Longines BEST New GMT Watch under $5,000 - Titanium Spirit Zulu Time 39mm Review (Bye Tudor!)

Longines Spirit Zulu Time Titanium 39mm Review and Comparison with Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT!

The LONGINES SPIRIT ZULU TIME embodies the brand's century-old expertise in multiple time-zone watches. Introduced to the collection last year, the 39 mm model is now supplemented by a new version in Grade 5 titanium, an alloy that is extremely robust yet lightweight. This authentic tool-watch offers cutting-edge precision thanks to its exclusive Longines GMT calibre certified as a chronometer by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres).
 
This year, the Longines Spirit Zulu Time is going titanium. Introduced to the Longines Spirit collection in 2022, the line owes its name to the first Longines dual time-zone wristwatch produced in 1925, which featured the Zulu flag on its dial – Zulu referring to the letter Z, which designates the universal time used by aviators and sailors.
 
The model is powered by the exclusive Longines GMT calibre L844.4, equipped with a silicon balance-spring and innovative components, offering a resistance to magnetic fields ten times greater than the ISO 764 reference standard. This extremely precise self-winding mechanical movement has a power reserve of up to 72 hours. It is officially certified as a chronometer by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres).
 
The new Longines Spirit Zulu Time is where watchmaking tradition meets innovation. Its case made of Grade 5 titanium - an alloy that is both lighter and more robust than steel - is 39 mm in diameter and 13.50 mm thick, for optimal wearer comfort. The bi-directional ceramic bezel with 24-hour scale is divided into two shades, matt black and intense polished black, to indicate the hours of the day and night respectively. The anthracite dial features a date aperture at 6 o'clock, Super‑LumiNova®-coated applied Arabic numerals, and gold-plated hands. The matt black GMT hand has a red tip with a luminescent arrow, in the same colour as the “Zulu Time” inscription on the dial.
 
Water-resistant up to 10 bar (100 metres), the watch comes on an interchangeable bracelet, also in Grade 5 titanium, with a double-security folding clasp and pusher-operated opening mechanism.

#longines #pilotwatch #longinesspirit #gmtwatch

[MinuteMon]

So the bezel is full ceramic with “bi-finish ceramic insert in matt black and intense polished black” not half ceramic half titanium - sorry for the mistake!

[MrHavk]

A TITANIUM GMT!!!! Just what I needed. Perfect piece to round out my collection. Will definitely take a look.

[camels]

My biggest gripe with the zulu time is the rediculously long endlink-to-endlink, which I believe is around 53(!!!)mm. Even though the end links angle down, this watch does not wear well on my 6, 5' wrist. If you wear it on a strap, the dimensions are appropriate for a 39mm case. I'd rather not have a quick-release system in the bracelet for a better fit over the quick-release functionality that comes with male end links. What is the point of reducing the case size if the bracelet ruins the fit?

[joanaltur]

I really don't understand why it doesn't have an on-the-fly ajustment, especially when the hydroconquest gmt, which is cheaper, has one. This is one of the areas where tudor still has the advantage given that since the introduccion of the t-fit all new tudor watches are fitted with it.

[jaymyms]

It has its own DNA, something the Tudor can’t claim

[colD]

The Zulu time from Longines presents some of the best value in the entire industry. I’ve owned it…the detail, movement/travelers gmt functionality, ceramic bezel, etc. make it amazing. There’s one major problem imo left out of most reviews… The male end links are a problem. They protrude far beyond its case size and give the appearance of the watch overhanging on wrists despite in being within your typical case proportions. I highly recommend trying on in-person before purchasing for this reason.

[alwaysalpha]

I've been wearing basically this watch every day since January (the Hodinkee collab with no stars on the dial 😊) and I still love it. The titanium is so light and the tone/polishing is beautiful. Highly recommend!

[grneal]

I don't understand why they can't have an on the fly adjustment at this price. Doesn't make any sense.

[SWGKNG]

the only thing that makes me still prefer BBPro over this is the T-Fit, still waiting for other brand to come up with a similar or better solution for re-sizing on the fly

[thomasqn]

So happy you made a review on this watch! I recently purchased the 39mm stainless steel version and It has so much wrist time. I love it. Great review!

[nedflanders]

The Tudor may be thinner but it looks thicker due to the giant slab sides.

[alexspink]

Hey the other Easter egg with ‘Zulu time’ is that it harkens back to the first ever gmt that Longines produced, which was the first ever wristwatch gmt!

Awesome video, all the data and watch shots I wanted. And you’re pretty much the only one on YouTube for this ref at this point!❤👌

[admiralunicorn]

Longines are some of my favorite designs; the Legend Diver, Zulu Time, and Conquest are🔥

[Uh-huh-uh-huh]

Amazing watch on so many levels. The lack of a micro adjustment has kept me from pulling the trigger. Weird the San Martin homage at ~$250 has the micro adjustment, but the Longines does not. (Be interesting to compare those two watches in another video).

[donaldgrump]

Awesome watch but has two red flags which make it a no-go for me:

1. No on-the-fly microadjustment. It's a must have in in 2024 and many cheaper brands do it. If you ever wore a bracelet with one you'd never want to go back to fixed. The wrists expand during the day.


2. The true lug-to-lug is actually a whooping 53mm, making this watch wear well only on wrists 7'' and above. The male end-links ruin it so don't be fooled by the smaller 39mm case.

They need to either launch a smaller 37mm case or reduce the lugs, or equip female end links. Then it'll be perfect on titanium.

[nlytnlyt]

We got the new model in the Glasgow boutique I’ve been itching to sell it! So glad we finally can - looks STUNNING on display.
The grade 5 Titanium is SWEET

[ft]

tudor going after omega and not watching out for longines lolol

[Vox-Populi]

Looks great, but the lack of an on-the-fly adjustment is peculiar. I have two watches with OTF bracelets, a Wise GMT and a Ginault Ocean Rover II, and I will never go back to a bracelet with a manual micro adjustments.

[shuycg]

Crazy how many GMTs are coming out. I hope they do a 37mm time only Ti or a 39mm flyback, steel or Ti.
I don't need a GMT.

[hecpen]

Very informative video, thank you. Keep up the good work. Hope to add a GMT to my collection soon.