In the 1950s, as long-range commercial aviation began to transform global travel, several watchmakers partnered with airlines to develop specialized tools for pilots. Longines, already celebrated for its aviation heritage through collaborations with Charles Lindbergh on the Hour Angle and with Philip Van Horn Weems on the Second Setting watch, was a natural choice for such a project.

Swissair, the former national carrier of Switzerland, commissioned Longines to create a practical and highly legible wristwatch for its pilots. The result was a robust aviator’s tool, distinguished by its oversized pilot-style case, prominent onion crown, and a bold 24-hour dial designed to ensure clarity in-flight. These watches were never offered commercially; instead, they were reserved exclusively for Swissair pilots and staff.

The present reference 6630 belongs to this rare and storied series, believed to number fewer than 100 examples. Sold in 1957, according to the Longines archives, the caseback is engraved with the airline’s name and issue number—in this instance, “68”—marking it as an authentic pilot-issued timepiece. Preserved in impressive condition, the caseback engravings remain crisp, and the dial displays minimal signs of aging. A sister example appeared at our Geneva Watch Auction: XIII in 2021, achieving CHF 138,600, underscoring the desirability of this historically significant aviator’s watch.