Longines x Hodinkee Spirit Zulu Time: A Black Bay Pro alternative - Why isn't it sold out yet?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 เม.ย. 2024
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Taking a closer look at the Longines and Hodinkee limited edition spirit Zulu time. A titanium GMT watch ? Yes please. Maybe you are looking for a Tudor Black Bay Pro alternative , maybe you like the looks of the Rolex Explorer 2 but not the size. In any case this Titanium GMT watch from Longines got so many things right. This watch was on loan via Hodinkee (thanks Tony & Brett for making this happen). but I would to stress that this is NOT a sponsored video, just me wanting to check out a watch I really wanted to check out up close & personal. For everyone on the fence of getting one (last units available) I hope this gives you some more insight so you can make up your own mind about these.
Hope you like the video ! If you do, don't forget to like & subscribe.
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00:00 Intro - BoS Style
00:55 Unboxing & First Impressions
02:22 The elephant in the room - The black bay pro
03:24 Specifications
04:51 Movement
05:33 Bezel
06:01 DIal
07:50 Bracelet
09:25 Conclusion - บันเทิง
Proud to be part of the 9% club! Mate, this was a really comprehensive video, I have literally no questions! Brilliantly shot too Tom, as always 🙌🏻👍🏻
You are among the best 1% of that 9%. Thanks for taking the time 🙏
The Longines is the dark horse in this race . An absolutely incredible watch
Agreed
Great review Tom! Love the macro shots & appreciate your honest take on the watch
Thanks for watching! I always try to bring my thoughts with respect for everyone. We all have opinions and things we want to see in watches. But every little something we don’t like , somebody else might just love. Must be so hard as a watch brand 😅😅😅
See you in Geneva !?
If only this was a production model for the masses to pick up. This more considered watch would definitely improve the brands image if normal people could buy it.....but hey, its still available from Hodinkee. Excellent work again mate, keep it up 👌
Why wouldn’t normal ppl be able to buy ? 😅. Bigger production could lower the cost probably but it doesn’t feel like paying a Hodinkee premium tbh.
@@BowlOfSalmon Because normal people don't drop $3000 on a watch. Check some statistics on the average household income in USA, Europe and rest of the world, then consider people drop a good amount on their monthly income on rent/mortgage, children's expenses, food etc. If a person manages to save up 3 grand in a year lets, they ought to be crazy to buy a watch with that money when they're so much more to do. Someone who's well off, that's another story. $3000 is a lot of money for most normal people everywhere. In certain asian countries people make that money in a year, in many european places, that's a 3 months salary (before expenses obiously) for full time work. Like I said, normal people. Majority of people are made of low and middle class or low-middle class. Upper class people will buy it no questions asked.
@@narrowisthewaytoeternity I feel where you're coming from. Im an average guy with a budding career and own a home with no kids. Car is paid off but I would be shooting myself in the foot to own a watch at $3000. Just hard to do without regret. I need a laptop for school/work/home and my $3000 would go to that before the watch. It would be awesome to own something this cool but something I am learning to do is find something thats amazing and if it's out of reach, find its dupe. Finding a watch that does something well but for a fraction of the price.
I have this watch, as well as a steel Zulu Time. This is the only watch I've worn since buying it. The steel ZT is a beautiful watch, but it's a bit too sharp-looking. This watch, while it does have some polishing, is significantly more utilitarian and rugged-looking -- which is more my style. My watch is also ridiculously accurate. The titanium weight on my wrist feels incredible. It is a beautiful watch, fits my style, and is a flyer GMT to boot (I travel a lot). This watch feels like it was made by Longines specifically for me.
Also, it is very strange how Hodinkee and Longines are not marketing this watch. Since its release in December 2023, Hodinkee has only posted it twice across all their IG accounts, and that was back in December. Very bizarre.
Happy to read this. I’d wear this a lot too
Tom, this is outstanding video quality! I just subscribed and look forward to catching up on your back catalogue 😂 I think this is a really nicely executed GMT. The whole Zulu Time range has been a big hit in my eyes.
Thx Brad. I always try to do the best possible footage showcasing the watch with an honest personal opinion. Longines definitely caught my eye too last year
Great review. I think you did an awesome job of highlighting why this is an excellent offering by Longines.
