Equipped with multiple time zones, the Longines Spirit Zulu Time is a continuation of the renowned Swiss watch brand’s precision instruments worn by the world’s greatest pioneers on their legendary exploits. Its origins and its 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. An exclusive new Longines in-house calibre with a silicon balance-spring drives the time zone display.
A modern technology allows the hour hand to be adjusted independently of the GMT indicator. Additional time zones are read using a 24 hour hand and a bidirectional rotating bezel, also graduated over 24 hours.
Extremely accurate with a power reserve of 72 hours, this new movement is chronometer-certified by the COSC (the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), in a nod to the five stars stamped on the dial which, in the history of Longines, was a guarantee of a movement of the highest quality.
Aesthetically, the Longines Spirit Zulu Time stands out with its meticulous execution and the particular care given to the various finishes on the details – whether shiny, matt, polished, in relief or embossed.
This model features a bezel enhanced with a coloured ceramic insert, and is available on a matt black, sandblasted anthracite or sunray blue dial, with a date window now centred at the 6 o’clock position. Its hands and numerals, coated with Super-LumiNova®, enable the time to be read under all circumstances.
The 42 mm steel case has an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet or an interchangeable brown, beige or blue leather strap. These straps all have a folding clasp fitted with a new fine adjustment system for maximum comfort and a perfect fit.
The Longines Spirit Zulu Time takes reference at the first Longines wristwatch to indicate a second time zone: the model Zulu Time of 1925 with its typical Z-flag on the dial. Z stands for Zulu Time, the universal time format – used historically and today – in aviation and military.
Longines has more than 100 years of expertise in the development of timepieces indicating different time zones. The brand watchmakers introduced the first Longines pocket watch indicating two time zones in 1908, built for the Ottoman Empire (today Turkey).
This watch operated with double hands to indicate the hours and minutes, thus enabling to indicate Turkish time and French time on the same dial. Longines filed a patent for this technique in 1911 (“Montre turque à deux tours d’heures“), followed by a second patent in 1918 (“Montre à double cadran”).
In 1931, Longines developed a special cockpit clock, delivered to pioneering American pilot Clyde Pangborn, the first pilot to fly nonstop from Japan to USA. This special instrument was equipped with double hands to indicate hours and minutes, and two concentric 24-hoursdials.
In this family of cockpit clocks we find a bit later as well a watch with two 12-hour dials, again with double hands. For the wrist of pilots Longines modified in 1933 a large 47mm-Weems watch with a double set of hour and minute hands.
Technical details
Model: Longines Spirit Zulu Time
Reference numbers
L3.812.4.53.2/6
L3.812.4.63.2/6
L3.812.4.93.2/6
Movement
Mechanical self-winding movement, COSC certified
Calibre L844.4 (ETA A31.L411)
11½ lines, 21 jewels, 25’200 vibrations per hours
With silicon balance-spring
Power reserve of approximately 72 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds and date aperture at 6 o’clock
24 hours hand with time zone mechanism
Case
42 mm diameter
13.90 mm thickness
Round, stainless steel
Sapphire domed glass with multi-layered anti-reflective coating on both sides
Screw in crown
Case back with 6 screws
Bidirectional rotating bezel with black, green or blue ceramic insert
Engraved 24-hour scale with lacquered numbers and Super-LumiNova® triangle
Water-Resistance: To 10 bar (100 meters)
Dials
Black matt, applied Arabic numerals, Super-LumiNova®
Anthracite sandblasted, applied Arabic numerals, Super-LumiNova®
Sunray blue, applied Arabic numerals, Super-LumiNova®
Hands
Silvered polished, Super-LumiNova®
Gilt polished, Super-LumiNova®
GMT hand: black and blue, black and gilt polished or black and orange
Bracelet/strap
Brown, beige or blue strap with folding buckle and micro adjustment system, with interchangeable system
Stainless steel bracelet with triple safety folding clasp and push-piece opening mechanism, with interchangeable system
