Longines introduces Henry Cavill as its new ambassador

When we first shot Henry Cavill for Square Mile back in 2018, it was clear he was into his watches. The whole team was ready for him; lights set up, clothes steamed, hair and makeup on stand by.

We were in the £10,000-per-night penthouse suite of the Shangri-La in the Shard, a fittingly elevated location for the incumbent Superman.

We had a call from his agent to apologise that he was going to be 15 minutes late. He just had to stop off on Bond Street to pick up his latest timepiece ahead of the shoot. Priorities, right? (Ironically, being on time wasn’t one of them.)

When he arrived with his new rose-gold wrist candy poking out beneath his double cuffs, it was evident this was a man who took horology seriously.

For that reason alone, we were delighted to hear that Cavill had recently been snapped up by Longines as its latest ‘Ambassador of Elegance’. He joins the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Winslet in repping the prestigious Swiss watchmaker on the global stage.

“What draws me to Longines is their understated elegance,” says Cavill about the new partnership. “True quality doesn’t need to announce itself. It’s evident in every detail and in every action. This is a philosophy, backed by generations of precision craftsmanship and artistry, that resonates deeply with my own values.”

The British actor is, of course, much more than a Hollywood darling. No doubt what drew Longines to their new ambassador was his earnest passions away from the silver screen as much as his contributions to film.

Whether it’s building PCs, painting Warhammer figurines or gaming, Cavill might just be the most famous nerd on the planet. He’s certainly not a man who does things by halves.

The star has committed to taking time out from his upcoming projects to visit the brand's historic headquarters in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, where he will discover firsthand the dedication to craftsmanship that has defined the Swiss watchmaker for nearly two centuries.

Will we see him replicate his iconic topless PC build with assembling a watch movement? Time will tell.

“In Henry, we recognise a real affinity with our brand’s values. His sophistication, genuine warmth and multifaceted personality reflect what elegance means today,” says Longines CEO, Matthias Breschan.

“Whether commanding the screen in epic productions or sharing his passions for aviation and equestrianism, he maintains an authenticity and grace that makes him a clear embodiment of the Longines spirit.”

Longines Master Collection

If you’re going to introduce one of the most sophisticated British stars of the last decade as your new watch ambassador, the question is what timepiece will you strap to his wrist first?

Given Cavill’s obvious action movie credentials, you could easily imagine the star of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E donning a Longines Spirit Zulu Time or the recently released Longines Ultra-Chron Carbon – both watches that would withstand the rigours of Cavill's swashbuckling on-screen antics.

But Longines has decided to go in an altogether different direction for the suave new face of the brand, opting to dress Cavill for his first shoot in the timelessly elegant Master Collection.

The Longines Master Collection debuted in 2005 and embodies the brand’s dedication to the finer points of horological craftsmanship and technical mastery. Each watch in the collection celebrates Longines’ storied history but, unlike the Heritage Collection, they do not trace their designs back to a specific model from the brand’s impressive archives.

Instead, the collection is imbued with a sense of the past in design hallmarks like self-winding mechanical movements, classic complications, and decorative motifs like the barleycorn textured dial that has become a common refrain among the best loved Master watches.

Take the Master Collection Chrono Moonphase, Ref. L2.773.4.78.3, found on the A-lister’s wrist in the shots above. This classical chronograph design features Longines’ excellent L687 self-winding mechanical movement – a modified version of ETA’s 7751 calibre – which boasts a full calendar complication, moonphase, and column-wheel chronograph, as well as 66 hours of power reserve.

It’s finished with the emblematic barleycorn-pattern stamped dial, blued-steel hands and a subtly-domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal for optimal legibility.

In all, it’s a fitting companion for an actor that is the modern archetype of the British gentleman. Something tells us Cavill and Longines are going to be great pals.

The Master Collection Chrono Moonphase 42mm, Ref. L2.773.4.78.3; £3,550. For more information, longines.com