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Longines is one of the most esteemed names in watchmaking, and over the course of their 184 years (and counting) of craft they have gathered a lot of stories to tell. Through their Heritage line, many of these fascinating accounts of the past gain form through a modern take on a historic production. The Longines Railroad is testament to the richness of this approach, as it pays homage to the original Longines railroad pocket watches of the 1960s. Few industries rely on accurate timekeeping as dearly as trains do, and in the years before computers could automatize the process a conductor’s best friend was his watch. In fact, to be worn by train crews a watch needed to pass a rigorous series of tests before earning “railroad grade” approval. Longines’ original model boasts a wonderfully clear face in a unique 24-hour formatting, and in their new Longines Railroad collection they’ve replicated this clarity. This revival boasts a range of big and small details to maintain ultimate precision, with the main difference from the original being a new and improved movement (upgraded from the 280 caliber to the 888.2 model). Great care is put into the watch’s hands, which are fashioned in a dauphine style, and especially the second’s hand, which is slightly curved at its tip to prevent a costly parallax error. The stainless steel case features a lovely engraving on its reverse celebrating the railroad tradition, and at 40mm diameter it will fit comfortably on any sized wrist.
