7 Months Later: Is The Longines Spirit Zulu Time 39 Still One Of The Best Value GMT Watches?

[@thewatchidiot]

My SZT 39 is now for sale for $2,300! Check out the description for full details but if you’d like to purchase send me an email at [e-mail] with your shipping zip code so I can get myself a shipping quote. Thanks!

[@omardaabies7312]

Have you sold this yet?

[@rickybobbysdriver555]

I dismissed this watch when I heard it was 42mm and 39mm, but saw it in person at 39mm and was blown away. All the little refined details on the dial, case and crown are definitely worth the price.

[@FadeToBlack2181]

Great video, I have the green bezel version of this and love it!

[@nedflanders3769]

Me too. But the 41?mm version. Outstanding watch. 😊

[@thewatchidiot]

Glad you enjoyed the video! The green bezel version looks awesome I nearly chose it over the black bezel. Longines did a fantastic job with the SZT so it's great to see fellow owners enjoying it as much as I'm enjoying it!

[@jimlittle5769]

I got the green bezel Zulu Time. I had every intention of getting the 39mm, but when I tried both on, I went with the 42mm.

[@Sirkelsag666]

Looking forward to this breakdown of the Hodinkee zulu time

[@supersonique001]

IMHO the black bezel steel version is sharper than the titanium version. the blue bezel and dial version is stunning!

[@HaonProductions]

Every time I see the little polishes on the case and bracelet on this, I want one all over again, but I just bought a Lorier Hyperion to get my GMT fix and save a few bucks. Maybe I'll upgrade one day!

[@zacharyparis]

There hundreds if not thousands of 21mm straps out there. How many options do you need?!

[@veckoh]

If anything it’s due to owning plenty of 20mm straps already, just makes all these unusable for this watch, such a silly design choice all over 1mm……

[@edshamaham5719]

Fantastic looking watch, the bevels look better every time I see them! Also I totally agree with you, I don't think any watch under 42mm should have a 22mm lug width Makes sense why your selling, the titanium version was essentially tailor made for you and I now want to know how many days you'll end up wearing it this year considering it's already breaking records👍

[@thewatchidiot]

I can't get enough of those bevels I don't think they'll ever get old! And I'm glad to hear that we're on the same page regarding lug widths too 😁 Yeah the titanium SZT is pulling in some crazy numbers I can't seem to stop wearing it, I can't remember the last time a watch pulled me in quite like this. Is going to take quite a special watch to beat this in terms of study time but we've still got 9 months left in 2024 so anything can happen!

[@traviswatts6661]

I tried on both the 39 and the 42. Prefer the 42 with green bezel. Still considering this piece for my traveler’s GMT. Thank you for sharing your experience. 👍

[@richardvanfrank8114]

The Spirit Zulu Time needs an on the fly micro adjust.

[@jochenkey]

and 20mm lug for better strap variety

[@ArmandDePoiters]

I never get lost in specifications and silly thoughts about whether Longines had to launch this watch with a Pepsi or Coke bezel in order to feel motivated to buy it. The real benefit is that this watch is GORGEOUS and incredibly precise. The attention to detail makes it look like a GMT II or even better. The dial is a quite successful design and beautiful. I tried on the green one, the blue one, and the black one at the dealer. It was a tough decision, but I finally got the black one. It is eye-catching. It runs at +1 second a day. I can't ask for more. I am so happy.

[@AndyAdventuring]

I also have the steel black bezel ZT and the Hodinkee ZT. The former is hands down the best looking watch I've ever owned. My problem with it is that it is very, very flashy. It is a very sharp-looking watch. If the Hodinkee is a Toyota, the steel black bezel is a Lamborghini. A lot of strangers notice and stare at the watch. Ultimately, it's just not my personality. The metal bezel Hodinkee is significantly more utilitarian-looking. It is much. more my style, and people do not notice it. I like the Hodinkee ZT much more even though the steel black bezel ZT looks better.

[@JDizzledum]

I have the same watch and love it, the only thing I dislike is the off white hands and numerals, but I don't know if you can really avoid that if it has lume 🤷‍♂

[@Dugger1991]

I like the anthracite dial with the green and brown leather strap for the Zulu 39 GMT. The titanium on the higher cost model but it comes with a 4 thousand dollar price tag.

