The new Longines Spirit Flyback checks in

The new Longines Spirit Flyback is the most comprehensive Spirit release to date, as it blends a customised movement with a stunning finish and a well-balanced design, crafting a tastefully polished take on the classic pilot’s chronograph. Those who aren’t familiar with Longines’s history might not realise how vital the flyback feature is. Introduced in 1925, its first-ever flyback chronograph received patent protection in 1935 and registration the following year. In addition, the expertise of Longines has contributed to numerous historical trailblazers. Equipped with the brand’s instruments, one of them was Richard E. Byrd, the first man to fly over the South Pole.

Featuring meticulous finishes comprising satin, matte, polished and engraved details, the Longines Spirit Flyback has a 42 mm steel case with a bidirectional bezel enhanced by a coloured ceramic insert with luminescent markers, along with a matching stainless steel bracelet and a traditional brown leather, or a contemporary blue fabric strap. The time can be read no matter the lighting conditions thanks to the bronze- coloured hands and numerals that adorn the black or blue dial and are coated with Super-LumiNova.

The entire profile is quite sophisticated, despite its apparent simplicity. Long lugs, a design element of the brand, have been shortened with a gently inclined cut and a suitably squared tip to further shorten the perceived length to eliminate the awkward overhang that evokes a sluggish attitude. Also, the case is rated to a depth of 100 m and has a screw-down crown, while measuring 17 mm in total thickness, which is very hefty in modern standard configuration, immaculate craftsmanship makes it exceptionally wearable.

The Longines Spirit Flyback is powered by the L791.4, an automatic flyback chronograph movement that is both magnet-resistant and features a silicon balance spring, marking a technological advance for the series. This movement is certified as a chronometer by COSC and is incredibly accurate, with a power reserve of 68 hours. Turn the watch around and the see-through caseback reveals an alluring variation of finishes across the calibre, such as the blue screws that are highly detectable and the engraved personal weight that contains the globe symbolising the Longines Spirit line and the name Longines Flyback.