Omega’s sister brand, Longines, debuted an interesting GMT timepiece this week.

The Spirit Zulu Time 1925 is presented in a 39 mm x 13.5 mm stainless steel case, with a 46.8 mm lug-to-lug distance. The case features mostly matte surfaces with polishing of the bracelet center link bevels, the crown, the bezel edges, and the case flanks. The Zulu Time 1925 is paired with a tapered Oyster-style three-link steel bracelet that’s 21 mm wide at the lugs, and the watch weighs a total of 158 grams. When worn on the included black, non-tapered NATO-style strap, the watch takes on a more rugged look, and the weight drops significantly.

This is Longine’s midsize GMT model; the other two sizes are 37 mm and 42 mm, and it offers good proportions for a broad range of wrists. Uniquely, the bidirectional bezel steel bezel features an 18K pink gold cap insert with the 24-hour scale engraved on it. “Gold cap” is the same as “gold filled” and is preferable to razor-thin “gold-plating,” because a gold cap is solid gold on top of a base metal. This method results in a higher-quality component than plating, without the higher price of full solid gold. To match the gold-capped bezel insert, Longines designers used gilt print on the dial, as well as gold-plating on the hands, the applied Arabic numerals, and the winged emblem at 12.

Longines fitted the Spirit Zulu Time 1925  with its outsourced COSC-certified chronometer (-4/+6 seconds per day) ETA automatic movement that beats at 3.5Hz, has a silicon balance spring, a gold-plated oscillating weight, and a 72-hour power reserve. In addition to the hour, minute, center seconds, and date hand, there is the marquee 24-hour GMT hand. This is a flyer GMT, also referred to as a “true GMT” or “traveler GMT,” and allows you to independently set the local 12-hour hand.

The Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925 (Ref. L3.803.5.53.6) features a slightly domed sapphire crystal, a clear caseback secured by six screws, and water-resistance is rated to a depth of 100 meters. The retail price is $4,350.

Learn more at Longines.

 

Photos by Longines.