Why This Watch Matters
An unusual chronograph from the '70s that will time events within a 10th of a second.
The Full Story
If you haven't seen the Longines Nonius Chronograph before, then you're probably wondering exactly what you are looking at. With a uniquely curved chronograph seconds hand enabling the timing of events to within 1/10th of a second, it's one of the more interesting vintage chronographs one will encounter anywhere.
The Longines Nonius takes advantage of the fact that its sweeping hand doesn't jump in one-second increments. The curved extension of the chronograph's seconds hand features the numerals zero through nine, with hash marks that extend from each numeral to the seconds chapter of the watch's dial. When you stop the chronograph, only one of these moving markers will line up exactly with one of the lines on the seconds chapter. If it's zero, then you've timed the event exactly to the second, but if one of the other numerals lines up flush – say, the numeral five – then you've timed it to the half second.
The Nonius gets its name from the Portuguese mathematician Pedro Nunes (Nonius is the Latinized version of his name), who is credited with an eponymous 16th century device and system for taking more precise measurements on instruments with circular scales. Thanks to its precisely calibrated moveable seconds hand scale, the Longines Nonius can time events to within a tenth of a second.
We love this example's bright orange accents and crisp case. We decided to pair this watch with our HODINKEE Sedona Strap in Black so the attention would stay on the funky seconds hand - plus, black and orange is a classic combo.
The Fine Print
Maker: Longines
Model: Nonius
Reference: 8271 1
Year: 1970s
Case No: 15762720; Movement No: 50211811
Material: Stainless steel
Dimensions: 40mm diameter; 13mm thickness
Crystal: Plexiglass
Lume: No
Caliber: Valjoux, manually-wound, caliber 726 (Longines 332)
Bracelet/Strap:
Lug Width: 19mm
Box/Papers: No
