Longines Celebrates Inaugural Lindbergh Awards In Style
Beautifully crafted time pieces will always be considered a luxurious touch when it comes to one’s own personal style, however fine watchmaker Longines recently took style and substance to a new level via the production of a special event.
Awards presented at the event and Longines watch
The company recently held the inaugural Longines Lindbergh Award during a ceremony held in New York City at the New York Times Building and in the process, reinvigorated the brand. Notables from various industries gathered in an intimate setting to fete not only the long-standing history of the watch but also the esteemed honoree.
Longines executives, New York Times executives, Erik Lindberg
Longines was honored to present the very first Longines Lindbergh Award during a ceremony held Monday night in New York. Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President and Head of International Marketing of Longines; Stéphanie Lachat, Doctor of History and member of the Longines Lindbergh Award jury; Erik Lindbergh first laureate of the Longines Lindbergh Award; Spiros Bouas, pilot, co-founder, advisor for the “Spirit of St-Louis 2” project and member of the Longines Lindbergh Award jury; Lisa Howard, The New York Times; Robert Ragozzino, pilot, project manager and board member of the project « Spirit of St-Louis 2 » and Bernard Decré, President of the “A la recherche de l’oiseau blanc” association and member of the Longines Lindbergh Award jury.
In the spirit of prestige and performance synonymous with the Swiss watchmaker, the first laureate to receive the prize, honoring a person of Charles Lindbergh's pioneering character, was none other than Erik Lindbergh, grandson, of Charles Lindbergh. A fitting choice given that in 1927, the legendary aviator performed the very first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight. To celebrate that remarkable feat as well as now honor current and future innovative achievements, the Longines’ Lindbergh award was unveiled.
Longines chose to grant the Longines Lindbergh Award at the headquarters of the New York Times, the newspaper given the fact that it reported the exploits of Charles Lindbergh in 1927. In an era that celebrates the ephemeral and disruptive, the evening was a true moment of great pause, reflection and history.
The event brought together representatives from the aviation sector, members of the media and the Lindbergh family, Longines Vice President and Head of International Marketing Juan-Carlos Capelli. After cocktails, attendees dined on various courses while video footage exclusive to the event was shown between in-depth Q&A sessions with Longines executives by a New York Times executive.
Juan-Carlos Capelli
Fast forward to present day and Mr. Capelli awarded Erik Lindbergh with the Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch, a timepiece designed by his grandfather and developed by Longines shortly after the inaugural voyage, symbolizing the brand’s support for aeronautical pioneers as well as its ties to Charles Lindbergh.
There is a long history between the Lindbergh family and Longines. According to the company, Longines was actually the Swiss watchmaker selected to time the flight back in 1927.
In addition, the Longines Lindbergh Award, which comes with $25,000 in reference to the sum received by Charles Lindbergh on behalf of Raymond Orteig for becoming the first aviator to successfully cross the Atlantic, is now being awarded each year to a person of Charles Lindbergh’s pioneering character.
While air travel is certainly more commonplace than that of Charles Lindbergh’s time, commitment to true innovation and style is a rarity that will always be admired.
Pioneering aviator, Charles Lindberg