03-06-2025
Henry Cavill on elegance, legacy and what truly matters across time zones
The timing of this collaboration is especially significant, as Longines celebrates 100 years since it debuted the world's first dual-time zone wristwatch in 1925. That historic timepiece, the Zulu Time, borrowed its name from the NATO phonetic designation for 'Z' (UTC+0), a reference to Greenwich Mean Time. First created for the Royal Canadian Navy, the original Zulu Time represented a breakthrough for global navigation, especially in the age of pioneering aviation.
To commemorate the centennial, Longines introduces the Spirit Zulu Time 1925, a special-edition watch that blends the brand's pioneering legacy with modern sophistication. Housed in a 39mm stainless steel case with an 18-karat rose gold-capped rotating bezel, the model debuts several firsts for the collection. The black dial, adorned with rose gold-coloured indexes and Super-LumiNova-treated hour markers, is refined yet highly legible.
Under the dial, the exclusive Longines calibre L844.4 offers true GMT functionality and a 72-hour power reserve. Its silicon balance spring and cutting-edge components ensure magnetic resistance far exceeding ISO standards, while the transparent caseback reveals a rose gold PVD rotor engraved with a planisphere intersected by the Prime Meridian.
For Cavill, such craftsmanship is more than a technical marvel; it's a form of storytelling. 'There is such a history to watchmaking and to keeping time. These days, we really take it for granted—quite how important it was for navigation, and how the smallest error meant the difference between life and death.'
Read more: Tag Heuer unveils two new Monaco timepieces
