The actor christens his ambassadorship with the Spirit Zulu Time 1925 (All photos: Longines)
Spurred by the expansion of railway networks and international travel, the advent of standardised time in the late 19th century revolutionised global navigation and communication as the world became more interconnected.
In 1884, representatives from different nations gathered in Washington, DC, and voted to make Greenwich the Prime Meridian (though, if you did not know, we are currently using a newer set of coordinates adopted based on satellite data. The International Reference Meridian passes 102.5m to the east of the original). Coupled with the subsequent division of the world into 24 time zones, these universal systems allowed people to synchronise activities across vast distances.
The term “Zulu” is derived from the Nato phonetic alphabet, representing the letter “Z” when clarity is required for communication. The letter also corresponded to the zero hour offset from Coordinated Universal Time, which is effectively the same as GMT +0 for Greenwich Mean Time, and became particularly important in aviation and maritime operations, where precise coordination across different regions were essential for safety and navigation.
Longines was one of the first pioneers that innovated their timekeepers for this new global reality, making history with its Turkish Watches — the first pocket watches that displayed two time zones — in 1908 and subsequently its wristwatch counterpart, Zulu Time, which displayed both local time and GMT, for the Royal Canadian Navy in 1925.
A century has passed since the Longines Zulu Time paved the way for the modern GMTs we know and love today, though most, including the brand’s own reintroduction of the timepiece, look far from the original square 34mm x 24mm number, which featured the maritime signal flag for the letter “Z”.
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The Spirit Zulu Time collection was introduced in 2022 with distinctive 42mm models that rocked an elegant sporty design. A more compact 39mm version was added to the fold the following year and the evolution continued in 2024 with a light, but durable, titanium option. For 2025, a centennial model steals the show, alongside newly minted Ambassador of Elegance Henry Cavill.
Celebrated for his iconic roles as DC’s Superman and The Witcher’s Geralt of Rivia, the acclaimed actor’s career has been largely defined by a nomadic experience, traversing transit hubs and boarding countless flights to bring blockbuster films to life across the globe. “Daily routine is not a luxury I am afforded, but travelling to far-flung places and the opportunity to tell stories at the level that I am makes up for all of it,” he says.
Cavill announced his “foray into the rather fabulous world of watches” with Longines via Instagram on Valentine’s Day, but what really drew him to the brand was its contribution to some of mankind’s greatest achievements, which includes furnishing a cockpit clock with double time zones on the plane of American aviators Hugh Herndon and Clyde Pangborn, the first to fly non-stop across the Pacific Ocean in 1931.
“Longines was at the forefront during a time of true adventure, when travelling the globe was still the stuff of stories and legends,” he says. “There is such a history to watchmaking and keeping time. These days, we really take it for granted how important it was for navigation, and how the smallest error meant the difference between life and death.”
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The new Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925 condenses all that history and significance into one handsome package. The commemorative timepiece dons a stainless-steel case with a bidirectional rotating bezel adorned with an 18-carat rose-gold cap, circular-brushed insert — a first for the collection — and 24-hour graduations, enabling the wearer to track a third time zone. Right away, it is clear that instead of the typical pinkish hue of rose gold, this design leans toward a neutral copper — a nod to the copper strip marking the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
The matt-black dial creates a striking, yet sophisticated, contrast with the hands and indices, accented with the same rose-gold colour and Super-LumiNova, providing excellent legibility. The date window,
which replaces the 6 o’clock marker, is crowned with five stars and flanked by a discreet engraving of the years 1925 and 2025 in a subtle tone-on-tone finish — a tasteful way to mark a milestone, might we add.
Another first for the collection is a transparent caseback, showcasing Longines’ self-winding Calibre L844.4 with a rose gold-coloured PVD rotor, engraved with a planisphere that has the Prime Meridian running through its centre. The high-precision movement provides a decent power reserve of up to 72 hours and is chronometer-certified by COSC.
Two new Spirit Zulu Time references will also be available later this year: one with a stealthy matt and polished black bidirectional rotating bezel, and the other with a sanded anthracite dial and rotating bezel in blue ceramic.
Starring in Longines’ new campaign, Cavill sports the timepiece with effortless style as he travels the globe, posing a simple question: “What time is it there?” It depicts the emotional connection between two people navigating international skyways, yet remaining inextricably linked through knowing each other’s time zones. The film visualises how the Spirit Zulu Time becomes more than a precision instrument. It is also a bridge for loved ones to stay connected, synchronising their lives despite physical separation.
“Knowing where someone is in their day gives you an instant connection to them. While not detailed, you can imagine being in their shoes, which places you with them for a moment,” he says. They say home is where the heart is, and that is certainly true for the British actor as well. He feels most grounded when back in the UK. “I’ve found a very special place that speaks to my soul in so many ways. Where I live has a magic to it that is difficult to describe.”
The new father considers the birth of his daughter with partner Natalie Viscuso, as well as settling into their forever home with Kal the Akita and Baggins the French Bulldog, the most important moments in his life. Weekends are spent on the grill — his Sunday steak dinners are well documented on social media — and it is no secret that Cavill has a geeky side to him. “I’m a big fan of computer games, which can be both a disconnect and wonderful way to dive into storytelling.”
When it comes to the world of horology, he says: “My journey into true watch enthusiasm is only just beginning, but I have always appreciated the beauty and craftsmanship of fine watches.”
Recalling a recent visit to the Longines manufacture in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, where he no doubt put his dexterous skills — harnessed from painting Warhammer (a popular tabletop game) miniatures during the Covid-19 lockdown — to good use, he says: “To see these watches being built and the meticulous records of individual pieces used to restore watches from as far back as 100 years ago or more, is astounding. There is a certain peace to watchmaking, a quietness in respect of the task.”
This article first appeared on June 2, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
