Longines’ embodiment of its pioneering spirit in aviation, the Spirit Flyback Chronograph, gets a touch of warm-hued, timeless and elegant gold.
Within the realm of chronographs, there are numerous iconic examples of the historic complication — the El Primero and Calibre 11 come to mind — but a lesser-known fact is that Longines were the first to make the world’s first chronograph wristwatch in 1913, with the 13.33Z movement. Although mainly manufactured in a mono-pusher configuration, a small number of the 13.33Z movements were fitted with flyback functionality, necessitating a two-pusher upgrade — this proved to be a testbed for what later became the well-known 13ZN flyback chronograph.
To put it simply, the flyback chronograph is a chronograph that enables the wearer to measure consecutive intervals of time quickly and easily — without having to stop, reset and restart the seconds hand, as one would on a traditional chronograph. This complication was found to be particularly useful in situations that required precision and speed within navigation. Further accounting for the historical context of the period, Longines soon found its innovation in high demand, unsurprisingly, from those in the military and aviation. Beyond just generating demand, however, the movement also spawned numerous other chronographs from other competitors over the next decade.
Suffice it to say, then, that Longines’ innovation gave us the blueprint for the modern flyback chronograph. The Spirit Flyback, first released in 2020, pays fitting tribute to the Saint-Imier manufacture’s early pioneering spirit. This year’s release carries that same spirit, albeit with the addition of a slight retro tint through the use of 18K gold. The green variant features yellow gold on the crown and chronograph pushers, whilst the brown incorporates rose gold. The bidirectional rotating bezel, hands, and Arabic numerals are also finished in the same shade of either yellow or rose gold. Topped off with a leather strap that matches the dial’s colours, the 2024 iteration of the Spirit Flyback oozes Longines’ signature timeless elegance.
It is in the timepiece’s movement, however, that Longines’ spirit of innovation comes to the fore. Powered by the calibre L791.4, the movement features a silicon balance spring, alongside other anti-magnetic components that makes the watch ten times more resistant to magnetic fields than the ISO 764 reference standard. It is also chronometer-certified by the COSC, and has a power reserve of 68 hours. Topping it all off, Longines also incorporates a multi-layered anti-reflective sapphire crystal dial-side, with a transparent case back showcasing the movement and its yellow or rose gold oscillating weight.
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our June/July 2024 issue.