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koimaster
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CZECHOSLOVAK MILITARY WATCHES
The First Czechoslovak Republic was considered to have a very well-equipped air force given its size, part of the equipment for which was a wristwatch. Now, I don’t think we’ve done a single story focused on Longines thus far, but they are certainly rich in horological history. Longines is often associated with pilot watches, as many of their vintage watches were made for the military. One such watch is the Longines Majetek. A military watch that interestingly had a case shape very much like that of early Panerai models. But the Majetek was not exclusively made by Longines and was actually a model commissioned by the Czechoslovak military and produced by a few different companies.
The Longines Majetek was made for the Czechoslovak Air Force, and one of the most important aspects of a timepiece made for pilots is legibility, especially when considering the high stress situations in which pilots in the mid-20th century was flying in. The Longines Majetek specifically featured a black enamel dial with white Arabic numerals, so as to improve the readability of the dial. Another key feature was its internal rotating bezel, with a triangular marker at 12 o’clock that allowed for basic timing by the owner. The first model released by Longines housed a Caliber 15.94, these models were made from components from different time periods. So, although the movement may have been made in the 1930s, many of the cases were made in the 1920s. The timepieces were also shock resistant and anti-magnetic, as a sudden alternation to the functionality could spell disaster for a pilot. As mentioned, the Majetek was not exclusive to Longines and Eterna also produced the model; the most visible difference between the Longines and Eterna versions being the Longines’ coined bezel.
https://montrespubliques.com/1minute-re ... IWGkaBnc1g
The Longines Majetek was made for the Czechoslovak Air Force, and one of the most important aspects of a timepiece made for pilots is legibility, especially when considering the high stress situations in which pilots in the mid-20th century was flying in. The Longines Majetek specifically featured a black enamel dial with white Arabic numerals, so as to improve the readability of the dial. Another key feature was its internal rotating bezel, with a triangular marker at 12 o’clock that allowed for basic timing by the owner. The first model released by Longines housed a Caliber 15.94, these models were made from components from different time periods. So, although the movement may have been made in the 1930s, many of the cases were made in the 1920s. The timepieces were also shock resistant and anti-magnetic, as a sudden alternation to the functionality could spell disaster for a pilot. As mentioned, the Majetek was not exclusive to Longines and Eterna also produced the model; the most visible difference between the Longines and Eterna versions being the Longines’ coined bezel.
https://montrespubliques.com/1minute-re ... IWGkaBnc1g
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