[@Fb1907kysf]

Didnt you see all these before you buy ? If you see them after 7 months its really funny 😂 In addition to this , 39 zulu time is a gorgeous time piece and the things you mentioned are not an issue. It should have been quick adjust i accept maybe in time they ll bring it. Enjoy your watch , dont push to find negative sides 😂

[@khronokraze]

I like the Hodinkee version in titanium. The only thing is I find it just a tad bit expensive, and the 21 mm lug with is kind of a turn off. I'd much prefer 19 if an odd size.. especially on a 39 mm watch. This is such a strap monster too with a great bracelet release system. It kind of sucks that you can't take advantage of that more fully.

[@vineroutes]

There’s a ton of straps sold at 21mm now. NATO, leather, fabric. Why is everyone dissing the 21mm lug width. Just find a strap that works. They’re out there.

[@scollyutube]

I think the lugs look too long and it needs a clasp microadjust unfortunately. Everything else I like. I am hoping they do the HC GMT in titanium too as that will be me.

[@MDSkai]

I sold my 42mm Zulu time a while back and now im considering another gmt. I just cant for life of me decide between rebuying the Zulu time or going for the black bay pro. Ive tried it in person but there;s still no obvious choice.

[@bruces2941]

Since you got both the zulu39 and the HQgmt, have you ever tried swapping the wonderful clasp of the HQgmt onto the zulutime’s bracelet? If that works then it would be perfect 🤩

[@gackerman99]

yeah the thing that keeps putting my spirit 37mm on my wrist is just how damn well made it is. I've got Tudors and Breitlings etc. but honestly the detail/finishing on it is just so next level. the way they interleave the soft brushing with the mirror polishing is like a god damn magic trick. not to mention...it's a bespoke chronometer movement...for like a fifth of the price...Longines is untouchable right now IMO.

[@tschoy9388]

I owned the 42 mm Zulu Time and 41 mm HC GMT. I won't sell them. No complaints to the Zulu Time like yours. I think the major concern is you owned the Titanium version. They are duplicated in some of the reasons.

[@raymondlenaghan3320]

Such a stunning watch. Even with Matt black dial. Loved the video.

[@thomasschneider2286]

I bought the titanium model of this and still can’t believe it’s not more popular. It’s still available! I’ve been wearing it almost exclusively after wear a 36 mm explorer for 18 straight months. I thought nothing would ever replace it until I got this.

[@ncavis]

Longines is a sleeper for sure. I’m not a huge fan of powermatic80 reducing the beat rate for more reserve but I do think the traveler GMT function is a good trade off.

[@JPdeRuiter]

It's still ridiculously accurate though.

[@Sire638]

My SD4000 is Matte Black dial why I bought in 2016 over Sub glad I did instant classic!

[@adwyn]

I don't know if u noticed, but the black dial SZT has yellowish colored lume paint on the numerals but the ceramic bezel has pure white numerals. It bothers me to no end. And if you compare it to blue dial SZT, it has white colored lume paint. Why can't the black dial has white lume paint on the numerals to match the ceramic bezel white numerals. Sadge, sadness.

[@ashermadan]

I had to get an uncle strap for my BB58 blue because the bracelet and clasp are horrible.

[@samschroeder8019]

Any problems with the bracelet being TOO easy to get off? Never had a watch w a quick release before and with all the things I’ve seen about this being superbly easy to take off I’m wondering if there might be issues on the flip side, as I truly wear my watches everywhere and doing everything.

[@thewatchidiot]

good question and thankfully it's very very secure you have to press the button just right and down enough for it to come off so as I've been living with two of these bracelets I've come to know how to take the bracelet off easily. But even then, sometimes I need to readjust my thumb and apply more pressure to get it off. And to put the bracelet back on you have to apply enough pressure and it snaps into place very reassuringly with an audible snap. In the end I haven't had a single moment of doubt about it's security, anything less wouldn't have been great for confidence

[@samschroeder8019]

@@thewatchidiot Awesome! Been eyeing the S&G version of this watch since it came out and I’m getting close to pulling the trigger- thanks for the vote of confidence on the bracelet!

