Style Edit: Longines celebrates 100 years of Zulu Time with an elegant and contemporary Greenwich-inspired watch, and a new campaign starring brand ambassador Henry Cavill

South China Morning Post

2 days ago

For nearly a century,
Longines has recognised that time knows no boundaries. In 1925, the Swiss watchmaker unveiled its first dual time zone wristwatch – a pioneering creation that introduced the 'Zulu' maritime signal flag to watch dials and laid the foundation for 100 years of travel-ready timekeeping. It was an innovation that reflected the spirit of an increasingly connected world, where knowing the time elsewhere was just as essential as knowing the time at home.
The Spirit Zulu Time 1925 enables you to move seamlessly between time zones. Photo: Handout
Nearly 100 years later, that legacy continues with the Spirit Zulu Time collection – launched in 2022 and designed for those who move seamlessly between time zones, whether for adventure, work or connection.
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Now, Longines marks the centennial of that first Zulu Time watch with a commemorative edition that blends historical significance with contemporary refinement.
Housed in a 39mm stainless steel case, this commemorative edition is distinguished by a rotating bezel capped with 18k rose gold – a first for the collection. The engraved 24-hour scale allows the wearer to track up to three time zones, making it as practical as it is refined.
For brand ambassador and actor on the move Henry Cavill, the Spirit Zulu Time 1925 'represents not only precision timekeeping, but also connection'. Photo: Handout
The use of rose gold goes beyond mere aesthetics: it pays homage to the copper strip embedded in the ground at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich – the historical prime meridian and a highly symbolic reference point in global timekeeping. Turn the watch over, and a transparent caseback reveals the self-winding movement, complete with a rose-gold-tone rotor engraved with a globe intersected by the meridian. It's a subtle but thoughtful detail that connects the past to the present.
At its heart is the Longines calibre L844.4 – a movement certified by the official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, COSC – that offers magnetic resistance well beyond ISO standards, plus a 72-hour power reserve and unwavering precision. The matt black dial enhances legibility, complemented by rose-gold hands and markers treated with Super-LumiNova. Five stars sit proudly above the 6 o'clock position, along with a discreet '1925–2025' legend – a quiet nod to the watch's anniversary.
Travel with elegance wearing the new Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925. Photo: Handout
The story of connection extends beyond the wrist too. The new Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925 campaign, starring brand ambassador
Henry Cavill , explores the emotional thread that links people across distances, positing a commonly posed question that transcends time zones: 'What time is it there?'
Alongside this limited edition, Longines expands the Spirit Zulu Time collection with new references featuring bold blue ceramic bezels and sleek black dials in both 39mm and 42mm sizes. These models retain the full GMT functionality, catering to modern travellers who equally appreciate both form and function.