Thank you kindly!
Amazing Video! Production quality is through the roof. Keep up the amazing work. Definitely a an underrated and attractive piece
Thanks for the kind words. Hope I got you to hit that subscribe button 😉
You know it @@BowlOfSalmon
Thank you for the well-produced and fair review of this watch. Always enjoy your videos. =)
Much appreciated! 🙏
Hello Tom, once again, a splendid and well-executed video. I believe much of the resistance to the watch stems from it coming from Hodinkee. Hodinkee has, over the past several years, transitioned from being for watch enthusiasts to being more of a fashion blog (Just look at the "How to Wear It" series).
Thanks man. ! I did noticed a surge of euhm trolls indeed. I purposely didn’t focus on the Hodinkee collaboration because I just wanted to focus on the watch. Not the politics or whatever behind it. But yeah … the platform
Has changed, no denying that
Agree, the Ed S. Gshock flopped as well. I’m not sure the Hodinkee brand carries the same wait any more.
Who cares. Their logo is on the case back. I don't even think about it.
Great video yet again. So well done.
Thanks again! 🙏
Great video of a fantastic watch from a very underappreciated historic brand.
Thank you sir. I hope to be able to check out some other pieces from Longines
love this piece mate! Looks so modern and cool!! :)
Thank you! Cheers! You could pull off the bigger Longines versions too
Excellent video, Tom! Superb production quality as always. I like the look of this much more than the BB Pro.
Many thanks!
Beautiful piece very well done video. Subbed
Thank you very much!
Excellent video Tom! I have to agree, the macro footage was amazing. I don't care if it's over used, "light play" is the only way to say what's going on in that round thingy (yes yes I know it's the rehaut, I just don't know what that means :P). The thing looks awesome on the gray nato strap but I agree the bracelet does look superb. I think you've changed my mind on this piece, I really like it...
Thx man. Ring is also easier to pronounce 🤪
@@BowlOfSalmon haha for sure! I forgot to say, I'm one of the weirdos that's fine with the stars on the other spirit watches. But I don't mind date wheels either so what do I know.
I think it looks pretty nice.
I’ve had a Spirit Zulu Time anthracite dial with green bezel for about a year and a half and it has been a great watch. And the time keeping is superb!
This one definitely has my interest.
I think they have a Great lineup.
Really good video, love the videos for this. What kind of setup do you use for photos and video? Currently stuck with an iPhone 15 for watch pics and videos lol
See video from a couple of weeks ago for some pointers
⌚ Awesome footage!
Glad you enjoyed it
Really like this piece
Like the Explorer 2 vibes with longines touches
Rotating bezel and grade 5 titanium is nice
Agreed. Thx for watching
@@BowlOfSalmon love your content
Keep up the great work
Really like it. No stars 🎉. Great tool vibes and the bracelet looks amazing. Dial is clean but interesting. Heritage maintained, screams Longines. Home run.
Thanks for watching! Glad someone sometimes agrees with me ;)
"Whatever the "F" I want to call it..." is the only GMT movement I will travel & work with happily. Great video first off. I like a "true GMT" because my job. Sunday I'm in Portland, Monday/Tuesday (dateline jump) I'm in Hong Kong. Wednesday/Tuesday (dateline time travel again) I'm in LAX. Thursday in LAX to JFK. I tried the ETA 2893 based "office GMTs" and they don't last a year before starting to drift on accuracy from all the resetting I did on the road. Once I got my hands on a MT5652 and the 3285 movements, I can't go back. This Longines movement has my interest peaked, and it just might maybe.... maybe be my next GMT!
i use it to track f1 race times mostly.... but I kinda really like the look a coloured gmt hand. thanks for watching
I've been a part of the 9% club when 9 where the actual subscribers, keep it up Tom! Bloody brlliant video as usual!
I like this watch and I think Longines is doing a great job with their redesigns lateley, The bracelet, even if it's well built, feels big and chunky, I think it has to do with the huge center link , I know that you're team nato but bracelets play an huge factor in my decisions 😂
hmmm chunky isn't what this feels like at all for me. an SMP or GS bracelet feels like that ... we have similar wrists no ?
