Editor’s pick — Accessory quick take: key highlight (movement/specs for watches, materials/finish, limited run, pricing tier) in 1–2 lines.
What We Know
Five years after Longines first introduced the Spirit line via a pilot’s watch that grew into a complete collection of three-handers, flyer GMTs, and chronographs, it just introduced a considerable refresh of the line. A refresh that might make it exactly what people have been asking for. The Spirit line (especially the Zulu Time GMT) has always been a popular seller, competitive at its price point, and rugged in its styling. However, one consistent critique from the watch community has been the row of five applied stars above the six o’clock marker, featured on every dial in the standard lineup.
In a move that feels remarkably rare from many brands, it appears that Longines listened. Today, a new subline called the Spirit Pilot has just been introduced, in two new models: the time-only Spirit Pilot and the Spirit Pilot Flyback chronograph. And now, more than ever, these releases seem to be targeted directly at enthusiasts.
The new Longines Spirit Pilot settles in at a diameter of 39mm, a good all-around measurement compared to the 37mm, 40mm, and 42mm case sizes of the main line. Most importantly, the dial is cleaned up in the new design, taking away the obstruction of a date window and the five applied stars, for what is now the cleanest of the Spirit dials. The matte black (in some lights, an asphalt grey) dial also simplifies the raised minutes track, but keeps the signature metallic chamfer as it transitions into the main dial.
Instead of the stars, we get two lines of text printed above six o’clock, “Chronometer Officially Certified,” in reference to the caliber L888.4 beating inside, with a silicon balance spring, 72 hours of power reserve, and official COSC chronometer certification. On the steel bracelet with tool-less microadjustment, the time-only Spirit Pilot is priced at $3,100.
The Longines Spirit Pilot Flyback represents a more substantial redesign of the two, dramatically reducing in size from 42mm to a significantly more wearable 39.5mm steel case, with a 13.4mm thickness. A streamlined bidirectional 120-click ceramic bezel, this time with more niche countdown bezel markings, surrounds the matte black dial with gilt accents that match the time-only Spirit Pilot.
Most importantly, the stars are also gone, replaced by the “Chronometer Officially Certified” text. There is one design compromise, however, given the smaller case size, the 2, 4, 8, and 10 numerals are partially cut off to accommodate the spacing of the subdials of manual-wound Calibre L792.4. This ETA Longines-exclusive caliber is officially COSC-certified and features a silicon balance spring, a 68-hour power reserve, and a blued column wheel visible through the exhibition caseback. On the steel bracelet, also with tool-less microadjustment, the Spirit Pilot Flyback is priced at $5,500.
What We Think
Though I’m surprised it took five years, this redesign represents the Spirit line at its best. Longines continues to offer a compelling product, especially at this price point. The updates in these two new models bring a notable refinement, making them even easier to recommend to anyone considering Longines over similarly priced brands.
The fit and finish are excellent, and with the cleaner design, details like the chamfered dial and applied numerals stand out more than ever. On paper, there might not necessarily be a huge difference between the original Spirit three-hander and the new Spirit Pilot. But one look at both, and it’s easy to see that the new design has come a long way.
What I think draws me most to these two releases is really the fact that they feel targeted towards the watch community. And don’t get me wrong — Longines has a duty as a business to cater to the broader market that buys its watches (and things like date windows and even larger sizes are often more commercially viable). But here, I think it shows that you can do both and offer a good, clean design, and I hope they do well enough that the new design language makes its way into the rest of the Spirit line.
The Basics
Brand: Longines
Model: Spirit Pilot
Reference Number: L3.809.4.53.6 (Spirit Pilot on bracelet); L3.721.4.53.6 (Spirit Pilot Flyback on bracelet)
Diameter: 39mm (Spirit Pilot); 39.5mm (Spirit Pilot Flyback)
Thickness: 11.5mm (Spirit Pilot); 13.4mm (Spirit Pilot Flyback)
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Matte black with gilt accents
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap/Bracelet: Steel bracelet or leather/fabric strap options
The Movement
Caliber: L888.4 (time-only); 792.4 (flyback)
Power Reserve: 72 hours (time-only); 68 hours (flyback)
Winding: Automatic (time-only); Manual (flyback)
Frequency: 25,200 VpH (time-only); 28,800 VpH (flyback)
Jewels: 21 (time-only); 23 (flyback)
Chronometer Certified: Yes, COSC certified
Pricing & Availability
Price: $3,100 (Spirit Pilot on bracelet); $5,500 (Spirit Pilot Flyback on bracelet)
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: No
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Source: www.hodinkee.com — original article published 2025-10-02 10:00:00.
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