This article was originally published in the March/April 2022 Issue of the WatchTime print magazine.

With the launch of the Spirit collection in 2020, Longines paid tribute to the many pioneering aviators of the early 20th century that had relied on its watches. Last year, the company with ?the oldest trademark still in use in its original form,? introduced the first two Spirit watches in titanium, and, more importantly, sans date window. We took the 42-mm version (ref. L3.811.1.53.2) on a proverbial test flight.

In 2021, Longines introduced two versions of Spirit Titanium both as a ?new step forward? and an ?homage to the world of aviation,? thanks to their cases being forged from grade 5 titanium (an alloy of titanium, aluminum and vanadium), which is lighter and more durable than steel.
And an homage it indeed is: Due to both the metal?s increased availability and the need for more fuel-efficient, lightweight aircraft, titanium alloy-based metals have replaced many of the standard aluminum and steel components that have long been used in the aerospace industry. Historically, the use of titanium was often limited by the costs involved and therefore applied only for components exposed to high temperatures. On the legendary SR-71 ?Blackbird? from Lockheed, which was designed for flight at over Mach 3, however, titanium was used almost entirely for the entire structure. And as it was revealed after the Strategic Reconnaissance (SR) plane?s retirement in 199...