Having renewed its involvement in International tennis in 2007, Longines is now entering the world of badminton this summer. The well known Swiss watch manufacturer whose history is closely linked with that of sports timing has just become a partner of the Indian Badminton Federation. Longines will also be the Official Partner and Official watch for the Badminton World Championships that will take place in Hyderabad (India) from 10 to 16 August 2009.
Having been involved for many years in sports of elegance, precision and tradition such as equestrian sports, gymnastics, Alpine skiing and more recently tennis, short-track and archery. Longines has now committed itself to a sport that demands excellent physical condition, an acute tactical awareness and of course rapid precision. For the famous watchmaker badminton thus reflects the values that it has promoted for over 175 years, namely precision, tradition and elegance.
While the forerunner of badminton was already played by the Chinese as well as the Indians of Latin America over 2000 years ago, the modern-day version of this sport came into being around the same time as Longines' first foray into sports timing over 130 years ago. Legend has it that in 1873, a group of English officers who had returned from India got together in a castle in the village of Badminton (UK); they were talking about an Indian game called "poona" that was played with a racket and a light-weight ball. Having no such ball the officers improvised using a cork stuck with feathers. In their enthusiasm for their invention, they christened the new game ... badminton! Four years later the first set of rules for badminton were published. Since then the rackets and shuttlecocks have become familiar throughout the world and badminton is now an Olympic sport. Physically demanding and at the same time fun, nowadays the sport is played by millions of people worldwide and is the perfect match for the International vocation of the Longines brand.
On the strength of its experience and precision in the field of sports timing, Longines is proud to be able to associate its name and image with this high-level disciplined sport. Longines' next date with badminton is in Hyderabad from 10 to 16 August 2009 for the World Championships.
At this event the Swiss watch manufacturer will be presenting the Longines Master Collection Moon Phases model, a magnificent example of the well oiled professionalism of Longines' design team. Fitted with a self-winding mechanical movement, this elegant chronograph has a silver-plated dial decorated with a fine barleycorn design that enhances the Moon phases display as well as the various counters, the date and the small seconds at 9 o'clock, plus a double display for the day and the month at 12 o'clock. This model from the Longines Master Collection has a transparent case back that enables its proud owner to admire the intricate workings of the movement. The watch is mounted on a brown alligator strap.