Longines Expands The Spirit Pilot Collection With New Matte Blue Dials
Since its introduction in 2020, the Longines Spirit collection has become one of the brand’s defining contemporary families, combining aviation-inspired details with modern mechanical watchmaking. For 2026, Longines adds a new colourway to the more compact Spirit Pilot and Spirit Pilot Flyback models introduced in 2025, bringing matte blue dials to both watches, while the Flyback also receives a matching blue ceramic bezel.
The two models share the same aviation-inspired design language, but offer distinctly different approaches: the Spirit Pilot is a clean three-hander focused on everyday legibility, while the Spirit Pilot Flyback combines a chronograph with a countdown bezel and a hand-wound movement.
Longines Spirit Pilot
The new Spirit Pilot measures 39 mm in diameter, 11.50 mm in thickness and 47.40 mm from lug to lug. Its stainless-steel case combines brushed and polished surfaces, maintaining the restrained proportions introduced with the 2025 generation.
A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides protects the dial, while the screw-down crown and caseback help provide 100 metres of water resistance.
The highlight is the new matte blue dial, which provides a different visual character while retaining the utilitarian aviation aesthetic of the Spirit collection. Applied rhodium-plated Arabic numerals surround the dial, with Super-LumiNova applied to both the numerals and matching hands.
A railroad-style minute track follows the outer edge, accompanied by a secondary ring featuring rhomboid markers corresponding to five-second intervals. The central seconds hand continues the theme with a rhomboid-shaped tip.
Longines has kept the dial deliberately uncluttered by omitting a date display. The chronometer designation replaces the more conventional “Automatic” wording, reinforcing the mechanical and precision-focused nature of the watch.
Inside is the Longines-exclusive L888.4 automatic calibre, derived from the ETA 2892 architecture. It operates at 25,200 vibrations per hour and provides up to 72 hours of power reserve. A silicon hairspring provides increased resistance to magnetic fields, while the movement is COSC-certified as a chronometer.
Longines, Spirit Pilot, L3.809.4.93.9 (on a rubber strap), L3.809.4.93.6 (on a steel bracelet). Blue dial, stainless steel case, 39 mm diameter, 11.50 mm thickness, 47.20 mm lug-to-lug, sapphire crystal, 100m water resistance. Stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp, blue rubber strap. Calibre L888.4, automatic movement, hour, minutes, seconds, 21 jewels, 25,200 Vph, 72 hours of power reserve. Price: € 2,600 (on rubber strap), € 2,950 (on steel bracelet).
Longines Spirit Pilot Flyback
The Spirit Pilot Flyback takes the same new blue aesthetic into a considerably more technical configuration.
Its stainless-steel case measures 39.50 mm in diameter, 13.40 mm thick and 47.40 mm lug-to-lug. Despite the additional functionality, the compact dimensions represent a significant reduction from the earlier 42 mm Spirit Flyback.
The watch is topped by a box-shaped sapphire crystal, contributing to its slightly vintage-inspired profile. A bidirectional rotating bezel surrounds it, now fitted with a blue ceramic insert featuring a countdown scale. Together with the chronograph, this adds another practical timing function to the aviation-oriented design.
The matte blue dial features two recessed registers: running seconds at 9 o’clock and a 30-minute chronograph totaliser at 3 o’clock. Silver-toned hands and applied Arabic numerals are treated with Super-LumiNova for visibility in low-light conditions.
Power comes from the hand-wound Longines-exclusive L792.4 calibre, based on the Valjoux 7750 architecture. Longines has equipped it with a column wheel and flyback mechanism, allowing the chronograph to be reset and immediately restarted with a single operation.
The movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and features a silicon balance spring. It is COSC-certified and delivers up to 68 hours of power reserve. Unlike the three-hand Spirit Pilot, the Flyback reveals its movement through a transparent screw-down sapphire caseback.
Longines, Spirit Pilot Flyback, L3.721.4.93.9 (on a rubber strap), L3.721.4.93.6 (on a steel bracelet). Blue dial, stainless steel case, 39.50 mm diameter, 13.40 mm thickness, 47.40 mm lug-to-lug, sapphire crystal, 100m water resistance. Stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp, blue rubber strap. Calibre L792.4, hand-wound movement, hour, minutes, small seconds, chronograph, 23 jewels, 28,800 Vph, 68 hours of power reserve. Price: € 5,050 (on rubber strap), € 5,400 (on steel bracelet).
Bracelet or Blue Rubber Strap
Both new references can be configured either with a stainless-steel bracelet or a blue rubber strap.
The steel bracelet is secured by a double safety folding clasp with micro-adjustment, while the blue rubber option uses a pin buckle and incorporates Longines’ easy-change system. Both versions have a 20 mm lug width.
Availability and Pricing
The new Longines Spirit Pilot and Spirit Pilot Flyback join the permanent collection and are available with either a blue rubber strap or stainless-steel bracelet.
The Spirit Pilot is priced at € 2,600 on rubber and € 2,950 on steel, while the Spirit Pilot Flyback costs € 5,050 on rubber and € 5,400 on steel.
Our Opinion
The 2026 additions make sense within the evolution of the Spirit collection. The matte blue dials bring some colour to a family that has traditionally leaned towards more conventional aviation-inspired tones, without compromising the functional character of the watches.
For us, the most interesting aspect remains the compact sizing. The 39 mm Spirit Pilot in particular keeps the proportions restrained, while the 39.50 mm Flyback manages to incorporate a relatively complex chronograph mechanism without returning to the larger dimensions of the previous generation.
The result is two watches that approach the same aviation theme from different directions: the Spirit Pilot keeps things simple and highly legible, while the Flyback adds considerably more mechanical and functional depth.
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