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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- A Discussion around the Longines Spirit Flyback Chronograph and its less than exciting Release. Judging this watch by looking at the Spirit collection, its a piece that needed more of an edge to its design and presentation to make it stand out. The Flyback complication is a novelty item that should have been reserved for a chronograph of more significance within the Heritage collection, making it far more unique at the same time.
#longines #longineswatches #chronograph
Intro 0:00
Longines Heritage & Spirit Collection 1:41
Longines Spirit Flyback Chronograph 2:47
Longines Flyback History 3:31
New Flyback Caliber and the Issues 4:29
17mm Thick, Hanhart and Redesign 6:09
Conclusion 7:05
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Longines Invented the Flyback Chronograph and created the masterpiece reference 13ZN. So why was a new complication of this magnitude put in a commercial watch (the Spirit Collection) instead of arriving in the Heritage collection or as a part of a new product line to really give it more coverage?
Aren't all watches commercial?
If they would have revived that manual movement and made a non compromise watch with it, they would have potentially leaped over the Speedmaster.
Great review. Respect your opinion. Just added this one (black) to my collection and absolutely love it. To each their own but I think the value for the money.... one would be challenged to find a flyback at this price point with this history.
Longines is part of the Swatch group which means Longines has tight restrictions for launching new pieces that don’t conflict with other brands within the group. Ps. Yet again a perfect analysis mr.@IDguy
Excellently put Cedar (as always) And thinking now that Longines is trying to climb up the rungs and meet Omega at the same price. Interesting times we're experiencing 😆
@@ID-Guythey aren't really doing that. All Longines comms over their market spot says "bellow the 5000". All the management says the same when interviewed.
I really cannot see this"perfect analysis"! IDguy didn't even get the facts right 20 years of development for the flyback (instead of his 10 years) see Teddy Baldassare's excellent video on Longines (with an interview with the Longines CEO who said that Longines produces watches in the price range from CHF 1000-5000 - as @Gabriel Constantin stated)!
Furthermore Tissot had re-released their Telemeter 1938 with two models (one looking exactely like the 1936 model by Longines but without a flyback)! Therefore Longines was simply too late for a re-release of their 1936 model. This 1936 model didn't have a date either! 🤔
What of "a perfect analysis" stood it's test? 😮
Why are watches so much thicker than their vintage brothers? Most brands are guilty of this… I just don’t get it
The vintage predecessor was manual wind.
Modular movements stacked on top of modular movements, its a vicious cycle 🥃
@Yorkiepoocharlie I'm sure if Longines thought they could charge what Rolex charges, they could make it happen.
Automatic movements and added complications.
It’s cheaper for swatch to bolt complications (chronographs, etc) on top of an existing, mass-produced base movement than create various fully integrated movements for each complication. Fully integrated automatic chronographs from Zenith and Rolex are much thinner and more expensive as a result of being bespoke. Seiko’s mechanical chronographs from the 60s/70s were similarly thin but their modern chronos are, like longines/Hamilton/tissot/etc, chrono modules stacked on top of standard movements.
Never mind the watch for a second. Your critique was exceptional with its star turn being it not only highlighted the perceived faults but included thoughtful design aesthetics as a counter balance. In simpler terms it was not criticism for criticism's sake but showed how it could be appreciated better by the watch enthusiast with just a few design changes. Great informative video.
Concise video with great editing. You make some good points. Answered all my questions. Thanks
Can we all just appreciate the departing line in this video: keeping it in the family often results in a weak chin. Bravo!! 😂
I'm so glad someone picked this up! 😆
Longines was one of the first watch brands I became aware of while growing up in America. I loved studying mathematics and history and read where Albert Einstein wore a gold Longines wrist watch. I figured that if he wore a Longines watch, then it was indeed a quality brand. Maybe you could do a video on that watch model.🤔 I always enjoy your videos. Thanks so much! 🥃
For me, Longines of old were full of romance and carried an air of 'history in the making', especially with the people who wore them
Today, even though I still love the brand, I also somehow feel a disconnect and cant quite put my finger on it, maybe one foot in the past and one in the modern isn't helping the cause, not sure what it is.
Excellent video as always 🥃
I absolutely love the 5 stars on the dial
..and I feel like the spirit collection is one of the most aesthetically pleasing releases in some time. But at 17mm (20-21mm on traditional nato)..that’s a heavy lift literally and figuratively. I always enjoy your exploration of the details..
