WRITTEN BY ALEX JACKSON
With centuries of watchmaking expertise, Longines has played a pioneering role in a number of technological advances and continues to display an unwavering commitment to innovation. With the launch of the Longines Spirit Zulu Time in 2022, the brand added a new chapter to its already rich history. This year, that modern legend will be complemented with the addition of the Longines Spirit Zulu Time in an ergonomically-pleasing and stylish 39mm case. Featuring multiple time zones, it marks a continuation of Longines’ precision instruments worn by the world’s greatest pioneers on their legendary exploits. Much loved by watch aficionados around the world, it celebrates the mindset of those adventurers and recalls Longines’ pioneering role in the development of watches with multiple time zones.
The winged hourglass brand has announced a new interpretation of the Longines Spirit Zulu Time, introduced in its Longines Spirit collection in 2022. With its stainless steel 39mm case, the new watch is a perfect complement to its larger sibling. Wearer comfort is further enhanced by its discreet dimensions: from lug to lug, it measures 21mm, and the case is 13.50mm thick. The new Longines Spirit Zulu Time models are available with a matte black, sandblasted anthracite, or sunray blue dial with a date window centred at the 6 o’clock position and feature a bezel with a coloured ceramic insert.
Like the 2022 model, the new Longines Spirit Zulu Time reflects the brand’s century-old expertise in timepieces of its kind. Its origins and name come from the first Longines dual-time zone wristwatch manufactured in 1925, which featured the Zulu flag on its dial – Zulu referring to the letter “Z,” which designates universal time for aviators and members of the armed forces. The development of other GMT models, aimed mainly at the aeronautics sector, continued to bolster the pioneering role that Longines plays in this field.
The highlight of the collection has an eye-catching 18K yellow gold bi-directional rotating bezel and crown. And with a chocolate brown ceramic insert with a gilt GMT track, its aesthetic appeal is as impressive as its performance. Other thoughtful design details add to the warmth of the presentation of this impressive watch. Presented on an anthracite sandblasted dial, its date aperture has pleasing beige numerals, while the hands and arabic numerals are coated with Super-LumiNova® old radium, which enhances its vintage feel.
It is presented on an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet, an interchangeable NATO strap in a brown colour unique to this watch, or on an interchangeable brown leather strap with contrasting cream stitching, whose fine adjustment system further enhances wearability.
The Longines Spirit Zulu Time in 39mm is perfectly positioned at the crossroads of traditional watchmaking and innovation. An exclusive Longines calibre with a silicon balance-spring drives the time zone display. The brand has also updated two components which, like the silicon balance-spring, are made of anti-magnetic material. This means the watch is certified as resistant to magnetism according to the ISO764 standard. With resistance to fields of 600 to 800 gauss ensured, its performance will be unaffected by the many magnetic fields that are an increasing part of our daily lives.
Longines’ state-of-the-art technology allows the hour hand to be adjusted independently of the GMT indicator. Additional time zones are read using a 24-hour hand and the bidirectional rotating bezel, also graduated over 24 hours.
Extremely accurate with a power reserve of 72 hours, the movement is chronometer-certified by COSC (the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), in a nod to the five stars stamped on the dial, which in the history of Longines, has always been a guarantee of a movement of the highest quality.
For nearly a century, Longines has accompanied some of the world’s greatest explorers in their conquest of the air, sea and land. Are you ready to follow in their footsteps? The new Longines Spirit Zulu Time 39mm will be your perfect travel companion.
Prices range from $3800. For more information, check out https://www.longines.com/en-ca/watches/sport/avigation/longines-spirit