Longines Unveils New Spirit Flyback Chronograph Watches

Now equipped with a flyback chronograph function, daring aviators can utilise the Longines Spirit watch to its full potential whilst calculating flight stages and navigating the skies with the new Longines Spirit Flyback watch, released ahead of this year’s Watches & Wonders 2023 showcase

It’s no secret that the luxury watch industry’s love affair with vintage pilot’s watches is as strong as ever and whilst there have been many brands that have attempted to reissue famous models of a bygone era, others have fully embraced the concept and have used their imagination, creating entirely new collections dedicated to this genre of watch. Longines falls into that category with the release of its Spirit watch collection just a few years ago. The line pays homage to pioneers of the sky, but also adventure-seekers and masters in their fields of expertise.

Released mid-2020, the Longines Spirit combined historical references to the aviation industry with the winged hourglass brand’s heritage. There are multiple retro-inspired elements to admire throughout the series, as well as inaugural blue, black and silver dial options that impart a refined and understated elegance on the wrist. Then, in 2021, Longines added to the line with two models boasting striking green-coloured dials. These two time-and-date watches offer different case sizes of 40mm and 42mm and are available on a stainless steel bracelet or brown leather strap option. What the Longines Spirit collection sets out to achieve is a nicely executed, classic and simple pilot’s watch with curves in all the right places. The way the lugs of the Longines Spirit watches taper creates an almost tonneau-like profile and the surface of the stainless steel casing is always brushed in parts to echo a full-of-character design that strays away from the dressier mirror-polished look. By incorporating these subtle design codes, the Spirit watch was able to reach out to a new and wider audience with the Longines Spirit Zulu watch of last year – a tool perfect for tracking two time zones at once. Now, Longines’ latest release ahead of the annual Watches & Wonders Geneva 2023 event is the Longines Sprit Flyback watch. Let’s shake hands with this new model and get to know what it offers…

Accompanying daring explorers in their conquests of the air, the seas and the skies, the new Longines Spirit Flyback watch now combines a useful flyback chronograph function. The complex chronograph nods its head to the Swiss brand’s leading role in developing timekeeping technologies to exacting standards and is testimony to the pioneering spirit that has driven the watchmaking company forwards since its very earliest days. The first flyback models flew out of Longines’ manufacturing facilities back in 1925 where a patent was finally filed ten years later, marking a world first.

The practical features of the new Longines Spirit Flyback watch

On a practical level, a flyback function serves to assist a pilot with quick and easy control over the chronograph functions of his watch by means of a simple pusher that instantly resets the chronograph seconds hand and begins an immediate new timing from zero. Put simply, just one pusher assists with stopping, resetting and restarting operations. The handy tool provides pilots with a practical way to time different flight stages, thus facilitating navigation perfectly.

The engine

The new Longines Spirit Flyback watch is powered by an innovative in-house calibre, developed exclusively at Longines – the Calibre L791.4. The self-winding movement is COSC-certified and comes fitted with a silicone balance spring offering superb magnetic resistance – a useful advantage when utilising the watch at high altitudes. The movement, once fully wound, can offer a power reserve of up to 68 hours and performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour whilst comprising a total of 28 jewels.

Distinguishable aesthetics

The new Longines Spirit Flyback watch is crafted from stainless steel and measures a diameter of 42mm. The case is executed in a mix of satin, polished and brushed finishes to keep in line with previous generations of the collection. The steel case holds the Calibre L791.4 inside its robust construction, putting its performance on show through the back of the case via a piece of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. This new Longines Spirit watch for 2023 features a coloured ceramic insert upon its unidirectional rotating bezel. The bezel, perfect for measuring elapsed time, can align effortlessly with the minute hand on the main dial to track a measurement. The 60-minute markers on the bezel are also treated with luminescent material for improved legibility in the dark. This bezel frames a dial in a matching colour, fitted with bronze-coloured chronograph hands and bright white Arabic numeral hour markers.  The hour and minute hands have also been treated with Super-LumiNova and join two sub-counters at 3 and 9 o’clock offering 30-minute and small seconds functions respectively. At the 6 o’clock location, you can see the five star markings that point to the COSC-certification of the movement powering the watch, balanced by the famous Longines name and the winged hourglass logo at 12 o’clock.

The new Longines Spirit Flyback is available on a black or deep blue dial colour. Each option is fitted with a bezel with a ceramic insert to match its dial colour. The black Longines L3.821.4.53 is available on a brown calf leather strap, a stainless steel bracelet or a beige NATO strap. The deep blue version ref L3.821.4.93 is available on a matching dark blue calfskin leather strap or a stainless steel bracelet. If you’d like more information on the new Longines Spirit Flyback chronograph watches, you can get in touch with a member of our sales team today at Jura Watches on 01335 453453