On a sidenote..what are the chances of a longform weekend show in the future? Those shows were wonderful. Anyway, thx again
We have the example of the Longines Spirit Zulu Time, and since hardly anyone says anything about its measurements,which with other brands with better measurements, a lot of the comments repeat one after another like parrots that the diameter or thickness are a problem.
Thanks for another great video.
IDGuy, that was a great video. You certainly don't "pull your punches". Honest and to the point. Keep up the good work.
On the surface it looks like a thick 300M diver masquerading as a chronograph. And 17mm is still 17mm, something watch enthusiasts can spot from a mile away.
On a side note, the video intro mentioned Longines' historic and time-spanning logo... Tons of cool and interesting facts to be highlighted on a brand's mark, especially those that are 100+ years 👍
Cheers 🍺
Absolutely, Fresh. It could pass as a diver if the pushers were hidden from view 😆 But man... Longines' history and their designs are unreal. They could go into their museum blindfolded, choose a piece and go with it. Instead that decide to create a literal planet for the wrist! Classic. Much love brother 🥃
I adore Longines but I respect this review. Good reasoning as well. Well done!
Great video mate, I think Longines makes amazing watches and definitely has an awesome heritage catalog that they can go back to and remake amazing pieces with modern specs. That Red flyback is definitely my favorite but 17mm is excessive.
As someone who owns a Longines Bigeye as well as a 17.1mm think Omega Seamaster 300m chronograph, I also feel very underwhelmed by this fly back chronograph release. It just doesn’t exude luxury for me. At £4,200 I would expect something that is more refined and perhaps unique. My Seamaster is thick, but it’s built like a tank and hides a lot of the thickness on the wrist, especially when worn with the OEM Rubber strap. The bigeye is a beautiful watch to look at & feels well proportioned. Funny how the slightest design miscue can completely throw out a watch. Great content as always.
It's an interesting talking point around the thickness of these pieces. Those Seamaster chrono's can be monsters but then they somtimes have GMT's added into the mix (a date complication too) But for a pedestrian chrono that doesn't even have an hour counter on its dial, man... it was an odd choice. Looking at the BigEye in comparison (for half the price - and even less) it's just a no-brainer 🥃
Right on point as always. As I’m sure I have commented before, I own the RAF reissue and I think Longines absolutely nailed it. It’s an excellent piece that is currently the most accurate watch in my collection (which includes Rolex and Omega). It’s definitely the watch I own that most exceeded my expectations. Longines may have missed with this once, but I’ve been very impressed with their work lately and am sure they will keep it up.
Interesting video! Longines is definitely one of my favourite brands! I'd love for them to release an Aqua Terra alternative now that Omega prices are skyrocketing. The Conquest is too cheap looking, they need something more refined.
And it looks like Longines is bumping up their prices along with Omega too these days. I don't understand the approach with a model like this Flyback and who they thought it would appeal to (looking at the broader picture) Again, the BigEye - can be found for 1/3rd of this new models price is a no-brainer 😆🥃
@@ID-Guy Indeed! At a time where Tudor are reducing both the diameter and the thickness of their watches, Longines keeps pushing forward with big sizes. It's a shame. If the Swatch group wants Longines to be their competitor to Tudor, they need to rethink some of these aspects. As for the price, I agree. At least with Tudor one can justify the price increase in several cases, such as the new movements and the METAS certification. Now, Longines has done a lot of things right over the last years, but I still feel they're lacking that extra something to really push them up where they rightfully belong. I hope they'll make som changes, I'm rooting for them.
ID Guy you’ve nailed it again. This is another major missed opportunity for Longines (a brand I truly love.) I bought the Hanhart you referenced and I’m enjoying that, but would sell in an instant if Longines came out with a similarly sized Flyback in one of your proposed designs. 17mm thick case at that price is just ridiculous. I don’t think I’ll ever understand Swatch group or their design and marketing decisions.
Thanks for this Adam AND to hear that you picked up the Hanhart Flyback! That beauty really stopped me in my tracks when it came out. Simple, hand-wound and legible, what else is needed? 😉 It's a pity that Longines doesn't dig that little bit deeper (like what Tudor seems to be doing at the moment) to bring that old-school forward with a touch of modern 🥃
Awesome video 👌 Longines has a phenomenal heritage. Still good value for money. Your suggestion is almost exactly the 2018 Master Collection bicomact. Cheers.
