Introducing the Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925 in Celebration of 100 Years
Whether it’s for the founding of a watch brand or the original debut of an important collection, the horological community is celebrating various centennials in 2025. Such is the case for the Longines Zulu Time.
By Barbara Palumbo
Contributor
In 1925, Longines introduced its first-ever dual-time zone wristwatch, which they named “Zulu Time,” and the reason for the name is actually quite interesting.
If you look closely at the image above, you will see that the original dial of the Longines Zulu Time exhibited a small nautical flag below the 12 o’clock hour marker. This flag represented the letter “Z” in homage to what was then known as “Zero Meridian” (the line of longitude at which longitude is defined as 0 degrees, which serves as the reference point for measuring longitude east and west).
In the phonetic alphabet, “Z” is referred to as “Zulu,” and “Zero Meridian” is better known today by the monikers Prime Meridian, Greenwich Meridian, Universal Time, and International Meridian. However, despite its many names, Zulu time is still used today by pilots and navigators when travelling either domestically or internationally.
Vastly different from current Zulu Time models, the original case of the Longines Zulu Time from 1925 was square, measuring 34mm x 24mm. Crafted in 18K white gold, this square case housed a Longines hand-wound caliber (10.68N).
Interestingly, the model celebrating the anniversary of the Zulu Time’s release could not be more different in appearance, but the underlying spirit of the watch (pun intended) remains the same.
An Inside Look Video
In this exclusive video, Watchonista’s Ash Longet presents an intriguing look at not only the impact of aviation changing the very concept of time-telling in history, but also Longines’ very special heritage of not only responding to these changes, but driving them.
From the early necessity of creating shared global standards like GMT/Zulu Time and UTC time coding, culminating in the sophisticated, but still cockpit-authentic, glories of the Longines Zulu Time 1925 anniversary timepiece, you don’t have to be a pilot to appreciate this deep dive.
Modernizing a Movement
When watch enthusiasts hear the word “movement,” their minds automatically go toward the engine powering the watch. The guts, so to speak. However, “movement” can have two meanings when it comes to wristwatches because the Zulu Time of a hundred years ago represented a move toward a different type of watchmaking; one that saw watches having an additional purpose aside from telling the wearer the hours and the minutes of where they were.
Longines was an early innovator in what we now know to be the modern GMT, which is one of the reasons so many adventurers and pilots chose to adorn their wrists with the brand. But of course, we do need to give credit where it’s due and talk about the inner movement as well.
The new Spirit Zulu Time 1925 is powered by the self-winding Longines caliber L844.4 movement equipped with a silicon balance spring, 21 jewels, and various components that make it nearly ten times more resistant to magnetic fields than the ISO 764 standards.
Additionally, the Spirit Zulu Time 1925’s movement offers a power reserve of up to 72 hours and, as with a number of Longines’ timepieces, it is chronometer-certified by COSC (the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute).
Man of Steel with a Watch of Steel
Back in February, Longines announced that English actor (and my favorite Superman) Henry Cavill would be its newest Ambassador of Elegance. Cavill is prominently featured in Longines’ ad campaign for the Spirit Zulu Time 1925, and with good reason.
Firstly, Cavill’s take on the brand mirrored his feelings about understated elegance and his appreciation of craftsmanship, artistry, and precision. But even more importantly, Cavill, a new, first-time father who often hops time zones during filming, was drawn to the idea that the Spirit Zulu time represents a connection between those with whom we are not always in the same time zone.
The current ad campaign creates more of an emotional impact by emphasizing how the Spirit Zulu Time can function as a symbol between loved ones by helping them synchronize their lives regardless of physical separation.
“For me, the Spirit Zulu Time represents not only precision time keeping, but also connection,” said Cavill in a press release for this anniversary piece. “In today’s lifestyle, our loved ones and colleagues can often be a world away. However, the Spirit Zulu Time gives me, at a glance, that immediate connection with them, and it does so with the elegance that Longines excels at.”
As if we didn’t adore this man already, he goes and makes this statement… I mean, COME ON.
The Details
The Spirit Zulu Time 1925 features a round, 39mm stainless steel case and domed sapphire crystal with multi-layer anti-reflective coating on both sides.
Additionally, the watch sports a bidirectional rotating bezel, has a steel screw-down crown, and a 6-screw caseback.
This latest release is available in three versions, each with a different bezel material and colorway. Specifically, you have the choice between a 5N 18-karat rose gold bezel with engraved markings; a bezel with a matte black and polished black two-tone ceramic insert, lacquered numerals, and Super-LumiNova; and lastly, a bezel with a blue ceramic bezel, lacquered numerals, and Old Radium Super-LumiNova.
Yet all with a 100-meter water resistance (just in case Aquaman is more of your kind of superhero).
For more information, including pricing, check out the Longines website.