Ultra-Chron
The Longines Ultra-Chron is one of the most fascinating watches Longines has ever reintroduced: the reissue of a 1968 model that carried an automatic calibre with a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour — twice that of the conventional automatics of the time — to reach chronometer accuracy without COSC certification, simply by increasing the oscillation speed of the balance wheel.
Products
Longines Ultra-Chron: the high-frequency calibre of the 1960s that anticipated the future of mechanical watchmaking
The Longines Ultra-Chron is one of the most fascinating watches Longines has ever reintroduced: the reissue of a 1968 model that carried an automatic calibre with a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour — twice that of the conventional automatics of the time — to reach chronometer accuracy without COSC certification, simply by increasing the oscillation speed of the balance wheel. A purely engineering approach that anticipated the debate on high frequency in watchmaking by decades.
Cicala Jewellers is an official Longines dealer in Genoa since 1975. The Longines Ultra-Chron is available to order from the manufacturer within a few days, with the official 2-year Longines warranty.
Ultra-Chron technology: high frequency and what it means
A normal automatic oscillates at 21,600 or 28,800 vibrations per hour (3-4 Hz). The calibre of the Longines Ultra-Chron oscillates at 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz): more oscillations per unit of time mean a more granular measurement of time, less sensitivity to shocks and superior accuracy. The price to pay is greater wear on the balance wheel — a trade-off Longines has managed by optimising the balance regulating system. The power reserve is 48 hours.
The design: the 1960s, today
The Ultra-Chron has a strongly characterised look: a 43mm case, a black dial with a minute scale and Arabic numerals in 1960s dive-watch style, a screw-down crown, an integrated steel bracelet. It is large, present, recognisable. It is not a watch for anyone seeking discretion — it is for anyone who wants to wear a piece of engineering history with a design that gets noticed.
Ultra-Chron vs other Longines sports watches: the differences
The Ultra-Chron is a collector’s watch with a specific history — a reissue of the 1968 model — with a high-frequency calibre unique in the Longines landscape. The Conquest V.H.P. reaches maximum accuracy with quartz; the HydroConquest is geared to underwater performance. The Ultra-Chron is for anyone who collects and appreciates history; the others for anyone who uses them actively.
Explore also: Longines Conquest Heritage, Longines Record, Longines Pilot Majetek and Longines Conquest V.H.P.
Frequently asked questions about the Longines Ultra-Chron
- What makes the calibre of the Longines Ultra-Chron special?
- It oscillates at 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz) — twice that of a conventional automatic. This high frequency guarantees a more granular measurement of time, less sensitivity to shocks and superior accuracy with no external COSC certification.
- Is the Longines Ultra-Chron water resistant?
- Yes. The design, inspired by 1960s dive watches, includes water resistance suitable for recreational scuba diving, with a functional rotating bezel and a screw-down crown.
- Why is the Longines Ultra-Chron important in the history of watchmaking?
- The original 1968 Ultra-Chron was one of the most accurate automatics of its time thanks to its high frequency. In the middle of the quartz crisis, Longines answered with high-frequency mechanics — an approach that influenced watchmaking for decades.
- Where can I buy the Longines Ultra-Chron in Genoa?
- At Cicala Jewellers, official Longines dealer since 1975. Available to order within a few days with the official 2-year Longines warranty.