This particular model along with the Avigation big eye is on my short list. Honestly I’m not overly concerned with the thickness. My wrist size is only 7 & 1/4 “. Still, yes a slimmer one would appeal to more people as you said! Currently I’m wearing the Conquest.👍🏼😎
As usual some great views IDGuy. I quite like the Spirit Flyback but have yet to see it in the flesh. It's certainly thick looking at the measurements as you mention though. As for not having a separate hour counter this could be arguably be covered using the rotating bezel for the first hour and with some minor use of the noggin (substitute the 5 minute points with hours in your head) could time a full 12 hours. A large chunk of that thickness will come down to the heavily modified Valjoux 7753 (added column wheel replacing the cam for the chronograph, a challenge in itself given the flyback function). I'll reserve my personal judgement for when I get to see one though. Removing the display case back and auto rotor should also shave a millimeter or more off the thickness as you mention. With the big crown manual winding should not be that much of a hassle. For now I'll be sticking with my BigEye in steel as to me it's still the most readable at a glance chronograph watch but also oozes the character of days gone by of a watch built with more function over form.
Thanks a lot for this video which offers great insights and interesting viewpoints as always :)
I do however not agree with your viewpoints. Yes, it is thick but in reality it wears much better than the specs might suggest.
I might be biased because I bought this watch right after its release so take this with a grain of salt - but here are the reasons why I think this is a fantastic release:
1. Design language in my opinion is great - it follows the spirit line but makes plenty of references to the past in a new, forward-looking way: the counters, the numerals, the two-compax layout, event the five stars are nice little hints to the rich back catalogue of Longines.
2. The finishing and overall quality impression of this piece is simply remarkable and justify the price imho.
I will not make a lot of friends here by saying this, but Longines is obviously being positioned by the Swatch group in a similar way to Tudor - and I really think they are on par with Tudor. One indication to that is that they increasingly work on accuracy and now certify the accuracy of this model fully encased on top of COSC movement only certification.
I do however agree with you that it would have been nice to revive the 13ZN or 30CH in a modern form - this would have helped to make the watch slimmer and would have raised the profile of this release much more. I guess however for the proposed pricepoint, this would have been impossible..
Where I agree with you
Excellent analysis 👏
Thank you brother 🥃
17mm is unwearable.
They should know that.
No wonder very few have sold
I totally agree with all your points
Even the majetek was too thick which is a shame because I like the aesthetic myself
This thing is GORGEOUS.
That's the nicest watch I've ever seen Invicta make😮🤣
They're stepping up their game, no doubt 😉
I love my (42mm) Hanhart Flyback. Falt white on flat black, with decent lume, makes it legible in any light. It's
I love the 17mm thickness I have several 17mm thick watches and one sector diving team that’s 20mm. Thin watches feel to dainty in my opinion.
Great Video.
Great video and commentary once again. I saw this release and got excited for a moment and then saw the thickness and forgot all about it just as fast.
We need the Swatch group as a whole to spend less time and money on marketing and more in engineering and design. Isn’t it about time we got a thinner 7750 version 2 or something like that? Shouldn’t Omega have thinner watches generally and tighten up their GMT movement?
I think it looks awesome! Will buy/10
Yep. Like you I'll stick to my Big Eye :) But I think they simply failed to ask the most basic of question of themselves: who is this for? Thickness aside, it's a nice watch.
"Who is this for" seems like such an obvious answer... but man, goes to show that many things were missed 😆🥃
It looks very similar to the Tag Heuer Autavia Flyback which I love.
The rotating bezel can be aligned with the hour hand to make this chrono a 12 hour display. Same goes for any bi-compax chrono with a bezel. I prefer a thinner bezel like the Type XX, but like the look (not the size) of this one.
Great video and I think you're right on the nose of the problem with this watch. I think it unfortunately shows Longines making a seemingly rare misstep (they've been going very strong in recent years). They've done what other brands do, which is develop a model line that is a commercial success then begin milking it.
The heritage line is brilliant as the basis for the range is ANYTHING from their long history... So you get all sorts of reissues that are interesting and widely appealing. The spirit on the other hand is a single design language series that you evidently can't just throw random movements and complication into hoping it will work 😅 great video, thanks!
