Longines continues its exploration of high-frequency watchmaking with the release of the Ultra-Chron Classic, a modern reinterpretation of its 1967 Ultra-Chron model. Offered in 37mm and 40mm case sizes, and powered by the high-beat calibre L836.6, the new Ultra-Chron Classic combines heritage styling with contemporary materials and full chronometer certification.
Press release with commentary in italics.
New: Longines Ultra-Chron Classic
The Longines Ultra-Chron Classic Ref. L2.537.4.726 has a retail price of SGD 4,950 inclusive of GST.
Commentary
The Ultra-Chron Classic is a thoughtful revival that avoids the excesses of retro reissues. By retaining the domed silver sunray dial, trapezoidal date window, and compact case proportions, Longines preserves the visual identity of the original while integrating meaningful upgrades like silicon components and ISO 3159 chronometer certification. Two versions are available in either a 40mm case or 37mm case dimension. The decision to offer a 37mm version is particularly welcome, as it respects the scale of the 1967 reference without compromising wearability for modern tastes.
What sets this release apart is its emphasis on functional precision rather than nostalgic storytelling. The use of a high-frequency movement beating at 36,000 bph with enhanced magnetic resistance and full-watch chronometer testing reflects Longines’ commitment to performance in real-world conditions. While the design remains understated, the technical credentials position the Ultra-Chron Classic as a serious contender in the sub-$5,000 mechanical chronometer segment—especially for collectors who value legacy engineering over novelty complications.
Press Release: Longines Ultra-Chron Classic
High-frequency expertise deeply rooted in Longines’ heritage
Nearly six decades after the launch of the groundbreaking Ultra-Chron collection, Longines honours the pioneering spirit that defined it with the new Ultra-Chron Classic. Inspired by the iconic 1967 model and drawing on over 100 years of innovation in high-frequency technology, the Ultra-Chron Classic impresses with an exclusive high-frequency calibre, its elegant proportions and an authentically reimagined bracelet design that together celebrate one of watchmaking’s most remarkable milestones.
The new Ultra-Chron Classic exemplifies the Swiss watchmaker’s heritage, taking inspiration from the successful launch of the Ultra-Chron collection of 1967 and its subsequent Diver model in 1968 – the first high-frequency diver’s watch. Modern interpretations introduced in 2022 and 2025 honour this legendary lineage. The Ultra-Chron Classic demonstrates how timeless design principles, when combined with modern manufacturing expertise and enhanced materials, can create timepieces that remain faithful to the brand’s heritage while exceeding contemporary expectations for performance and durability.
Bringing high frequency to the world
The original Ultra-Chron heralded a defining moment in horological history. Longines had already successfully developed the first high-frequency wristwatch movement with its 1959 observatory chronometer (calibre 360), created for timing competitions. The 1967 Ultra-Chron marked the first application of this highly accurate technology in volume production. Longines’ mastery of high-beat movements, however, began even earlier. In 1910, the brand patented a stopwatch capable of measuring to 1/10th of a second and operating at a frequency of 5 Hz – or 10 times a second.
Revisiting an icon
In 2025, Longines revisited this icon, reinterpreting it to meet the practical demands of contemporary wear. The Ultra-Chron Classic retains the distinctive design features of its predecessor, with a domed, silver sunray dial that captures light with the same refined elegance of the original. Applied silver-polished indexes and hands preserve the authentic aesthetic, while a distinctive trapezoidal date aperture at 3 o’clock – set in the vintage typeface of the original Ultra-Chron – together with enhanced water resistance to 5 bar provide practical functionality without compromising the watch’s timeless character.
Precision on the wrist
At the heart of this revival beats the exclusive Longines calibre L836.6, a high-frequency movement first introduced in 2022 that honours the brand’s precision legacy while integrating cutting-edge innovations. Operating at 36,000 vibrations per hour or 5 Hz – exactly as the original Ultra-Chron did – this contemporary interpretation features a silicon balance spring and innovative materials that provide magnetic resistance ten times greater than the ISO 764 standard. The high frequency ensures the watch quickly regains precision after shocks, changes in position, or acceleration, offering the wearer consistently superior performance. With a power reserve of up to 52 hours, the self-winding movement delivers both the exceptional accuracy that defined the Ultra-Chron name, and the reliability expected from modern Longines timepieces.
The Ultra-Chron Classic’s precision credentials extend beyond traditional chronometer standards. Unlike conventional certification processes, which test only the movement, this timepiece achieves full chronometer certification from the Observatoire Chronométrique de Genève, represented by the TIMELAB foundation. In keeping with the ISO 3159 standard, the qualification process subjects the finished watch to a rigorous 15-day testing period, during which the entire assembled timepiece undergoes functional tests in various positions at three different temperatures—8°C, 23°C, and 38°C—to verify its accuracy. This commitment to high-frequency precision in even the most daunting conditions reflects the expertise that has established Longines as a leader in professional sports timekeeping worldwide. For disciplines such as alpine skiing and equestrian competitions, this guaranteed timing accuracy is critical to success.
