Review the Longines Avigation Watch Type A-7 1935 Black Dial 49 MM Watch Replica for 2020
Review the Longines Avigation Watch Type A-7 1935 Black Dial 49 MM Watch Replica for 2020
Longines is one of the oldest brands and it is clear that the current management knows how to capitalise on this with the successful Heritage range - which has recently been found to add the Tuxedo or the Sector dial models. Longines' area of expertise has always been aviation watches, with models including the BigEye or Hour Angle watches made for Charles Lindberg. There's also the iconic A-7 model, Longines Avigation Type A-7 1935 black dial 49 mm watch replica L2.812.4.53.2, which makes a comeback today in a more sensible and faithful package.
THE 1935 LONGINES TYPE A-7 REPLICA FOR THE US ARMY
First issued between the World Wars, the Type A-7 Avigation Hack Watch replica was a pocket watch chronograph adapted to the wrist specifically designed for navigation. Think of it as an American equivalent to the German B-Uhr Fliegers, only with a chronograph, or to the French Type 20. It was supplied to the US Army Air Corps (1926-1941), the predecessor of the US Army Air Forces (1941-1947), and later renamed US Air Force (1947 – present days). The Longines Type A-7 Avigation replica was designed for aircraft navigation, “Aerial Navigation”, from which derives the name “Avigation”.The Longines Avigation Type A-7 watches replicas were immediately recognizable with their monopusher chronograph architecture, with the crown/pusher at 2 o’clock and their case/dial shifted 40 degrees – this odd angle was designed to make consulting the time easier without the pilot having to take his hands off the stick. These watches were massive with their 51mm diameter chrome-plated metal cases and were produced by Gallet, Meylan and, of course, Longines, with different dials – black Arabic numerals (as seen above, on the left) or with white dials and Art Deco numerals.
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| THE 1935 LONGINES TYPE A-7 REPLICA FOR THE US ARMY |
THE 2020 BLACK DIAL LONGINES AVIGATION WATCH REPLICA TYPE A-7 1935
In 2012 Longines resuscitated this unique design with the first Longines A-7 Avigation replica, a monopusher chronograph with a shifted black dial and a 49mm steel case: a collector’s piece with no concession to ergonomics. In 2016, the brand also revived the white dial model with a 41mm case, as seen here.The new variation of the Longines Avigation watch Type A-71935 fake (Ref. L2.812.4.53.2) is faithful to its pre-war aviation origins. The model’s black dial, shifted 40 degrees to the right and protected by a nonreflective sapphire crystal, is a nod to the pilots who would wear the watch on the inside of their wrist over thick gloves to read the time quickly and easily without having to release the aircraft’s control yoke. The large, fluted crown, located at 12 o’clock, enabled the wearer to control the watch’s chronograph functions by simply pressing the single push-piece inserted in its center.
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| The dial is tilted 40 degrees to the right. |
The Type A-7 1935 watch imation adopts the dial design of its ancestor: its matte black dial is bordered by a white-colored railway minutes track and adorned with large, honey-colored Arabic numerals for hours. The rhodium-plated, “cathedral”-shaped hour and minute hands are Super-LumiNova-coated. Both subdials, outlined by their own white, railway tracks, use a vintage-type font for their numerals similar to those used for the hours, and the small-seconds subdial at 6 o’clock incorporates a rectangle-shaped date display window, outlined in white. The counter at 12 o’clock tallies 30 elapsed minutes when the chronograph is switched on.
Under the solid stainless steel caseback with an Avigation logo is a proprietary movement for Longines, produced by ETA. The calibre L788.2 (or ETA A08.L11) is a deep evolution of the Valjoux architecture, modified to be a monopusher chronograph actuated by a column wheel. This automatic movement runs at a 4Hz frequency and boasts a comfortable 54h power reserve.
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| The caseback has an aviation-themed engraved motif. |
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