The history of the Longines brand started in 1832 in Saint-Imier when Auguste Agassiz founded his watchmakers’ concern. The Longines buildings, situated below the centre of the actual town of Saint-Imier, were developed by the growing company. Today, they house the headquarters of the Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon S.A., its workshops, and a museum that traces the rich history of the business. Restructured in 2012, the museum represents all phases of the brand’s past.
The upheld values like Watchmaking tradition, innovation, adventure, sport and elegance are accurately portrayed by the museum. The long-term exhibition documents the Chronicle of the watch production of Longines . Emblematic watches and archives evoke all the milestones that have been laid down by the brand, telling the story of Longines’s past and present activities.
Timepieces sporting the winged hourglass have also contributed to the success of many achievements through their reliability, precision, solidity, and innovative technologies. Longines is also inseparable from the world of sport, for which it has been developing technologies to measure time with consistently greater precision since 1878. In the last quarter of the 19th century, the firm produced its first stopwatches to measure sportsmen’s performance in various competitions.
These were followed by many models for private or professional use that would feature in almost every sport around the planet. In the exhibition rooms of the Longines Museum, visitors can admire the extensive history of the “Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon SA” from its origins to the present day. Exhibits include watches, maritime instruments, tools, exceptional photographs, posters, and medals.
These are the stories, among many others, that you will discover in this museum. Witness one of the greatest legends of Swiss watchmaking and an industrial and regional heritage that is as rich as it is fascinating. The Longines Museum is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm (closed on weekends and bank holidays).
We recommend booking an appointment in advance via telephone or via email through the form.
