2018, a year marked by outstanding sports performances coloured by Longines’ elegance.
As the Title Partner, Official Timekeeper and Watch of the Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM series, Longines witnessed incredible sports achievements during the 2017-2018 season, which ended beautifully with the much-awaited Final held in Paris. On this occasion, Longines and the FEI were also proud to distinguish for the first time the top jumping horse and rider of the previous year by presenting HH Azur and Kent Farrington the Longines FEI World’s Best Jumping Horse and Rider Awards, during a ceremony held at the iconic Mairie de Paris. The Final was also a great opportunity for the Swiss watchmaking brand to organise a meet & greet event with two top world riders, Daniel Deusser and Roger-Yves Bost at the Longines pop-up store. The 2018-2019 Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM season started in Oslo in October and beautifully ended in Gothenburg in April 2019. Longines had the great pleasure to be once again involved in this intercontinental series.
2018 was indeed a very exciting year as Longines took part in the FEI World Equestrian GamesTM for the first time. Throughout the whole event, Longines was delighted to time incredible feats and to present all medallists with elegant watches in celebration of their sports performances. It was also the occasion for the brand to welcome its Longines Family member Matt Harnacke, who shares Longines’ passion for horses and seized the opportunity to meet his fans at the brand’s boutique. Britain’s jumping rider Holly Smith as well as Dressage riders Sönke Rothenberger and Patrik Kittel also paid a visit to the boutique to discover the Longines’ universe and to enjoy an autograph session.
This year also marked the first season of the newly-named Longines FEI Jumping Nations CupTM series with an unforgettable Final held at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona from 5-7 October 2018. The winged-hourglass brand chose this prestigious event in the show jumping calendar to celebrate its Instagram community during a gala evening gathering Longines socialites and Influencers from all over the world.
At the end of the year, Longines took part in the FEI Awards Ceremony in Manama, the capital of Bahrain and was proud to grant French Eventing rider Victor Levecque the 2018 Longines Rising Star Award. This celebration night was also the occasion for Longines to express its long-lasting connection with the equestrian world by unveiling a unique silver pocket watch from 1869, with a horse head engraved on the back. This watch sets a new historical milestone in the relationship between the brand and the equestrian universe.
