The Longines Majetek Pioneer Edition is a titanium, greyscale re-edition of a 1930s pilot watch
Buffy Acacia- The Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition brings a true noir feel to the ‘30s-inspired pilot watch.
- Cased in grade 5 titanium, the 43mm case is more wearable than its stainless steel counterpart.
- The Pioneer Edition is COSC-certified and limited to 1,935 pieces.
Pilot’s watches are one of the oldest wristwatch genres, and there’s an argument that could be made for the first modern wristwatch being the Cartier worn by Alberto Santos-Dumont (if you’re not considering the Breguet Reine de Naples, of course). Longines got in on the flying action quite early too, with a bunch well-established models and prototypes taking to the skies in the ‘20s and ‘30s. The Longines Majetek was one such example that came about in 1935, and while it was re-re-released (after a 2014 edition) with plenty of modern upgrades last year, it’s now back again in a titanium case and a grey colour scheme.
First, a short history lesson. Pilot’s watches were designed to be huge in the 1930s, so that you could strap them over a flight jacket and still check the time at a glance. Back then, it just so happened that 40-41mm was considered huge compared to the 30mm watches of the time. The original Majetek was made for the Czechoslovakian Air Force, and derived its nickname from the phrase “property of the military” that was engraved on its caseback. The new versions aren’t intended to be one-to-one clones of those originals, but they do a much better job at emulating its essence than the 2014 Heritage model. Upping the diameter to 43mm may have been an unpopular decision for the enthusiasts who prefer smaller cases, but if anything, it’s truer to the original spirit of pilot’s watches being intentionally unwieldy.
There are a few more changes to the watch, such as the removal of some dial text and the profile of the lugs, but the most drastic change would have to be the choice of grade 5 titanium for the case. When you’ve got a hunk of metal as large as this one, going for a lower-density metal has an even bigger effect on weight reduction. The lightweight property helps it feel more wearable, which is important considering the 13.3mm thickness and the 51.4mm lug-to-lug width. The case is also water resistant to 100 metres, so in the case of a water landing, you could swim back to shore with no worries. Perhaps the most important element that’s been retained from the 1935 original is the rotating bezel linked to a luminous arrow below the sapphire crystal. You can use it just like a diving bezel or for any other measurement of elapsed time, simply by twisting the bezel in either direction.
Looking at the dial of the Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition, the use of grey printing and Super-LumiNova really plays into the darker lustre of the titanium case. The whole package almost looks like it’s had a greyscale filter placed over it, ready for a 1930s, noir-style photo shoot. It’s also a welcome departure from the creamy tones of faux-aged lume, which is starting to have run its course in vintage-inspired watch design. The pencil hands imbue it with a cleaner, more mature atmosphere than the cathedral hands on the original watches too. On the caseback, you’ll find a military-esque list of specifications engraved into the metal. Behind it lies the calibre L893.6 which beats at 4Hz over a 72-hour power reserve, lending a smooth sweep to the small seconds hand. It’s also COSC-certified for chronometer accuracy between -4/+6 seconds per day, based on the ETA 2892A2.
Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition pricing and availability
The new Pioneer Edition of the Longines Pilot Majetek is limited to just 1,935 pieces. Price: US$5,000, A$7,900
| Brand | Longines |
| Model | Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition |
| Reference | L2.838.1.53.2 |
| Case Dimensions | 43mm (D) x 13.3mm (T) x 51.4mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Grade 5 titanium |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal |
| Dial | Grey |
| Strap | Black fabric strap |
| Movement | Calibre L893.6 COSC |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, running seconds |
| Availability | Limited to 1935 pieces |
| Price | US$5,000 A$7,900 |