Commemorating over a century of expertise in measuring time across multiple time zones, Longines is proud to release the Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925, marking the 100th anniversary of the Swiss brand’s first dual time zone wristwatch from 1925. For the launch, Longines Ambassador of Elegance, Henry Cavill, embodies the spirit of global connection and travelling across time zones in a new campaign that poses the simple yet profound question: “What time is it there?”
Since the late 19th century, Longines has offered precise solutions for travellers navigating multiple time zones. This heritage continued with the famous “Turkish Watches”, pocket watches with dual time zones, ordered by the Ottoman Empire in 1908 which allowed for the simultaneous reading of Turkish and Western time. In 1925, Longines introduced the first ever dual-time zone wristwatch, the “Zulu Time”. The dial featured the colourful maritime flag representing the letter “Z”, which signifies the time at the zero meridian in Greenwich, London, now known as Universal Time (UTC +0). In professional aviation it is simply called “Zulu Time”. This 4-digit time format eliminates the confusion of AM and PM indicators. Zulu Time continues to be used by pilots and navigators to ensure clear communication during radio contact.
In 2022, Longines reinterpreted this historic timepiece by launching the Longines Spirit Zulu Time collection, boasting state-of-the-art watchmaking technology. The collection quickly established itself as an essential companion for modern globetrotters, with its precise GMT functionality and distinctive aesthetic.
From 1925 to 2025
Now in 2025, to celebrate the centennial of this groundbreaking timepiece, the brand proudly unveils the Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925. This commemorative edition features a 39-mm stainless steel case with a bidirectional rotating bezel adorned with exquisite 18K 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 meticulously engraved numbers and indexes add both depth and refinement to the design, while the choice of rose gold, which contains copper, pays homage to the copper strip marking the Prime (or “zero”) Meridian that is embedded in the ground at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, erected 350 years ago.
The matt black dial creates a striking contrast with the rose-gold-coloured hands and indexes, providing exceptional legibility. 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, marking the centennial celebration. 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 Meridian running through its centre.
Precision across time zones
A true (or “traveller”) GMT watch, it is powered by the exclusive Longines calibre L844.4, a self-winding mechanical movement with a silicon balance spring and innovative 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).