In 1935, Longines released the Majetek, ref. 3582 wrist watch which was issued to pilots in the Czechoslovak Air Force. From the very beginning, the cushion case was dramatically different from its contemporaries, sitting at a gargantuan (for the time) 40mm in diameter. Over the years, the design has been referenced a few times, beginning with the Longines Heritage Military 1935. But last year, the watch was resurrected in the form of the Pilot Majetek, a muscular, 43mm stainless steel interpretation of the original cushion design.

This year, the watch received another update in the form of a limited edition made in grade 5 titanium. At 43mm, it’s a beefy watch. The stepped cushion case with its sharp, angular lugs and crown guards, gives off an almost armored vibe. Encapsulated within is a textured, matte black grained dial, punctuated by the same sub seconds dial which was found on the original, porcelain dialed watches from 1935.

The movement remains the same, utilizing the calibre L.893.6, which is an exclusive movement to Longines, derived from the ETA A31.L11. The key difference between this movement and its other ETA 2892-A2 cousins is the increased power reserve, which sits at a respectable 72 hours. Additionally, the watch is COSC certified, ensuring reliability and accuracy.

Sky Captain, and the Watch of Tomorrow

It might not have been their intention, but Longines has created the ultimate Dieselpunk pilot watch. Similar to the Victorian-era focused Steampunk, Dieselpunk is a science fiction sub-genre of distinct, retro-futurist aesthetics. It’s typified by diesel powered, herculean buildings and flying machines, incorporating industrial, art-deco design of the interwar period in the mid 20th century. The most popular example of the genre is undoubtedly the 2004 film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, starring Jude Law & Angelina Jolie, though elements of the style can also be seen in many of Marvel’s Captain America films as well.

With its large, angular case and heavily vintage details, like the fluted, bi-directional bezel with interior Start Time indicator, mixed with the cool dark titanium case, the Pilot Majetek  Pioneer Edition hits that perfect balance of modern construction and vintage inspired charm. It is a design that is stylistically distinct from virtually every other tacti-cool pilot watch or overly complex tool watch on the market today.

The only real problem with this industrial, retrofuturistic pilot’s watch, other than the fact that only 1,935 of them (a nod to the release year of the original ref. 3582), is the fact that it doesn’t come on an equally beefy and badass bund strap. Not that there’s anything wrong with the black technical fabric strap that comes with the watch, itself accompanied by a matching titanium pin buckle. It’s just that, if we’re going to lean into the big, bold, postmodern interpretation of the 1930s and ‘40s decadence aesthetics, why not go all the way?

Tech Specs

Movement: COSC Certified, Calibre L.893.6 Automatic movement, 72 hour power reserve

Functions: Minutes, hours, small sub seconds

Case: 43mm Cushion case in grade 5 titanium, rotating fluted Stat Time bi-directional bezel, screw down crown, caseback engraved with “PIONEER EDITION / ONE OF 1935”, 1935 plaque at 9 o’clock, water resistant to 100 meters

Dial: Matte grained black dial with applied Arabic numerals with Super-Luminova and sub seconds dial

Availability: Limited to 1,935 pieces

Price: $5,000 USD

Learn more on Longines’ website now