@@BowlOfSalmon yeah, I mean visually. I refer only to the center link compared to the other two, especially in the end link.
Beautiful, but my favourite GMT is Tudor Black Bay GMT. By the way, nice video, and those micro shorts are amazing, as always.
I’m hoping to see a downsized gmt from Tudor. The burgandy size they did would be great for me.
@@BowlOfSalmon oh yes I did agree with you on that.
Love this. I was debating this or the SJE093, and ended up going Seiko. Don't know if I made the right call or not.
Your decision is always the right decision. Don’t let anyone tell you different. I love that Seiko btw !
Longines are knocking it out of the park. Love their recent designs.
Agreed. Some bangers. This was probably the one that made me look at the rest of the lineup tho
Bought one (nr 064) - super pleased with it!
Congrats. Solid choice ! 🤜
@@BowlOfSalmon loved your review - remarks were on point and shots encapsulated perfectly the pristine look of the watch!
Great narrative. Funny ASF!
Thx
Hard to compare ti to SS. Of course the wear experience will be different. After wearing the Pro for a few months now I find it to be comfortable. Yes it’s heavy in comparison to my Ti watches but it cops a lot of negative press. 39mm can differ from watch to watch and is sweet spot for many. This one has definitely mimicked the vintage style of the Pro. I still think the deal breaker is no micro adjustments like the T-fit. All watches should have an on the fly adjustments. Nice review Tom. Understandable why you were keen to try it.
Pros and cons and cons difficult dicision. I think the pro got too much people focusing on the wrong thing. It’s also a great watch. I think I never looked twice at the bbpro because I have the exp 2. The Longines is different enough t because of the ti. Thanks for watching and expressing your opinion Trish. Appreciated as always 🙏
Excellent video. Hoping Longines will release a SS steel-bezel version of this in the main production line. Prefer the matte look over the shine of ceramic.
would be cool. i'd like to see more brushed ceramic bezels. (think SPB143 or P39 style) or also go me thinking .. do brushed steel bezel dive watches exist ? thanks for watching & subbing( !?)
Great review, as always 🔥
i love the watch, but this first link makes it wear awkward.
ps. Does higher grade of titanium means higher quality? The only difference I notice is that grade 2 seems darker. If quality comes with number of grade where would Blancpain’s grade 23 be? 😅
thanks for watching !
I don't know enough about the tech stuff . I based myself of some some googling// not the source is hodinkee 🙈 (but mosts links say about the same thing)
Grade 2 is all titanium. Grade 5 is an alloy that also includes aluminum and vanadium (6% aluminum and 4% vanadium, which is why it's also referred to as Ti 6Al-4V). Grade 5 is harder; expect to see Grade 5 in higher-end manufacturing, while lower-priced options might use Grade 2
I can feel how many ppl commented on Tom's story, just based on the amount of information he delivered in this video 🤣
All these shots are so awesome!
I'm now even more torn between getting the Black Bay 36 blue MT or this one. I feel like the BB36 I can purchase it any time in the future. But this Zulu-Ti is so limited on a global scale.
Fast paced. Just how I like it. Different watches. But I guess you could tell how much I enjoyed this one.
Very nice video, thank you. I’ve got the Black Bay Pro, so I was merely curious. If I didn’t have the BBP, well, this would have been a strong contender. I’m biased toward lighter watches and this looks beautiful. The bezel is also a plus, imho. But the Hodinkee brand is a minus and I wonder at a house with the heritage of Longines linking itself to a relatively new retailer. But the watch is a winner, no question! Well done!
Glad you appreciate the effort. Bbp is an awesome watch. Somehow I never got tempted by it. Maybe too close to my exp2 because both steel and titanium makes it feels more like a different watch
@@BowlOfSalmon Thank you, I’ve also got a Exp2, 42mm, but it’s a bit large and blingy for a true travel watch, imho. I’m a softie for the solid bezel. All the best.
