Longines Spirit Pilot COSC automatic black dial steel bracelet 39 mm

Aviation Heritage and the Renewal of the Spirit Pilot

From the earliest decades of the 20th century, Longines played a crucial role in the conquest of the skies. As aviation was still in its infancy, the Saint-Imier-based Maison became a trusted partner for pilots and explorers. Its onboard instruments and wrist chronographs accompanied pioneers through their challenges: transatlantic crossings, distance records, and scientific expeditions.

Among the legendary figures equipped by Longines were Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932, and Howard Hughes, renowned for his record-breaking round-the-world flight in 1938. These feats cemented a lasting reputation: that of a brand capable of producing precise, reliable, and robust navigation instruments, built to endure extreme conditions.

The Spirit collection, launched in 2020, was born of this heritage: it pays tribute to the pioneers of the skies and exploration who helped shape the image of Longines. It expresses the spirit of adventure in a contemporary watchmaking language, blending cockpit-instrument-inspired design with modern technologies.

In 2025, Longines unveils a new generation of the Spirit Pilot, marking a return to the very essence of the pilot’s tool watch. Several key updates reinforce its identity:

• A 39 mm stainless-steel case, now more compact and ergonomic, offering optimal comfort for daily wear and travel.
• A matte black dial with a cleaner aesthetic, stripped of the date window and the iconic five stars of earlier Spirit models, to focus on legibility and functionality.
• Applied Arabic numerals and gold-toned hands enhanced with Super-LumiNova®, evoking the vintage style of aviation instruments while ensuring clear readability day or night.
• A robust construction built for adventure: domed sapphire crystal with double-sided anti-reflective coating, screw-down caseback, and 10-bar (100 m) water resistance.

This new generation preserves the spirit of the Longines watches worn by pilots in the 1920s and 1930s, while meeting contemporary demands for precision, comfort, and versatility.

By combining the historic legacy of aviation pioneers with a modernized, ergonomic design, the Spirit Pilot 2025 embodies the Longines DNA more than ever: a precise, legible, and reliable tool watch, designed to accompany the explorers of yesterday and today.

A Vintage Aesthetic Designed for Today

Conceived as a contemporary pilot’s watch, the Spirit Pilot L3.809.4.53.6 impresses with its 39 mm stainless-steel case, whose reworked lines ensure greater comfort and ergonomic wear. Its slim 11.5 mm profile makes it discreet and pleasant on the wrist, whether for daily wear or on the move.

The matte black dial, deliberately pared back, breaks with the presence of the date window and five stars characteristic of the first Spirit generation, returning to the essence of a cockpit instrument: clean, legible, and functional.
The applied Arabic numerals and gold-toned hands, all coated with Super-LumiNova®, provide striking contrast and ensure perfect readability under all lighting conditions.

The watch is equipped with a domed sapphire crystal featuring double-sided anti-reflective treatment and a screw-down caseback, ensuring robustness and water resistance to 10 bar (100 m).

The stainless-steel bracelet, fitted with a double-security folding clasp and micro-adjustment system, gives the watch a versatile and contemporary appeal, perfectly suited for everyday wear. Its quick-change system allows the bracelet to be swapped easily to vary the style.

A Contemporary Movement for a Legendary Heritage

For over a century, Longines has placed precision and reliability at the heart of its creations. During the era of great aerial expeditions, the brand supplied instruments capable of withstanding variations in pressure, shocks, and temperature changes — qualities essential to pilots.

Today, this technical heritage is embodied in the automatic caliber L888.4, developed exclusively for Longines and powering all three Spirit Pilot 2025 references. This movement represents the union of traditional Swiss watchmaking and contemporary innovation.

Among its key features:

• A silicon balance spring, a material that is both lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and unaffected by temperature fluctuations or magnetic fields. Thanks to this technology, the Spirit Pilot boasts magnetic resistance ten times greater than the ISO 764 standard — a valuable asset for modern users exposed to electronic devices and magnetic environments.
• A comfortable 72-hour power reserve, allowing the watch to be set aside over the weekend without needing to be reset on Monday.
• COSC chronometer certification, guaranteeing strict precision of −4/+6 seconds per day, meeting professional standards and worthy of the navigation watches that built Longines’ reputation.

The L888.4 caliber symbolizes the brand’s ability to honor the pioneering spirit of its origins while meeting contemporary expectations: a reliable, durable movement designed to accompany both modern-day explorers and discerning watch enthusiasts.