Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition

Longines introduces the Pilot Majetek model, which is very popular among reproduction watches, with Grade 5 ultra-light titanium alloy. The new version stands out with the comfort it offers without compromising the retro DNA of the model.

Known for its numerous and often captivating vintage re-editions, Longines has once again made waves with the relaunch of the iconic pilot watch, the Czech Pilot, known as “Majetek Vojenske Spravy” or simply, the Pilot Majetek. Following the successful 2014 model, this new version reintroduces the timepiece with style and boldness. Now, Longines has unveiled a limited edition made of titanium, offering a more technical and monochromatic look: the Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition.

The modern Pilot Majetek, much like the 2014 Longines Heritage 1935, is a contemporary take on the Longines Czech Pilot watch developed in the 1920s and supplied to the Czechoslovakian Air Force in the 1930s. These watches were marked as Majetek Vojenske Spravy, meaning “property of military administration,” a term that has since earned the nickname Longines Majetek among collectors. 

The original 1935 model produced for the Czech military featured a 40mm cushion-shaped stainless-steel case, a black porcelain dial with large white Arabic numerals, and a fluted rotating bezel with an internal marker. The bezel and crystal turned in unison, enabling several simple yet useful timing functions. A larger case was necessary to house the pocket watch caliber 15-94 and to allow for operation while wearing gloves. The watch was anti-magnetic, reliable, and robust enough to withstand dangerous environments.

In keeping with many modern reinterpretations of vintage models, Longines has not sought to create an exact replica. Last year’s steel Pilot Majetek was bolder, more technical, larger, and generally more modern. Notably, it reintroduced the rotating bezel, a key feature missing from the 2014 edition. This year, the collection expands with a special series in Grade 5 titanium, an alloy both lighter and stronger than steel.

The new Pioneer Edition benefits significantly from the use of titanium, given its substantial size: 43mm in diameter, 13.30mm in height, and a lug-to-lug length of 51.40mm. Despite its size, the watch remains comfortable on the wrist, thanks to titanium being about 30% lighter than steel. The case is primarily brushed, giving it a darker grey color and a more technical, instrument-like feel.

Remaining faithful to the vintage watch, the Pilot Majetek features a fluted bidirectional bezel paired with an internal luminescent mobile triangle marker, known as the Starting Time Indicator. This marker, positioned under the sapphire crystal and above the dial, operates independently of the crystal, which contributes to the water resistance of the new case.

This Majetek Pioneer Edition retains elements from the steel version, including the solid back secured by four screws, a screw-in crown with lateral guards, and a respectable 100m water resistance. The left side features a commemorative plaque engraved with “1935,” housing the patented gear mechanism for the bezel coupled with the triangular marker.

To complement the technical look of the titanium case, the new Pilot Majetek is equipped with a black-grained dial, raised hour markers, and Arabic numerals coated in grey Super-LumiNova with a bluish emission, as opposed to the beige-toned SLN on the steel version. The hands and the small seconds track also receive the same grey treatment.

Inside the case is the caliber L893.6, an automatic movement developed exclusively for the Longines Heritage collection by ETA. This chronometer-certified movement operates at 25,200 vibrations per hour, has a power reserve of up to 72 hours, and features antimagnetic properties thanks to its silicon balance spring.

Adding to its instrument-like aesthetic, the watch comes with a black technical fabric strap closed by a titanium buckle. It is presented in a special Heritage box in matching colors.

The Longines Pilot Majetek Pioneer Edition is a limited run of 1,935 watches, available from Longines and its retailers.