I really like it, if I didn’t have the BB pro I may have been tempted as it does some things better, it’s titanium and I really like the numerals. I think the pro would still win out as it’s cheaper, available in my country, not as flashy but the big things for me are I love the contrast of the hands on the pro and not having on the fly adjustment means i would not have a bracelet option.
I hope longines takes some of these improvements to there other models, there is no need for a flying egg timer and how insecure do you need to be to give yourself 5 stars? Some more grade 5 titanium options on the market would be great too.
Looks like titanium will be a trend this year too. They do things different and ofcourse as a watch enthusiast we always just want something different too right. Thanks for watching and well spoken opinion ! Appreciate it
If only this was in a 41mm case for us larger wristed people. I like this one a lot... but I know it won't work for my 8" wrist. Plus I'm not buying any new watch that doesn't have an on-the-fly macro adjustable bracelet. I'm not sure why any new watch release doesn't offer that, even if it costs me more.. I'll buy it. However, it's a great looking watch I'll admit that.
Not all in the fly adjustments are soo good equally well imho. Like I said. A toothpick is all you need to size no ?
@@BowlOfSalmon true... I mean my EDC is my 216570 Polar and it doesn't have the on the fly adj... but it's a great watch.
Sold out!
😳
Personally I think it's better looking than the Black Bay Pro. I'd love one in 42mm, as I have a large wrist.
in pure looks i'm split on opinions ... I can only image more Ti options will arrive soon or later
They should’ve released this with a white dial and put the hourglass logo on, that would really have got up Rolex’s nose.
Pink is next
Great video. Do a head to head review of this Longines Spirit Zulu Time GMT Titanium Hodinkee vs the Longines Spirit Zulu Time GMT S & G and you will have me as a subscriber! Ciao
sounds like blackmail :). thx for watching
@@BowlOfSalmon pretty please? I just subscribed, haha
@@BowlOfSalmon I have the Longines Spirit Zulu Time GMT 42mm in Black with baby blue hues. Which Zulu time do you prefer out of your 2? Thanks
It’s nice but imo it’s the price that holds it back. You can get a quality flyer GMT in similar dimensions, 80 hr ETA based movement from its sibling brand Mido for a third of the price. $2600 more just for titanium is a big markup
Haven’t seen any Mido up close tbh. But we always pay brand premiums somehow no ?
Certainly my favourite looking Spirit Zulu, but paying an extra 20% import tax to have it shipped into the UK makes it a non starter.
Yeah. Europe mainland distribution would help. Oh wait. Brexit too 😅
Grade 5 titanium contains some aluminum -- which gives it a more steel look as well as the ability to be polished.
The Pelagos is grade 2 titanium -- pure titanium -- as a titanium dive watch should be. Pure titanium is more corrosion resistant than grade 5.
Yes & no. Grade 5 costs more to produce and is more scratch resistant. Grade 2 is cheaper to make and manufacture and less scratch resistant (but yes better corrosion) But if it’s cheaper to manufacture why is the Tudor more expensive? 🤷♂️
So pros and cons. Thx for the info
Hi. What is your wrist size?
16,5cm 🤛
I am like you, I avoid TAG, Breitling and hublot
I got a tag tho 😅
Did you buy all the grey ribbed natos because they’re sold out haha
Guilty
Longines needs to make a Pepsi bezel to get my money.
Tudor saw this
ehhh my $700 titanium Mido uses screw in links and this is supposed to be a more premium swatch group product?
I don’t like sizing pin/collar but it
Doesn’t really matter while
Wearing it right ?
Longines is beating the shit out of Tudor!🎉
get ready for another round at w&w
I'd buy this if I could try it on first i.e Longines should sell it everywhere as a standard watch. Can't buy online as we get smashed with tax and duties.
i've only bought one watch i didn't try on before , and that was a diver 65 .. but of course similar models are availble... this in titanitum.. is very specific
Looks most at home on a NATO - sadly the male end links kill the bracelet for me…
okay .. i need to revisit this . maybe you all ruined it for me now but never did it cross my mind it didn't sit good because of that .. because it sits good.. but maybe that is because of my perfectly sized male model wrist ;) hehe
@@BowlOfSalmon I think it would wear better across a wider range of wrists if they had done female end links instead. The 47mm L2L measurement understates the true length.
