The ULTRA-CHRON collection is made of carbon – an innovative material that is as robust as it is light and is being used for the first time in the case of a Longines watch. Inspired by a legendary cushion-case timepiece from 1968, this model is powered by an exclusive Longines high-frequency movement with 36,000 vibrations per hour. The ULTRA-CHRON CARBON combines innovation and precision: Each model has a unique design and is certified as a chronometer by TIMELAB.
The Ultra-Chron Diver, launched in 1968, made history as the first diving watch with a high-frequency movement. At this point, Longines had already gained a lot of experience with this technology, which they patented in 1910 for timekeeping in sports competitions. In 2022, the brand presented the new generation of the UltraChron: a homage to the 1968 model, combined with the latest technologies.
Today, Longines continues to focus on innovation and presents a new Ultra-Chron model with a carbon casing – a first for the brand. This extremely durable yet very light material is often used in high-tech areas such as aviation; an industry that Longines has been associated with for over a century.
The 43 mm diameter housing is made from evenly aligned carbon fiber strands and epoxy resin, which are placed in a mold. The material is heated to high temperatures, compacted under high pressure and then cut cold. This gives it the characteristic cushion shape of the Ultra-Chron case. This manufacturing process reveals random patterns in the arrangement of the fibers, which make each housing unique and give it its distinctive look. Thanks to the low weight of carbon, this new model including the watch head and bracelet weighs less than 80 grams. It is also waterproof up to 30 bar (300 meters).
The immobile titanium bezel has an aluminum inlay engraved with a scale with increments of ten. The screw-down crown and back are also made of titanium. Underneath the sapphire crystal with multiple anti-reflective coatings, the anthracite-colored, sandblasted dial is presented with a minute track with twelve applied silver indices, which – just like the hour and minute hands made of gray PVD – have a bluish shimmering Super-LumiNo. va® coated.
Like all models in the collection, the Ultra-Chron Carbon is powered by the exclusive Longines high-frequency caliber L.836.6, which oscillates at 5 Hertz, i.e. 36,000 vibrations per hour. Compared to classic mechanical watch movements, it offers greater stability against shocks and displacements that can occur when wearing the watch. Thanks to a silicon balance spring and other innovative components, this caliber offers magnetic field resistance that exceeds the requirements of the ISO 764 standard by ten times.
The complete watch is certified as a chronometer by TIMELAB, an independent Geneva testing laboratory. According to the ISO standard 3159, as part of the qualification, the finished product, i.e. with the running movement in the case, is subjected to a 15-day, uninterrupted test. The entire watch goes through a series of functional tests in different positions, which are repeated at three temperatures – 8 °C, 23 °C and 38 °C – to ensure its accuracy.
The Ultra-Chron Carbon is equipped with a black textile strap and a titanium pin buckle. To match the dark colors, the watch is presented in special black packaging.
