wrist with either a leather
strap or a stainless-steel bracelet. And as a final flourish, the watch is delivered in a special presentation box that houses an additional black NATO strap made of recycled materials.
While its aesthetics are certainly impressive, the new Longines Ultra-Chron’s performance is arguably even more exciting. Powering this new watch is the Calibre L836.6 high-frequency mechanical self-winding movement, which boasts excellent accuracy and dependability.
The watch’s accuracy is then certified by TIMELAB, an independent testing laboratory based in Geneva, which also happens to be the institution responsible for issuing the Poinçon de Genève or Geneva Seal. Interestingly, this certification applies to the watch as a whole instead—with the movement set inside the case—instead of just the movement, which is how the more common chronometer testing is done. Moreover, the qualification process that the Longines Ultra-Chron goes through entails a 15-day testing period which includes a series of tests conducted at three different temperatures— 8°C, 23°C and 38°C.
Ultimately, what really sets the new Longines Ultra-Chron apart is how its technical marvels are presented inside a retro aesthetic that harks back to an era marked by many notable innovations in watchmaking. And at the same time, the watch represents some of the latest advancements in timekeeping accuracy, buoyed by Longines’ past innovations. In short, the Ultra-Chron offers a snippet of horological history that you can proudly wear on your wrist.
“While its aesthetics are certainly impressive, the new Longines Ultra- Chron’s performance is arguably even more exciting”