No on-the-fly microadjust at this price point is a dealbreaker! Also a miss at this price point: no screws on the links. Also not a fan of the AR on the top surface, or the male end links. Nice looking watch otherwise!
Screw link are a one time thing. Micro adjust would be great. But it has to be a good one. And the best one I have handled is still the one on the sub.
@@BowlOfSalmon I know it isn’t grade 5 titanium or a GMT, but the Tudor Ranger costs considerably less, and has both screws and the TFit clasp with a safety lock. Micro adjust and fold over safety lock are hugely important in my opinion. Would have paid a bit more for this GMT if it had those features.
my grail... I am just a tad short on cash atm
Sorry to hear. But it’s just a watch and a silly luxury in the end
@@BowlOfSalmon thanks Sir, no big, just in the process of changing job so I keep money tight... so no biggie, but it is really kind from you (just found your channel but I have already subbed, as i followed you on the gram)
Imagine it on a white dial
Not that hard for me 😂
Why move the date to 3 o’clock- loses its symmetry
Some crazy ppl prefer it there too. Me 🤭
Looks like a Timex North Expedition Solar 🤣
Funny man
@@BowlOfSalmon True.
How is this any better than a San Martin? Tudor over this ALL DAY, EVERY DAY
By all means Get a Tudor. But if you can’t see the difference between a (what should be) illegal replica/copy just with another logo on the dial and this … sorry
@@BowlOfSalmon I already own a BB41 Heritage and own a few San Martins along with other watches. The Zulu Time at asking price having a comparable clasp to the San Martin is just not going to cut it. The Zulu Time is not a much more affordable offering than the Tudor. It's obviously trying to compete with the Tudor and therefore, you might as well buy the San Martin as Longines does not have anywhere near the Logo Cred as the Tudor.
I apreciate this watch,very good quality,but there is something wrong,i dont now what exactly,she dont have a specific personality just like tudor ,everybody recognize a tudor,an omega,cartier ,rolex or patek etc,,,but this model looks like a microbrand homage....of course quality is here but for the price exist too much other choice before thinking in this especialy..,just my point of view
You tried to explain it with a proper argument and I appreciate that. Safer design. (What I said about the hands … )
Longines invented the first watch with a rotating steel bezel in 1953. So not sure how some say Longines is copying Tudor..
Just saying.
I hope my nuance was clear enough. I don’t see them as copies. Unless it’s Ali express brands slapping on a different logo on the same copies design. I think this is like the car industry. If SUVs started doing well more brands would join in and to their take on it.
I agree. My comment was a general one regarding many comments I have seen on this topic. The drawings they have from their original watch isn't that far off from this current model. I saw a comment recently where someone said Longines and Hodinkee created a homage watch. If anything they made a homage of their original model. I enjoy your channel and look forward to seeing a lot more from your channel. @@BowlOfSalmon
😂 yup! Longines is way ahead of Tudor 🎉 nothing to worry about. Tudor hypers are just hurt that longines is running circles around Tudor 🎉.
Yes, my first thought was black bay ripoff. 😂😂
And I hope I was more tactful in my video showing it’s not that
It probably hasn’t sold out because it’s a child’s size watch. It looks tiny next to the Rolex Explorer II.
You’re the man
From a Tudor Blackbay GMT fanboy that just recently acquired said Tudor GMT. The Tudor body slams this watch in many areas. Love the thickness of my Tudor, the wrist presence is awesome. The refinement and quality are all there. Rolex quality on Tudor is evident when I compare it to my 116610LN. I like big lugs and I cannot lie. Tudor for the win, Longines for girly men that complain of wrist fatigue, thickness, and want everything in 39mm. Tudor BB Pro homage is what this watch screams, also not to get into semantics but that ain’t no in house movement, they are ETA movements. Picked up my Tudor BB GMT on bracelet, a used 2022 model for $2500 tax free on one of the watch forums. In love with it and has replaced my Sub on my wrist for the foreseeable future. These things are future classics guaranteed, pick one up while you still can.
Look mate. I love you love your watch. I’m not dissing your watch. I’m respectful in my reviews. And when expressing my personal subjective. opinion. I was respecting your pov up until a certain point….