M'boy!! Fantastic to see you! And you're spot on. I know you and your significant other love the Spirit 😉 This really was a bizarre choice on their side. We'd expect to hear massive news with a release of this kind but the movement wasn't celebrated...because it was put in a sterile looking hockey puck. At this £4k+ price too... to think the BigEye you can find for 1/3rd of the price today. Still all pale in comparison next to a PP Pilot Travel Time ;)
@@ID-Guy the Spirit 37mm is bloody brilliant! If I was in the market for a daily watch, that would be firmly in my top 2 (the other is the BB54 😂).
For that sort of price if I wanted a thick quirky Longines I'd go for the 45° angled Aviation. That is a cool Longines!
The Patek is getting a lot of wrist time, especially now it's on a Delugs rubber! I am thinking of hunting down an old Aquanaut brown rubber and deployant for it, I think that would really suit it.
@@time_to_lume232 Snipe a BB54 asap...I may or may not have secured one on Thursday (wondering whether or not it'll finally turn me to the Dark side & adore the BB collection 😉) But man... you PP on rubber is just perfect. AND a brown combo with the Rose, complimenting the case? It'll be a knock-out! 🥃
I guess it makes sense for them to put it in spirit collection as it's an aviation inspired watch and the flyback chrono was co-developed with the pilot. But yeah I wish it was remade in heritage format in black gilt multi-scale kind of like their monopusher watch.
Scathing 😅 But my goodness, you’re right…all of what you said.
It’s just, misplaced.
Such a missed opportunity to make a stellar Heritage piece (putting the movement on display) ...Alas 🥃
@@ID-Guy This is Xander 😉 Yeah I know and agree! I did quite like their last heritage release…and this would fit so well as part of the collection!
Wearing my gorgeous ten year old HydroConquest such a beautiful watch at such an inexpensive price.
The best kind of watch right there! 🥃
@@ID-Guy indeed it's a wonderful thing absolutely fabulous channel never miss a thing .
@@-DC- Really appreciate it brother. It never gets tiring sharing these lil POV nuggets 😉
Longines Spirit Series, by far the best watch release of the last decade...
Hello,
Do you have a video exploring how watch cases got bigger and why the current trend is moving towards smaller case diameters?
Thank you.
I like it. Would need to see it on the wrist though.
I agree with you, 15mm should be the upper limit when it comes to the thickness, everything above that is just a insanity. I mean who are their target group anyway? Andre the giant?
Nothing like releasing a watch with its own gravitational field (to help with pulling in the attention) 😉
@@ID-Guy Well, it already has 5 stars, SWAT team and stuff are dispatched, you have enough heat on you as is.
Seriously, this is the only part of spirit series I dislike about, it makes me think of GTA....
The Spirit range needs a Sinn 104 - a 3 hander day/date with a timer bezel.
I love the Longines Spirit line; I've got the blue steel 42mm & the titanium 40mm; both great in different ways.
But, this watch? It's beautiful, but it wasn't on my personal radar for one reason: I've made a conscious decision to avoid chronographs. Why? First, I don't need one. Two, they're expensive. Three, they're big. Which in itself is only really an issue because I would never use the function that made it big in the first place.😢
It's correct to think that this watch is not going to have mainstream appeal simply because even fewer people need a flyback Chrono than need a normal chronograph!
The question is: Did Longines really expect to sell loads of these? I certainly hope not.
If they want to really throw it down, they should come out with a micro rotor flyback! 😂
Cool man
A pleasure to share, brother 🥃
I can't understand why you aren't the creative director of these brands man
I’ll take the Hanhart 417ES Flyback over this everyday of the week.
I did just that. Bought the Hanhart reverse panda 39mm flyback. Got it just before this new Flyback Longines was released and have zero regrets!
Hear hear! A cracking machine 🥃
The Spirit Flyback Chrono is a great looking timepiece but I had to ask myself why does it have to be 17mm thick. Just a chunk on the wrist. I might be a buyer if it slimmed down to a more reasonable 14.5 - 15mm thickness.
Sometimes watches deserve to have such mass that they have their own gravitational field... not with this model line though 😆🥃
I fully agree.
Like the Spirit 3 handers. Other complications like the Zulu Time look great but the watch heads always feel too big and heavy on wrist. If they work on the size and thickness on these models they would really be great.
Excellent discussion!
Why not make a watch this important in manual wind? I have two classic manual wind chronos and neither are as thick as my basic diver watch.
