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In 1925, Swiss watchmaker Longines crafted a timepiece that would quietly change the way the world connected, introducing the very first dual time zone wristwatch in the form of the Longines Zulu Time – named after the military name for Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the primary time standard globally used to regulate clocks and time. One hundred years later, the brand celebrates this groundbreaking milestone with the Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925, a watch that bridges a century of horological innovation.
Launched in May, the anniversary model is more than a tribute, in fact it bears no resemblance to its Spirit Zulu roots, but is instead a contemporary reimagining of its legacy. The Spirit Zulu Time 1925 features a 39mm stainless steel case with a bidirectional rotating bezel unusually capped in 18K rose gold, engraved with 24-hour markers. This elegant design choice is a subtle nod to the copper strip embedded at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, marking the Prime Meridian – a geographical anchor in global timekeeping, representing Longitude Zero.
Aesthetically, the timepiece’s matte black dial contrasts with rose gold-coloured hands and markers, coated in Super-LumiNova for round-the-clock legibility. Above the 6 o’clock marker you’ll find five applied stars – a historic Longines symbol for the high quality and reliability of its movements – which appear alongside a discreet date window and a hidden engraving of the years “1925 - 2025”. Flip the watch over and a transparent case back reveals a rotor PVD coated in rose gold and laser engraved with a globe and the Prime Meridian line.
Powering this centenary timepiece is the Longines calibre L844.4, a COSC-certified mechanical movement with a silicone balance spring, boasting anti-magnetic properties and a 72-hour power reserve. In every aspect, this is a true traveller GMT watch, capable of tracking three time zones concurrently.
Actor and Longines Ambassador Henry Cavill stars in the campaign for the anniversary edition. Titled “What time is it there?” the film captures the globe travelling heartbeat of the timepiece. Cavill moves through international terminals – his Spirit Zulu Time synchronising his pace with the world. “It represents not only precision timekeeping, but also connection,” says Cavill. “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.”
Longines’ leadership in multiple time zone watches began well before 1925. As early as 1908, the brand crafted dual-time “Turkish Watches” for the Ottoman Empire, patented in 1911. These were followed by the iconic Zulu Time wristwatch of 1925, and then cockpit clocks and pilot watches used by aviation pioneers like Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon in their 1931 trans-Pacific flight. That lineage now converges in the Spirit Zulu Time collection, first launched in 2022 and swiftly becoming a favourite among modern globetrotters.
Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925
Alongside the centenary model, Longines is also expanding the Spirit Zulu Time collection this year with 39mm and 42mm models featuring sleek ceramic bezels and polished dual-tone 24-hour scales, offering elegance with functionality. These additions echo the core design of the anniversary edition, reinforcing Longines' commitment to blending tradition with contemporary versatility.
The Spirit Zulu Time 1925 is presented with both a stainless steel bracelet and a black NATO strap, packaged in a commemorative box befitting its historic importance.
The Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925 is £3,750. For more information, see longines.com