Timeless design, contemporary comfort
Longines’ commitment to its heritage is also evident in the bracelet design. The distinctive groove pattern of the original 1967 model inspired the contemporary collection. This meticulous attention to details extends to the alternating brushed and polished stainless-steel finishes that provide both visual interest and comfortable wear, while a double-folding safety clasp with micro-adjustment ensures optimal fit and secure closure. For those who prefer leather, the watch is also available with a black leather strap featuring a heritage stainless-steel pin buckle that reflects the design codes of the original era.
Like its predecessor, the new Ultra-Chron Classic excels with its elegant proportions: the stainless-steel case, available in both 37 mm and 40 mm, is exceptionally thin at under 11 mm. The smaller 37 mm version was carefully chosen to honour the original 1967 model’s 35 mm proportions, preserving the timepiece’s authentic character.
The Ultra-Chron Classic embodies the brand’s belief that true innovation builds upon proven excellence. As the winged hourglass continues its journey into the future, this revival demonstrates that when heritage design meets contemporary craftsmanship, the result is timeless elegance.
LONGINES, THE HIGH-FREQUENCY EXPERT
A watch qualifies as “high frequency” when its movement oscillates at a minimum of 5 Hertz, which equates to 36,000 vibrations per hour (or 10 vibrations per second). Longines was a pioneer in this field as early as 1910, developing timekeeping instruments with an accuracy of 1/10th of a second, as evidenced by a first patent in the same year. By 1916, Longines had advanced timekeeping precision to 1/100th of a second for sports competitions. Thanks to these innovations the winged hourglass brand has significantly improved the precision of timekeeping and measurement.
In 1959, continuing its quest for precision, Longines incorporated high frequency for the first time in a wristwatch movement, developed for chronometric observatory competitions. The brand then applied its expertise to improve the accuracy and stability of traditional mechanical movements on a large scale. The high frequency reduces the effects of disturbances typically associated with wearing a watch, such as those caused by shocks, changes in position, or acceleration. These calibres recover their frequency consistency more quickly, guaranteeing superior performance.
For over a century, Longines has designed a wide range of chronographs and high-frequency chronometers, cementing its reputation in professional sports timekeeping and the production of high-precision watches.
LONGINES AND HIGH FREQUENCY: OVER A CENTURY OF INNOVATION
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1910 | First patent for a pocket chronograph stopwatch capable of measuring 1/10th of a second, featuring a high-frequency movement beating 10 times a second (5 Hz). |
| 1916 | Very high frequency stopwatch (50 Hz). Single push-piece manual counter, housed in a stainless-steel case. Mechanical movement beating 100 times a second (50 Hz), based on Longines calibre 19.73N. The central hand rotates in 3 seconds over the dial and allows accurate timing to 1/100th of a second. |
| 1938 | High-frequency stopwatch (5 Hz) with split-second hand. Professional three pushers counter in Staybrite steel case. High-frequency, hand-wound mechanical movement (36,000 vibrations/hr), Longines 24-line calibre based on the Longines cal. 24.99 marine chronometer. Accurate timing to 1/10th of a second. |
| 1959 | First high-frequency movement for wristwatches (5Hz). Mechanical movement calibre 360 in rectangular shape. Chronometer for Observatory trials. Extreme accuracy, with a daily error of less than 1/10th of a second. 1st and 2nd places in the timekeeping competition at the Neuchâtel Observatory (Switzerland) in 1961, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in 1962. |
| 1967 | After the registration of the Ultra-Chron trademark in 1966, the launch of the Ultra-Chron collection follows in 1967. The Ultra-Chron ref. 7827 features a 35mm steel case and the self-winding Longines high-frequency calibre 431 with patented dry lubrication and instantaneously jumping date. Longines guarantees an accuracy of one minute per month, or two seconds per day. First self-winding high-frequency wristwatch produced in high volumes. |
| 1968 | Ultra-Chron Diver, ref. 7970. Cushion-shaped stainless-steel case with screw-down case back, 41 mm in diameter; water-resistant to 200 m. High-frequency (5 Hz), self-winding mechanical movement, Longines calibre 431, with date. Longines guarantees an accuracy of one minute per |
2 Comments
If this wrist watch is automatic, accepts also hand winding? What is the frequency of revisions suggested by Longines for this watch?
The movement can be wound by hand. I am not sure what you mean frequency of revisions.