Why not? Because outside the watch enthusiast world, folks expect a luxury watch to be an auto. At 17mm, it is going to be a hard sell.
Nice video and basically agree: I feel like I should own 1 Longines but there’s always 1 or 2 things off in every watch. And yes, playing it way too safe with the colors. 17mm is just ridiculous.
I would argue its biggest issue is actually price, it sells a price point where it runs into competition that it simply can't compete with.
The price was a segment I considered adding. £4k+ is a severe amount... and considering the humble BigEye can be found for 1/3rd of this retail price today is staggering! Excellent point Mark 🥃
Interesting review.
After trying one on,the only thing I agree with you on is the colours(or lack of.) Thickness is fine. You can't even tell how thick it is on when it's on the wrist(I don't wear formal shirts though.) No date, good. Sick of the date spoiling a good layout. Everything else was gorgeous. As soon as the blue one is back in stock. It's mine.
The watch is so thick it changes the earth's speed of rotation due to how much mass is displaced
Your mom's so thick... I mean, this watch is so thick it can't keep good time because it displaces its own hairspring 😆
Lots of melancholy in the community for this watch. For me, I was awestruck when I first saw it, and the equally crestfallen when I saw the thickness. Were it thinner, it would represent my "perfect watch", one I've been on the hunt for for several years. The dial, despite the five stars, is stunning to me, and bicompax is just fine for almost everything I want to actually use a chrono for. 42mm is large, but with a ceramic bezel and the reasonable lug to lug distance I think it really would be wearable. It's just that castle wall of a case side rising from your wrist that puts a knife through the heart of this thing. I own the 41mm Hydroconquest Chrono, and it sees very little wrist time because it's 16mm thickness never feels right on my wrist. I'm so disappointed in the Spirit Flyback because it comes SO close for me, yet still falls short...
Yeah, I'd thought similar when this released... A bit of a miss from a brand that rarely does. I think Swatch Grp is having more production woes - even the launch lacked conviction. Probably the bigger picture is to warm the market up ahead of a new Type XX Breguet, so just reminding people about Flybacks... But, credit where it's due - a flyback for this money is impressive, even if it is thick. Surely your excellent heritage version will be around the corner!
Agree with other comments that Longines is limited by being a part of a larger group. They have a price point to stay within and that's sad. A lot of designs are so great but end up being clunky because they have to stay within a price per unit range. These make their releases close but still off the mark.
Looking at their design history, they have content that, if done well, could compete with many top brands today.
I wouldn't exchange my blacked out Alpiner flyback for it, plus I got it for peanuts on Jomashop lol
Design elements are here for the Longines, every good ingredients is there but the cake is a bit bland for the price of a truffle...
And the result is a planetary sized watch 😉
@@ID-Guy I usually really love thin and light the 35mm to 40 being the sweet spot for me, I made some exceptions, notably for my two favorite Alpinas the other one being a Avalanche extreme regulator. I know I know... Taste is so subjective and pie plates aren't meant to be wore on a wrist, Gerald Genta was a weird dude...
"Why Is Nobody Talking About the Longines Spirit Flyback?" Thumbnail answers with 17mm thickness. 😆
Isn't it cool when a title is answered on the cover photo? Dunno why, I find it satisfying ;) Had a call with a good friend the other day and said "making a video on the Longines chrono that came out this year" ...silence... "the 17mm one".... "Ooooooh THAT one!" 😂
I really wanted this Longines to be the budget BP Air Command, but the 17mm thickness is a deal breaker 😢
-_- I hope longines chronograph minute counter hand has jump movement instead of continuous; it just harder to see what minute it is in a small subdial with continuously running hand
Another issue with this collection is the super long lugs. It makes the watch even bigger
That thing is thicker than the Tudor Black Bay.
You didn't mention that Longines also created the first two time zone watch a.k.a GMT.
Modern automatic chronographs should be thinner. The first automatic chronographs like the vintage Seiko 6138-8020 is already thick at 14.5mm.
In a true GMT, the hour hand is independent, not the GMT hand, right?
I think they are a bit too motivated to promote the spirit line with a big amount of variations. Your take makes much more sense, but I think the haven't seen the tree because of the Forrest. (That's a thing we say in Germany)
The only thing that is putting me off the Zulu range is the Over use of unnecessary dial text. Less is so very much More !
One thing that our Omega's never slip up on, there's always that fine line of going over the top with dial text. Let's not forget the 5-Star dials 😉 Great point Ian!
