Smaller but still mighty
Longines clearly believes in striking while the iron is hot. The brand is adding four models in 39mm to its hit Zulu Time collection with GMT functionality a mere year after its debut. The downsized options, including one in a two-tone finish, join the original six launch models in 42mm that are all part of the Spirit family.
The familiar features of the Zulu Time remain very much in place: the 24-hour bezel with coloured ceramic insert, the applied Arabic numerals, the date window at six o'clock, as well as the hour hand that can be adjusted independently of the GMT indicator.
The star of this year’s batch is the iteration with an 18K yellow gold bezel and crown. It has a distinct vintage appeal thanks to its chocolate brown ceramic insert with a gilt GMT track and anthracite sandblasted dial with a date aperture in beige and hands and numerals coated with Super-LumiNova old radium.
The remaining three 39mm Zulu Time models come in a stainless-steel case with a matte black, sandblasted anthracite, or sunray blue dial and matching bezel. Each reference is available on an interchangeable leather strap or stainless-steel bracelet, with the gold-accented version also available on a brown NATO-style strap.
The 39mm Zulu Time is powered by the same COSC-certified L844.4 as its 42mm sibling. The ETA base calibre has 72 hours of power reserve and a silicon balance-spring. Only this year, Longines has updated two components with anti-magnetic material. The watch is certified as resistant to magnetism according to the ISO764 standard—meaning its performance is unaffected by the many magnetic fields that are increasingly part of our daily lives.
