Longines unveils a new pilots’ watch that pays faithful tribute to the original Majetek watch from 1935. The new watch features a 43mm cushion form case and bi-directional notched bezel that operates an inner luminous triangle that moves around the dial to allow the measuring of elapsed time.

The thing about military watches was that they got beaten up pretty badly. Not jus worn day and night, getting knocked on the door frame, scratched at the beach and shocked by a mis-hit seven iron on the 16th hole; but actually battered. The loss rate was high and the return-to-store rate low. During World War Two, this proved something of a dilemma for the military, in terms of acquiring watches in the numbers required. The solution was to provide a specification to a number of brands who could, through a concerted effort, make enough timepieces for the troops. Divide and conquer and all that. The most obvious example of this manufacturing model is the British WWW watches, known by collectors as the Dirty Dozen. In this case, 12 watch manufacturers got contracts to produce a field watch for the Brits, including Jaeger-LeCoultre, Record, Cyma, Lemania, Eterna and Longines. These last three also made watches for one of the smallest, but reputedly one of the best equipped forces, the Czechoslovakian Air Force.

Majetek translates to property, as in ‘property of the Czech military’ that was engraved on the case backs of the watch. As I mentioned above, three brands predominantly provided watches to the Czech military. Longines made the Majetek between 1935 and 1948. The original watch from 1935 was housed in a 40mm steel case with screw-down crown and black dial with radium Arabic hours. These hour markers were big and bold, a key characteristic of pilots watches that needed to be easily read at a glance. The radium used on the dials, whilst now known as being very dangerous, was the industry standard and did a jolly good job of glowing strong and bright. The watches featured a notched, almost coin-edged, bezel that could be turned either way, and controlled an inner triangle that could be aligned with either the hour or minute hand to measure elapsed time. The original watch also had small seconds on the enamel dials and fixed lug bars for the significant 24mm wide lugs. Historic examples have long been favourites of collectors with Longines even having sold fully restored examples through its Heritage Workshop division.

The new Pilot Majetek is housed in a 43mm steel case in a cushion form similar to the original, but with the addition of crown guards. More closely associated with dive watches and possibly a hindrance to pilots, it offers a sleek aesthetic to the watch and is a modern addition that is arguably a useful new addition. The case has a plaque on the opposite side to the crown that is engraved “1935” in tribute to the first Majetek. Beneath the anti-glare coated sapphire crystal sits a vintage-esque matte dial with bold Arabic hours and railroad minute track, both of which are a nod to its forefather. Furthermore, the Super LumiNova is tinted to a hue that Longines calls Old Radium. It is also used in the rhodium-plated baton hands. The notched bi-directional bezel is present with a luminous triangle that moves around the rehaut.

The Pilot Majetek is powered by the Longines calibre L893.6, which is COSC-rated, has a silicon hairspring and 72-hour power reserve. The watch is available on either a brown or green leather side-stitch strap or khaki NATO-style strap made from recycled materials.