Race Report: Keeping Time At The 2018 World Equestrian Games With The Longines Record Collection

The 13-day event saw more than its share of inspiring performances in the disciplines such as Dressage, Eventing, and Reining. Amongst the most memorable wins came from Germany’s Simone Blum who became the first woman in the 28-year history of WEG to take the individual jumping title.
 

But WEG2018 also had more than its fair share of problems, most notably, Hurricane Florence which threatened North Carolina and indeed pummeled many parts of the state. While Tryon is more than 350 miles from mandatory evacuation areas, transportation to and from major airports was affected, causing concern amongst international visitors (the teams had arrived earlier in the month and were never in harm’s way). Heavy rain caused many events to be rescheduled, and suffocating heat forced the cancellation Endurance ride.
 

Maybe it’s because horse sports are amongst the oldest competitions in the world, but the equine community seemed to take adversity in stride. And the gracious Southern hospitality of our hosts certainly helped make it an overall positive experience. Those who stuck it out were treated to a top-notch performance by 700 riders from 70 countries and horses from six continents.
 

As much as Longines gets to show off its timekeeping chops at events like WEG, they also use the opportunity to support the link between Equestrian sport and elegance.
 

"It's the only sport where you see an athlete in a jacket and tie," says Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President and Head of International Marketing for Longines. Capelli himself was quite dapper in a blue, tailored suit, as he talked about the brand's Record Collection.
 

To celebrate Longines’ 185th anniversary, the presented a new Record collection. These updated automatic watches feature a single crystal silicon balance wheel and are all COSC certified chronometers. According to Capelli, elegance is akin to confidence, and the simple styling and precision of the Record timepieces mean that the wearer never has to fuss or worry about accuracy.
 

Capelli notes that Equestrian Sport is the only place where male and female athletes compete on equal footing and that participants can range in age from 17 to 67. With the Record collection, he says, “It’s about elegance, not trends. It is a watch for everybody.”

The Record collection is still tightly curated. There are four sizes (26, 30, 38.5 and 40 mm) available. All of the models feature a three-hand/date display and steel cases. There are seven dial versions for women and six for men. In this mix are two diamond-studded cases and two types of the strap — alligator and stainless steel. Which means that there is plenty of room for personalization without being overwhelmed by options.