In 1931, 4 years after Longines timed Charles Lindbergh’s 33-hour and 30-minute transatlantic flight from New York to Paris in 1927, a world first, Longines released the Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch. Lindbergh designed the Hour Angle using the Weems system of navigation so the watch could be used to determine the geographical longitude of the wearer. It provided this not as degrees but as the time difference between Greenwich and another point on the globe, typically the point the wearer is. The Weems Second Setting Watch, which we have here, followed the Hour Angle with a simple yet significant improvement, a rotatable center dial. At sea and in the air, readings for celestial sights such as constellations were taken using a hack watch, which was set to the ship's chronometer. However, it was challenging to set this watch exactly, meaning that its time differed slightly from the chronometer, which resulted in a slightly inaccurate reading. Weems noticed this problem and created the Second Setting Watch to overcome the accuracy issue, as the seconds could now be set at the right moment using the movable center dial and thus generate an even more accurate reading than before. With its famously large onion-like winding crown providing ease of use for pilots and captains wearing gloves, and a large dial promoting legibility, the Weems Second Setting Watch is a thoroughly thought out and wonderfully designed timepiece that speaks to the importance that timepieces once had as tools in the pre-digital era. This particular example belonged to a Chief Quartermaster Eddie McCormick, who acquired it in 1944 during WW2. An article featuring him is included with the sale of the watch.

Watch is in overall excellent condition. The case shows signs of wear, but no major dings or scratches. There are no hairlines visible on the dial, and the silvered center shows a very light patina. The movement has the "LXW" stamp, denoting that it was imported to the USA by the Wittnauer company.

An iconic pilot's watch that was far ahead of the competition at the time, the Weems vividly demonstrates just how innovative Longines could be and how cutting edge their timepieces were. In addition, the present example has been retained in excellent overall condition.