The Longines Spirit Now in Mid-Size, With The New 37mm Collection

The vintage-inspired Longines Spirit pilot’s watches launched in 2020 with 40mm and 42mm case sizes, and featured COSC automatic movements and a choice of time/date or chronograph models. The collection celebrated the pilots, military personnel and sportsman that relied on Longines throughout its history. The latest release introduces a more universal size for both men and women, coming in at 37mm with three dial colours – including a new and rather attractive Champagne option. The dials are time and date only (no chronograph), but maintain the popular style of their predecessors with a unisex appeal. Let’s take a look at the Longines Spirit 37mm.

Longines Spirit Collection

Longines has a popular Heritage collection that recalls key models from its historic portfolio. The Legend Diver and Avigation BigEye are examples of these re-editions. The Longines Spirit collection is also vintage-inspired, but introduces new designs that don’t directly borrow from the past. Founded in 1832, the Swiss brand has a storied history with a winged hourglass logo that’s remained unchanged since 1889 (making it the oldest active registered trademark). Many legendary pilots have relied on Longines as they set aviation records, including Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes and Elinor Smith. The Spirit collection brings a modern interpretation of the watches worn by these pioneers and the smaller series will work with a wide range of wrists. And now, specifically on smaller wrists, with the new Longines Spirit 37mm Collection.

Universal Case

The case has the same aesthetic as its larger time/date counterparts with a brushed finish and polished bevels. It comes in at 37mm in diameter and 11.7mm in height, and a domed sapphire crystal with multiple anti-reflective coatings protects the dial. The pronounced notched crown allows for easy manipulation and screws down for a water resistance rating of 100 metres. The caseback is solid and secured via six screws, and features an engraving of the brand’s logo. Strap options include a three-link steel bracelet with folding clasp or leather with white stitching in beige, brown or blue. All options come with quick-release levers for an easy, toolless change. 

Dial colours for the Longines Spirit 37mm models include sunray blue and matte black (also available with the larger sizes) and a new colour, sunray champagne. Dial elements remain unchanged, such as large applied Arabic numerals filled with Super-LumiNova and polished hour and minute hands with lume inserts. Those hands on the champagne dial have a PVD grey finish. A raised flange at the perimeter has the minute track and small cutouts to accommodate the diamond-shaped marks complementing the main indices. A subtle yet nice attention to detail. Other than size, the one change from the larger models is the date window, which moved from 3 to 6 o’clock – thus avoiding the partially cut marker at 3 o’clock. Dial and leather strap colours are specifically matched – champagne dial/beige strap, black dial/brown strap and blue dial/blue strap. And all work pretty well. 

Powering the Spirit 37mm collection is the same calibre L888.4 from the larger time/date models, which is based on the ETA 2892 automatic. If you look at the dial, you’ll see five applied stars above the date window at 6 o’clock, which is a tradition for Longines and means that the watch carries a COSC certified movement (-4/+6 seconds per day). It features 21 jewels, beats at 25,200vph and has a 72-hour power reserve, and also comes with an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring. Functions include central hours, minutes and hacking seconds with date. 

The Longines Spirit Adventure 37mm models retail for CHF 2,000 with leather strap and CHF 2,250 with steel bracelet. Not bad for such a wearable pilot’s watch that’s COSC certified. For more information, please visit www.longines.com.