@@ID-Guy The new 2023 release Tudor's now have reduced dial text & look better for it.
You forgot to mention the 30ch movement as well. I do not think Swatch will allow Longines use the 13ZN.
I would say Longines have seamlessly married the past with the present. It’s watch dimensions they need to pay attention too. Not everyone buying a “Zulu Time GMT” is an ‘aviation pioneer.’ 😆
I agree and not at the same time.
Have you tried one in person?
Judging a watch from its spec sheet isn’t fair at all.
When you want a Valjoux 7750 base automatic chronograph and some proper water resistance the watch will inevitably get thick. Is it for everyone? Probably not. To me, as long as I’m not wearing tight sleeves I don’t really care about thickness.
The Big Eye looks fabulous but it’s almost not water resistant (3ATM) as a lot of other automatic chronographs from Longines.
The Hanhart 417 is a tremendous watch but it hand wound not automatic and it doesn’t have the same WR not durability.
On these kinds of budgets, you sadly have to choose between slimness or water resistance.
You can have both if you go the modular chronograph route but you have to accept misaligned crown and pushers.
Some critics here are just pointless to me. It only measures half an hour cause it has a rotating bezel to time hours passing… that’s how a navigating flyback works.
I tried the watch and it’s simply stunning. Only han hart gives a flyback at this price point but the finishing here is to me on another level. Yes it’s thick but a lot of it s due to the curved bezel and glass. The blancpain flyback its 3 mm thinner but with a plain glass and bezel and they charge 20k for it.
I think a better opinion could be made by trying the watches…
The Zulu GMT didn’t make a splash either. That means that flaws or no flaws, watches that aren’t Tudor or Rolex don’t sell. Even if you fixed the watch’s flaws, it wouldn’t matter. It's so sad!
Absolutely right. Branding is always going to win people over 9 times out of 10. Phenomenal watches at the end of the day though... The BigEye is still the best value watch I've ever bought three years on. Bulletproof 🥃
I hope they reissue the flyback or zulu time in 40mm
Zulu coming up in smaller size, just a heads up
@@watchnerds Ohoo, thanks for the info. If they dont overdo it and make it 36mm like legend diver I will probably get those
@@watchnerds It will be SUCH a killer. A Smaller Zulu GMT will dominate the segment 🥃
Looks like your dreams are soon to come true! 🥃
@@ID-Guy it'll be 39mm. There'll be also the legend diver revamped, new conquest line ups and also its heritage models, new poetic flagship, and another gmt coming up with ability to go to deeper waters too. Oh yeah they're serving fish too this year.
I think that viewed against the spirit it is more expensive with less appointments. Not everyone likes the bezel.
Kinda weird not mentioning the Autavia Flyback in this whole video.
They'll sell 'em. There's wrist-bros in every official watch post asking 'make it 45mm and I would buy it, this is dainty boy woman sized'. (Their wrist being the only big thing they can brag about). They like 'em thick too. 🤭
The real answer is because this is an insanely expensive hobby and people are burned out on talking about it 24/7.
You're somebody who gets me 😉🥃
It’s the internet, nobody *talks* to anybody.
Very true 😆
The point of being an "old" watchmaking company is that it implies decades (or centuries) of craftsmanship, expertise, and know-how. 17mm thick for a chrono displays none of that prowess. You don't deserve the accolades if you can't back it up with industry-leading products.
In my opinion this is an embarrassment to the history of the 13ZN movement. To see a haute horology level movement turn into this monstrosity is just too sad. Whoever green-lit this watch needs to be held accountable.
It does squash the legacy, case in point, nobody is talking about this watch or the Flyback 😆 If they were to give us something beautifully refined with a sector dial, we'd go crazy! 🥃
You guys need to chill about the thickness. This is a pilot watch not a dress watch, you wanna thin watch get a quartz watch. This watch is what it’s meant to be a BIG watch with presence
Trouble placing your accent, Pretoria, or ZA in general?
Cape Town! Folks were from Zimbabwe, so a bit of that bled into me over time (now living in the UK, got a splash of that added into the mix) I'm a mongrel 😉
Absolutely love it, keep the great content coming! It is especially well timed as I am quite interested in the Flyback, as I love my Zulu time, and I am a sucker for an open case back. So appreciate the review loads!
