Long before aviation became routine, when open cockpits and rudimentary navigation systems left no room for error, trailblazing female pilots trusted Longines instruments to help determine success or failure. Swiss timekeeping precision was indispensable.
Amelia Earhart relied on a Longines chronograph during her record-breaking Atlantic flights in 1928 and 1932. Her belief that “women, like men, should try to do the impossible” became a rallying cry for generations to come.
She was joined by others, including Amy Johnson, known as England’s “wonder airwoman”, who flew solo from England to Australia in 19 days in 1930; Elinor Smith, the youngest licensed pilot of her era and a serial record-breaker; Jacqueline Cochran, who pushed the boundaries of speed and later led the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP); and Ruth Nichols, whose achievements spanned altitude, distance and humanitarian aviation. Each relied on Longines timepieces as trusted companions when every second counted.
This pioneering spirit lives on in women who continue to challenge limits, including Géraldine Fasnacht, who joined the Longines family in 2022. A professional snowboarder, pilot, and wingsuit specialist, Géraldine embodies the same fearless curiosity as her predecessors. Her aircraft, Spirit of St-Imier, pays tribute to the brand’s birthplace and symbolises the continuity between past and present.
Guided by her motto, “Let yourself be inspired by nature,” Géraldine has completed landmark feats, from becoming the youngest female champion of Xtreme Verbier to executing the first wingsuit flight from the summit of the Matterhorn. In 2022, wearing her Longines Spirit watch, she also completed the first wingsuit jump from a solar- and electric-powered aircraft as part of Raphaël Domjan’s SolarStratos mission.
“Being part of the Longines family means joining an extraordinary lineage of strong, daring women who refused to accept limits,” she says. “When I learnt about Amelia Earhart and these pioneering aviators who wore Longines watches during their historic flights, I felt such a deep connection. I’m proud to represent this legacy — to show that the pioneering spirit isn’t confined to history; it lives in every woman who dares to chase the impossible.”
This International Women’s Day, Longines honours women confident enough to set their own pace — and define time by their own standards.
