The Low-Down

With a long and storied history behind it, Longines makes an astounding range of watches to serve a very comprehensive spread of timekeeping needs, to this very day. One area it proudly claims is in pioneering timepieces for the likes of adventurers, flyers and sailors, the special breed of men and women who have rolled back the boundaries of the unknown with their daredevil exploits. Longines made its first pocket watch indicating two time zones in 1908, featuring two sets of hands on the dial to tell the time in the East (Turkey) and the West (France). It made its first dual time zone watch in 1925 with a Zulu flag on the dial, referring to the letter “Z” which designates UTC for aviators and the military.

The Longines Spirit Zulu Time pays homage to this rich history and is yet a thoroughly modern timepiece with the latest capabilities to meet the exacting expectations of today’s traveller. This begins with a new automatic movement exclusive to Longines that features a silicon balance spring. The light weight and corrosion resistance of silicon contributes significantly to the reliability of the timepiece, while its tolerance for temperature variations and magnetic fields makes for high precision. Accordingly, the movement is a COSC-certified chronometer, with an impressive power reserve of 72 hours. In keeping with the company’s historical practice, Longines marks the dial of the Spirit Zulu Time to signify the movement as being of the highest quality.

The hour hand can be set independently of the GMT hand, and a bidirectional rotating bezel with ceramic insert marked with 24 hours allows the wearer to track an additional time zone. Three dial choices are offered, namely matte black, sandblasted anthracite or blue with sunray finish. Interchangeable strap choices include steel bracelet, brown, beige or blue leather. All feature a folding clasp with a new micro-adjustment system for improved fit. The Longines Spirit Zulu Time is backed by a 5-year warranty.

IMHO

The physical demands of travel or adventuring require that robustness and performance be baked into the travel watch from the onset. In this regard, the Longines Spirit Zulu Time has got all the essentials in place. A ceramic insert will likely not scratch, while the bezel itself not only protects the crystal, it is also easier to use by rotating both ways. Moreover, COSC-certified precision and a long power reserve makes the watch a very practical choice for daily wear, built tough enough for Longines to offer a five-year warranty.

Tech Specs

Movement: COSC-certified chronometer, power reserve of 72 hours
Functions: Date
Case: 42 mm steel case, bezel with ceramic insert,
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet or leather strap (brown, beige or blue); all with folding clasp and micro-adjustment system