Calibre 890

Notes

After Longines was integrated into ASUAG and Ebauches SA development of new movements slowed significantly as the focus was on decreasing overhead maintaining profitability using existing calibres made by longines and adapted from calibres by other companies which Longines had access to under licencing agreements and through ASUAG. In 1975, as Longines gained a new managing director and orders were slow due to economic turmoil, the Longines technical department received a directive to develop a new architecture using what had been learned from the 430 and 6641 families of movements to design a new all purpose automatic mens calibre with central seconds and date complications. The 890 was referred to as the 'E' calibre while it was in its early stages of development. One of the most unique features of this caliber is that it has dual co-axially linked mainspring barrels and an extended power reserve over older models and was intended to decrease friction and wear by maintaining a lower level of strain on wear points.