{"id":43507,"date":"2023-03-22T12:00:20","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T11:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/?p=43507"},"modified":"2023-03-21T23:58:31","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T22:58:31","slug":"longines-spirit-flyback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/en\/longines-spirit-flyback\/","title":{"rendered":"The Longines Spirit Flyback watches hands-on"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Admiral Byrd\u2019s expeditions to 2023<\/h2>\n

Once upon a time, brand ambassadors were unknown; they were primarily heroes turned Stars all of a sudden thanks to their feats on air, land and sea. At the dawn of aviation, during the most challenging flight expeditions, a Longines watch was often the favourite backup tool<\/strong> to professional onboard instrumentation. Richard Byrd, the first man to fly over the South Pole, had a Longines watch wrapped around his wrist while flying.<\/p>\n

\"Richard<\/p>\n

In 1928, he challenged the elements with a Saint-Imier-manufactured chronograph as his timing companion<\/strong> and kept preferring a Longines, including the 1939 expedition when, according to the brand\u2019s archives, he had a Longines 13ZN watch<\/strong> purposely modified into a Flyback chronograph.<\/p>\n

\"longines<\/p>\n

We were lucky enough to catch up with two out of three legendary timepieces during the brand\u2019s Italian press event; pictured here are three highly sought-after Flyback chronographs: the Longines Chronograph Flyback Caliber 13.33Z<\/strong> modified to house the Flyback function, a 1929 model housing the same calibre into a cushion<\/strong> case drawn from reference 3582<\/strong> and the third but not last one, the two-counters here powered by the 13ZN calibre <\/strong>pictured below.<\/p>\n

\"Longines
Source: Longines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is the forerunner of the contemporary Flyback chronograph, whose patent was filed in 1935 and finally approved in 1936.<\/p>\n

Case and bracelet<\/h2>\n

History in the making, here is an unexpected 2023 new product. Aviation and precise timekeeping join forces again to foster Longines pedigree<\/strong>, and the technical product development is instrumental in helping the brand regain its leadership as a watchmaker whose patents set it as a game changer in the industry.<\/p>\n

\"longines<\/p>\n

Not only has the brand thoroughly contributed to many advancements in military and civil aviation, but Longines\u2019 aviators of the pre-WW2 era have also pioneered watchmaking<\/strong> with bravery and ingenuity unknown to most watch brands.<\/p>\n

\"longines<\/p>\n

The Spirit collection is all but vintage-inspired<\/strong>; you\u2019d better search for Heritage pieces instead<\/strong>. That\u2019s the present and future of Longines\u2019 storytelling. Setting the technical specifications apart from a while, here is a class-of-its-own timepiece as opposed to any other Longines Spirit model, like Zulu Time<\/strong> and any other current Spirit Chrono<\/strong>. Nonetheless, the Flyback model holds the Spirit DNA while hiding several sources of inspiration like a 1937 cockpit instrument or the respected Admiral, whose five stars on the dial celebrate ultimate precision.<\/p>\n

\"longines<\/p>\n

The new Flyback chronograph is quintessentially contemporary in form and function: the case measures 42 mm across and is 17 mm thick, sporting a 49,50 mm lug-to-lug distance<\/strong>. It\u2019s a hefty watch, as the lug-to-lug quote would suggest, yet the stretched-down case was conceived to maximize the wearability of a timepiece whose main attribute is \u201cBold\u201d: big and imposing.<\/p>\n

\"longines<\/p>\n

The watch weighs 178.3 grams in its steel-on-steel livery without offering the micro-adjustment<\/strong> you\u2019d hope for when realizing the bracelet feels too thin to accommodate such a large and thick case. As an option, Longines product managers added a replacement leather strap, dropping the weight down to a more reasonable 127,7 grams<\/strong>, and we won\u2019t be surprised to find out you might save additional grams by opting for the third and last bracelet, a replacement blue fabric strap.<\/p>\n

\"longines<\/p>\n

The bracelet and strap both feature a clever micro-adjustment mechanism to adapt the folding buckle to your liking<\/strong>. Such a patent first appeared on the Zulu Time<\/a><\/strong>; despite this, we still believe the steel-on-steel layout is the best choice making the watch compelling and enhancing the premium look and feel familiar to most Spirit watches on a bracelet; please take a look at our macro and how the case seamlessly connects to the bracelet.<\/p>\n

A new calibre for a new Chronometer<\/h2>\n

First things first, the Flyback mechanical complication is a Longines exclusive within the Group<\/strong>. The design team has debuted a new calibre, coded as L791.4; it is a self-winding movement based on the L688.4 calibre<\/strong> found on a standard Spirit chronograph, re-engineered to house a Flyback complication and raise the magnetic resistance. It offers good decoration, too.<\/p>\n

\"longines<\/p>\n

Here is not a slim calibre, but please don\u2019t get fooled since part of the new timepiece\u2019s thickness is on the glass\u2019 side<\/strong>, too; it is a slightly curved glass with an enhanced glass-to-dial gap and can\u2019t be anything else that a wanted design choice. The outcome is a combination of timekeeping performance and finishes upscaling any recently-reviewed Longines self-winding chronograph: the column wheel is blue and stands out as much as some blue screws, the oscillating mass is new in design and, in classic Longines style, carries a globe flown over by a winged hourglass<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"longines<\/p>\n

It is, on paper, a rugged and well-performing movement with pleasing finishes and serious technical pedigree<\/strong> to make the new Flyback perform like a certified Chronometer. Once you start it, a single push of the button at four instantly and precisely stops, resets and restarts the central second\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n

Final thoughts<\/h2>\n

The Longines Spirit Flyback places technical specifications in the first place<\/strong>, taking the most of the Spirit\u2019s product philosophy while adding function and form, as exemplified by the bidirectional graduated bezel with a slim ceramic inlay. The 42mm size is the launch proposition and not the mainstream in the mid and long term<\/strong>; we won\u2019t be surprised to discover that smaller Flyback Chronos are in the making at Longines since most prospective buyers increasingly buy smaller watches. A quick look at the case back suggests you can downsize the case while maintaining the current mechanical movement.<\/p>\n

\"longines<\/p>\n

The highlights include excellent build quality<\/strong>, offering a lovely alternation between brushed surfaces and mirror-polished edges. The main improvement area sits around the bracelet, whose sturdiness looks downsized when pairing it with such an imposing case construction; regarding comfort, every minor adjustment counts and is often more than welcome.<\/p>\n

\"longines<\/p>\n

Also, we couldn\u2019t resist getting the new Spirit Flyback equipped with an integrated rubber strap<\/strong>. Offering a 100-meter water resistance, a screw-down crown and a quick strap-changing device, any Longines-branded rubber would undoubtedly be most enthusiasts\u2019 favorite choice from May to late September.<\/p>\n