Saying remove the rotor and clear case back makes no sense to me. Why are so many watch enthusiasts opposed to seeing the movement?
The Longines Museum looks fantastic.
Love the Zulutime*, but its not the stunning value that its made out to be in my opinion.
The Zulutime is stunning looking in a way a chronograph cannot be.
It will also be expensive, and based on the sketchy movement in the Zulutime, I would not want a sketchy flyback.
* I really Love the Zulutime!
1276th?
1st yet again! You're on a roll! 🔥
@@ID-Guy a square sliced sausage roll ;)
Yes, I agree with this video that this watch is too big, too thick with too much weight.
I actually like the five stars.
It's a detail that I can absolutely understand. Also, it's a defining feature of the Spirit line today (which is a bonus) 🥃
Longines have been doing great things recently but the Hanhart you mention beats this watch hands down, not least because it is around half price and I'm betting a match in quality. At the moment Hanhart only have the 42mm in stock but when the 39mmn is back I'm in. As for hype in releases how much has there been about yet another black bay??!!! Tudor fan boy here but it's time they came up with a different winner.
Between you and me... I may or may not have just secured that "another Black Bay" 😆 Questioning whether or not this new lil gem will convert me over to the Dark side. But I agree, we need another prominent brand to offer the same kind of quality of detail...without being so thick that it has its own gravitational field haha! 🥃
@@ID-Guy I'm pleased for you but when you own several Tudors already another BB is not earth shattering. Unless you want a collection that looks the same when you take off your specs or squint. 😉
Sounds a bit weird to hear the word novelty when discussing the Flyback and Longines. That's like calling a moon phase a novelty on a Patek. Who heck ever uses a moonphase anymore? about as many buying a flyback chrono while flying their P51. Yet no ones saying oh dear you got suckered into one of those moon phase Pateks. Longines would be kinda of foolish not to leverage the heritage of being one of the only watch makers with such a deep inhouse chronograph capability. Short is the list of brands that can boast a true in house chrono let alone a flyback. When John Goldberger calls a Longines the most perfect chronograph ever made despite owning Paul Newmans and well literally everything worth buying...thats saying something.
Yes its thick but I mean its not meant to be the flagship of the line, thats the Spirit. Even the Zulu GMT is too large for most guys with a below 7.25 wrist. But Longines have been quick to adapt to the demand of smaller sizes. With the Tudor 54 the market for smaller vintage looks is heating up and Longines quickly responded with 39mm Zulus GMT. I would not put it last Longines to offer a slimmer and smaller chrono with a retro aesthetic.
As far as the styling its definitely trying to add some modern flair to a retro template and personally I think it succeeds at creating an aesthetic that stands on its own and not on the shoulders of a more expensive brand like Tudor needs to share so much overlap with the Submariners to get all it's current hype. You look at the Longines Spirit, Zulu GMT, Spirit Chrono and Flyback Chrono and you don't mistake it for another brand. You must establish that first. Then like the Black Bay all of the sudden 5 years later everyone on social media is hyping your not really new design. 😅
Longines make fantastic watches but not fantastic decisions about who their market is and what they want.
Longines need Tudors marketing team.
Don't care about being 17mm thick not that bad compared to some others.
It to dressy/shiny in my opinion. I could live with a polished case, it's Longines after all, but a sunray dial is too much. A Chrono is a sports watch that has a limit of how much you can dress it up. The most dressy that i can think of would be the Navitimer and even that wouldn't fly at very formal events.
I was a bit sad when the Lord chamberlain broke the wand at the queens funeral, to place it on the coffin and wore a f*ing Apple watch.
Tudor releases the BB in a new color and Bark and Jack and the sheep lose their minds. Longines introduces new great models and nobody cares.
generally spirit lines have poor wearability unnecessarily large ... any chronograph only complication above 14mm thickness is just plain poor.
Not to mention you can get the non-flyback Spirit Chronograph (with an hour counter that IMO is more useful than a flyback) for over £1k cheaper. At £4.2k you're competing directly with the sexy Tudor Black Bay Chrono or people saving up for the iconic Moonwatch, and this watch just doesn't have the finesse or brand prestige to warrant the price. There seems to be a Swatch Group push to have Longines compete with Tudor, and Omega with Rolex price-wise which feels a bit crazy
Because many of the parts are made in Hong Kong? I would rather spend the money on a real W10 Smith's Military watch (like the one you own)!