Longines embraced its heritage as a provider of watches to pioneering aviators and other adventurers of the early 20th century with the launch of its Spirit collection in 2020. Like the majority of timepieces in Longines’s portfolio, the first batch of Spirit models ? including the handsome Spirit Chronograph that I reviewed here ? all had steel cases. This year, Longines has introduced the first Spirit in a titanium case, a move that both speaks to the collection’s dedication to utilitarian cockpit design and indicates the brand is leaning into a growing trend in the watch world.

Longines Spirit Titanium Ref. L3.811.1.53.2/6

Longines describes the Spirit Titanium as a “new step forward” and a “homage to the world of aviation,” owing to the case being forged from grade 5 titanium (an alloy of titanium, aluminum, and vanadium), which is lighter and more durable than steel, with a darker and more matte surface that’s ideal for avoiding glare in a cockpit. The use of titanium in one of its major collections is significant for Longines, which has used the metal only sparingly in its collections in the past. Longines offers the Spirit Titanium in both 40-mm and 42-mm sizes, equipped with both a black NATO-type strap and a stylish, interchangeable titanium bracelet with the same satin-polished finish as the case. The strap was developed in a special weaving technique that replicates the tones of the sandblasted anthracite dial.
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