[@alexspink4325]

Why is it, so you suppose, that while both pilot watches and dive watches are designed for high legibility - in the typified expression or a pilot watch, that has come to mean large numerals on the dial, where in dive watches there are rarely numerals on the dial. Do you think it’s something to do with pilots needing the exact time quickly versus divers needing to read the passage of time quickly? 🤷‍♂️

[@johnclikeman5041]

They're both optimized for visibility, but the type of visibility that's most important is different. Dive watches need high legibility in low light/no light conditions, so their hour markers are always filled with luminescent material. And those markers tend to be big geometric shapes to maximize the amount of lume, and they use multiple different shapes so you can tell which one is 12:00. For basically every dive watch, the most important thing is that you can tell the time and the position of the outer bezel in complete darkness when you can see only the parts of the watch that have lume. On a pilot watch, low-light visibility is less important. So some pilot watches have no lume and on others it's fine for the lume plots to be smaller than on a dive watch. Different pilot's watches are designed differently based on different use cases and different ideas about what is most important for the pilot to know. For example, a WWII-era Flieger Type B watch has the minutes instead of the hours as the largest numbers on the watch, because the theory was that that's the most important thing for a pilot to see at a glance. On the other hand, pilot's chronographs make the chronograph subdials as big as possible so they are easier to see.

[@garyz0611]

The Titanium Spirit Zulu time in your video that you are keeping do they still make that or is that an older model?

[@noahsourapas2057]

It was limited to 500 units

[@garyz0611]

Thanks for the reply

[@word42069]

@@noahsourapas2057and I’m devastated I missed out on it.

[@vincent8368]

@@word42069 hi, dk if ur still interested but its still selling in Paris (france) at galeries lafayette first floor:)

[@carlosgj1308]

I prefer the steel version nice and shinny 👌🏼

[@WatchesCanBeFun]

Great video, I agree with your take on the bezel not matching the dial.

[@benlau4026]

didnt expect this one, so the HODINEE one is the one

[@thewatchidiot]

Yeah it being titanium was a giant plus point they basically created the perfect SZT for me lol! But if it didn't exist then the steel SZT would have lasted much longer

[@benlau4026]

@@thewatchidiot I am thinking about this one too, its in the basket but I haven't pulled the trigger, because I have seen a great value Alpina GMT for a 1/4 of the price. I have a GS SBGA415 (Titanium - as my dress watch) and I love the weightlessness of it.

[@resjon7981]

Pepsi or Coke bezel on the Zulu Time and I'm buying. Come on Longines, do it!

[@ArmandDePoiters]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@davidthom7127]

You did the right thing selling the more beautiful watch and keeping the ugly watch.

[@managua-san8075]

The one thing that put me off, is when you change the time the gmt hand seems to wiggle. It makes the watch feel less refined. At least that's what i saw in most reviews.

[@thewatchidiot]

Yeah that's not ideal, but it doesn't bother me at all especially since I don't need to adjust the local time very often at all

[@AndyAdventuring]

Who cares

[@M3_86]

I noticed that. It’s a small thing but yuck. It’s like having a nice car with a rattle being the glove box lol

[@u.u.u9969]

Swop out the claps. You have both watches right?

[@jamesblonde2271]

My Ads keen to sell me one but its thicker than cheaper rivals Ikinda like.......like Seiko Navi, alpine and the Tudors....Its nice but Chonky

[@TheCdM1981]

Nice Tudor BB pro homage ;)

[@woodstock480]

Longines and their stupid 19 and 21mm lug widths...That's what has kept me from buying one this far. They could just use 20mm in place of any that currently use 19 or 21mm.

[@zacharyparis]

Serious question. How many strap options do you need for a watch?

[@woodstock480]

@@zacharyparis Valid question...I generally much prefer a bracelet for regular day-to-day use, but I like to be able to swap the bracelet for leather straps as needed when I need to suit up at work.

[@sage9743]

@@woodstock480I think there are more options for 19mm straps nowadays. Never looked for 21mm though.

[@Soooootiredofthis]

@@zacharyparisthree - bracelet, leather & NATO

[@zm6658]

It’s me again. Ready once again for your GMT sloppy seconds- lmk when you’re ready to move the Hodinkee on.

[@steelsteez6118]

0:23 😂😂😂😂

[@winstonthecuttlefish5352]

There’s a significant difference in quality between this bracelet and ones from Tudor or Omega. You can tell by just picking up the watch. This bracelet has almost Seiko-like cheap-feeling characteristics except Seiko is 100x worse and this is borderline acceptable.