My apologies if there was a point in my comment where you did not respect it. I can see how some of my commentary may be misconstrued, however it was done in a humorous and not hurtful way, nor was it directed at anyone in particular. Thanks for taking the time to put this content together, I do like the idea of a titanium travel watch.
@@BowlOfSalmonhe was just kidding around. Both watches are great.
The regular spirit gmt looks better
I disagree. This is a far better look
Anything to do with hodinkee is not a positive
Focus on things you like
Just good to have options right !?
Just good to have options right !?
They would have gotten away with it if they just changed the gmt hand color to something original
tudor did pink and see how many jokes they got.
Is this a Hodinkee sponsored ad? Maybe it is not selling out because the market doesn’t like it… hence the loaner and seeing more TH-camrs try hype this watch recently.
Because I don’t heckle brands or Hodinkee it doesn’t mean it’s an ad. Nothing paid or no other freebies involved. Just a watch I wanted to talk about.
@@BowlOfSalmonfair enough though Hodinkee does deserve some of the heckles. I used to be a fan and a customer but these days their content doesn’t appeal to me and it is all a bit pretentious.
Hodinkee has not posted this watch on their own social media since December 2023. I don't think they will pay TH-camrs to advertise it.
@@AndyAdventuring gotta move that stock. Not selling out quickly isn’t a great look for their brand and future collabs.
@@VibrantMango Yet they've not posted the watch on their own social media for 4 months.
Because watch people are never happy with anything 🤦🏻♂️
Must be frustrating being a brand right !?
@@BowlOfSalmon It’s more frustrating as a watch guy because this LE is still in stock and I don’t have funds to buy it!!
Automatic, so no.
This is not the quartz you are looking for.
@@BowlOfSalmon This is not mechanical im looking for.
Still look like a tudor copy Nothing seems inspired or something longines would do with the Zulu but then again every collab with hodinkee sucks the originality out of it
I think my oris diver 65 is a pretty original watch. And this is still a Longines, regardless of what name is put extra on that caseback.
I agree the diver 65 from oris have originality though the Zulu hodinkee or most collars with Them i find falling flat as they suck out What the Zulu is out of it not just with that model but with every collab done recently between watch brands and hodinkee not to forget hodinkee being more snd more snob like they could have gone with the original design for a collab with the square case but nope they look at a Black Bay pro and Said Yeah lets steal that Schengen for the collab
It’s a BBPro copy & not as good.
This could have saved me a lot of hours making this video.
Hahaha😂 this definitely isn't a copy! Longines is way ahead of Tudor. And unlike Tudor, longines is not a Rolex wannabe 😂... that's why longines is outselling Tudor by a hundred miles😂.
@@Mega-zi7ys😂 Think the laugh’s on you!
@@KeepingWatchUK yeah sure try hiding your tudor so ppl will think it's a Rolex 😂😂
@@Mega-zi7ysoh how witty you are😂 Nah I wear my Tudors as solid ‘beaters’ as alternatives when I’m not wearing my many Rolex pieces. It’s OK stick to your Longines.
So you like a collaboration with a Woke magazine brand? Wow….
I just saw a watch I liked to talk about. There was or is no collaboration in this
@@BowlOfSalmon Hodinkee collaborated with Longines, dummy
@@jackeddemonhe meant no collaboration between himself and the brands … dummy
Great video... and this is a good homage/improvement compared to the "original watch". It would certainly have sold more with a better placement, generally speaking. I like it, but there are a few elements not strictly related to the watch itself, that would make me prefer other timepieces...
I appreciate your respectful take on this ;)
Subscribed for this video and was not disappointed; will stay! 🫡
Thanks mate. Some back catalogue to keep you entertained 🤜
I love what Longines is doing nowadays. The spirit is my personal favorite watch. @watchncollect
I’ll have to get my hands on another one of the lineup there
USA. Hodinkee. Special. There, that's why it's not sold out. If it was a worldwide general release it would've sold much better.
Shipping/Tax is always tricky indeed.
It was available via the longines site, at least here in the UK - i really wanted to get one but had other more important things to get. Sold out fast though.