• Swiss watchmaker Longines has expanded its Spirit lineup for 2025 with new Spirit Pilot and Spirit Pilot Flyback models, reinforcing its position in the modern aviation watch market.
• The 39mm Spirit Pilot is powered by the Longines calibre L888.4 automatic movement, which delivers a 72-hour power reserve, chronometer-certified precision, and improved resistance to magnetic fields.
• The 39.5mm Spirit Pilot Flyback is equipped with the hand-wound Longines calibre L792.4, which offers a 68-hour power reserve and COSC certification, and adds a flyback chronograph and enhanced timing functionality.
• Both models feature cleaner dial layouts, refined proportions and improved ergonomics, making them more practical for everyday wear while remaining true to their aviation roots.

Aviation has always been part of Longines’ identity, but the brand doesn’t make a big deal out of it. You see it in the details, like how the watches are designed, their layout, and how easy they are to read and use. The Spirit collection really shows this approach. It’s clean, practical, and made for everyday wear, rather than being too technical or complicated for its own sake.

For 2025, Longines is expanding on that idea with new Spirit Pilot and Spirit Pilot Flyback models. Nothing about these watches feels forced or overly different, which is a good thing. They seem more refined, a bit tougher, and more focused, while still keeping the design that made the collection popular. It’s the kind of update that feels familiar but clearly better once you see it.

These new releases also seem to match what people really want in a modern pilot watch. Longines has been involved in aviation for over a hundred years, working with famous names like Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh, but this doesn’t read like a history lesson. Instead, it feels up-to-date. The new Spirit Pilot models take that heritage and turn it into something you’d actually wear today: reliable, straightforward, and made with a clear purpose.

In 2025, Longines is carefully refining and expanding the Spirit collection, focusing on meaningful updates rather than major changes. The collection now feels more complete. The Spirit Pilot enhances the three-hand models, while the Spirit Pilot Flyback elevates the chronographs’ elegance. Both maintain their distinctive aviation-inspired style, with marked improvements in proportions and overall design.

Many refinements are present in subtle details, especially in daily wear and usability. Updated movements, sleeker dials, and improved ergonomics provide a more comfortable wrist experience, complemented by new clasp options that enhance comfort. Although these updates are not drastic, collectively they make the collection more elegant and better aligned with modern requirements, showcasing the Spirit line’s ongoing evolution.

• Brand: Longines
• Model: Spirit Pilot
• Reference: L38094539 / L38094536 / L38094532
• Diameter: 39 mm
• Thickness: 11.5 mm
• Case Material: Stainless Steel
• Dial: Black Matt
• Calibre: Calibre L888.4 Self-Winding
• Power Reserve: 72 Hours
• Water-Resistance: 10 Bars (100 metres, 330 feet)
• Price: USD $2,700 / USD $3,100 / USD $2,850

The Spirit Pilot models are central to the 2025 update, and Longines has put more thought into the design this year. The three-hand version now features a 39mm stainless-steel case, making it feel more balanced and comfortable. This size is more comfortable on the wrist than larger pilot watches, which can feel too big. The updated proportions improve comfort while preserving the sturdy, reliable look that defines the collection.

The biggest change is on the dial, where Longines opted for a cleaner, simpler design. Instead of bold colours or extra features, the brand used a matte black finish that makes the watch easy to read. Removing details like the stars and date display makes the dial look more open and focused. The gold-toned hands and Arabic numerals stand out against the dark background, giving the watch a look that matches classic pilot watches, where clear readability is key.

The Spirit line integrates well into Longines’ broader collection, particularly in how the Spirit Pilot emphasizes balance and practicality. Unlike other models that experiment with brighter colours and more daring designs, this watch features a brushed steel case, a matte dial, and a cohesive overall design that highlights its aviation heritage.

Inside, the watch uses the Longines calibre L888.4, a self-winding movement with a 72-hour power reserve and official chronometer certification for reliable accuracy. It also features a silicon balance spring and improved resistance to magnetic fields, making it more durable for daily wear. The screw-down case back adds strength, showing that the Spirit Pilot is built to perform well in real-world situations, not just look good.

Overall, the Spirit Pilot is a thoughtful update to the collection. The changes focus on improved proportions, a simpler design, and better performance, while retaining the features that made it popular.

• Brand: Longines
• Model: Spirit Flyback
• Reference: L37214532 / L37214536
• Diameter: 39.5 mm
• Thickness: 13.4 mm
• Case Material: Stainless Steel
• Dial: Black Matt
• Calibre: Calibre L792.4 Hand-wound mechanical
• Power Reserve: 68 Hours
• Water-Resistance: 10 Bars (100 metres, 330 feet)
• Price: USD $5,350 / USD $5,550

While the standard Spirit Pilot is straightforward, the Spirit Flyback takes Longines’ aviation heritage a step further. The flyback function has been part of Longines’ story since the 1930s, created to help pilots time events quickly and efficiently. With this feature, you can reset and restart the chronograph with a single push, instead of stopping, resetting, and starting it again. It might seem like a minor detail, but it makes the watch much more intuitive and practical in real use.

The 2025 model takes things further and feels more polished than before. Its 39.5mm stainless steel case is easy to wear, and the thickness is reasonable considering the features inside. There’s a new bidirectional bezel that moves more smoothly, plus a countdown timer that’s new for the Spirit Flyback. The matte black dial is simple to read, and the gold-toned hands and numbers are easy to see, especially with Super-LumiNova. The box-shaped sapphire crystal gives a hint of vintage style without making the watch look outdated.

Despite the extra chronograph features, the dial still looks clean, a testament to Longines’ handling. The sub-dials are spaced for easy reading, so you don’t have to hunt for information. It still has the Spirit Watch feel, just with more features.

This is where the Flyback stands out. It uses the Longines calibre L792.4, a hand-wound chronograph movement with a column wheel and flyback function. The watch has a 68-hour power reserve and is chronometer-certified, so it performs as well as it looks. It’s also more resistant to magnetic fields, a useful upgrade you might not notice until you need it. Overall, it’s the more serious, performance-focused model in the Spirit line, but it’s still something you can wear every day without a second thought.

Longines takes a simple approach with the new Spirit lineup, offering watches for both daily wear and more technical needs without making them too expensive. The three-hand Spirit Pilot models are the most affordable, while the Flyback versions cost more because of their additional features and advanced movement. This pricing makes sense and lets buyers choose the level of functionality they want.

Once you choose one, these watches are easy to wear every day. There are several bracelet and strap options, all designed for comfort, so you can change the look as you like. The collection will be available in October 2025 at Longines boutiques and online. There’s something here for almost anyone who likes a simple, well-made pilot watch.