Auguste Agassiz first started Longines back in 1833. But it wasn’t until his nephew Ernest Fracillon took the business over in 1862 that the company set out on a path to success. longines guide In 1866, Francillon moved his uncle’s watch-making business to a new shop, ‘Les Longines’ he called it. It sat on two plots of land that Francillon purchased himself.

The shop opened in 1867 and the first Longines watch was released–the L20A. There was one significant difference about the L20A that helped put Longines on the map.longines guide Prior to L20A, traditional pocketwatches had to be wound with a key. The L20A had a lever and crown that allowed the user to wind and set the time without using a key–a tremendous improvement.