A HERITAGE OF INNOVATION

The Star

11 hours ago

In commemoration of over a century of expertise in measuring time across multiple time zones, Longines unveils the Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925.
This momentous release marks the 100th anniversary of the Swiss brand's first dual time zone wristwatch from 1925.
Precision across time zones
In the late 19th century, the standardisation of time zones revolutionised global travel and communication.
Prior to this, each locality kept its own local time based on the sun's position, creating practical challenges as railway networks expanded and international travel increased.
The establishment of Greenwich as the Prime Meridian in 1884 along with the division of the world into 24 time zones allowed people to synchronise activities across vast distances.
'Zulu', a term which has its origins in the Nato phonetic alphabet, designates the letter 'Z' – that is, zero, or GMT+0 for Greenwich Mean Time.
This designation would became particularly important in aviation and maritime operations, where precise time coordination across different regions proved essential for safety and navigation.
From creating history with its famous Turkish Watches in 1908, Longines established itself as a preeminent expert in multiple time zone watches.
In 1925, Longines advanced horological history again by introducing the world's first dual time zone wristwatch, the Zulu Time, which displayed both local time and Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) for the Royal Canadian Navy.
By the early 1930s, Longines had developed one of the first true GMT cockpit clocks, which became indispensable tools for aviation pioneers like Hugh Herndon and Clyde Pangborn during their historic non-stop Pacific crossing in 1931.
A true traveller's watch
To celebrate the Zulu Time's centennial, in 2025 the brand unveils the Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925.
The commemorative edition features a 39mm stainless steel case with a bidirectional rotating bezel adorned with exquisite 18 ct rose-gold cap, circular-brushed insert — a first for the collection — and 24-hour graduations, enabling the wearer to track a third time zone.
The choice of rose gold, which contains copper, pays homage to the copper strip marking the Prime Meridian that is embedded in the ground at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, erected 350 years ago.
Its matt black dial creates a striking contrast with the rose-gold-coloured hands and indexes, providing exceptional legibility.
As Cavill moves through global airports and destinations, his Longines timepiece serves as a private language that bridges continents and time zones.
Both the hands and hour markers are treated with Super-LumiNova for optimal readability in all lighting conditions.
The dial is further distinguished by five stars elegantly positioned above the 6 o'clock marker, where there is also a discreet date window and the years '1925 – 2025' elegantly engraved in a subtle tone-on-tone finish.
In two more firsts for the Longines Spirit Zulu Time collection, a transparent case back reveals a rose-gold-coloured PVD rotor featuring a special engraving of a planisphere with the Prime (or 'zero') Meridian running through its centre.
The watch is powered by the exclusive Longines calibre L844.4, a self-winding mechanical movement with a silicon balance spring and components that make it up to 10 times more resistant to magnetic fields than the ISO 764 standard requires.
This high-precision movement provides a power reserve of up to 72 hours and is chronometer-certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).
The Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925, presented in a special edition box, comes with both a stainless-steel bracelet featuring a double-folding safety clasp and a black NATO strap with a pin buckle.
Global connection
In a campaign that explores the timeless question that connects people across distances — 'What time is it there?' — Longines Ambassador of Elegance, actor Henry Cavill depicts the emotional connection between two people navigating international skyways.
As Cavill moves through global airports and destinations, his Longines timepiece serves as a private language that bridges continents and time zones.
The campaign showcases how a Spirit Zulu Time watch becomes more than a precision instrument to form a symbolic connection between loved ones, helping them synchronise their lives despite physical separation.