When shopping for luxury watches, or any watch over a couple grand, it may feel like a foregone conclusion that the timepiece you’re looking at is made of stainless steel. While this may have been a safe bet even a couple of decades ago, the reality is that titanium is finding more and more prominence in modern watchmaking, to the point that it’s become a distinct category altogether. A couple of years back, Longines introduced the material into its Spirit collection in the form of a time-only pilot watch. Now, the Swiss watch brand has expanded the titanium range to include its Flyback chronograph, a line that was launched earlier this year.
For those who didn’t realize, titanium has many benefits over stainless steel, including its lighter weight, at around 40 to 50% on average, and increased corrosion resistance. And with modern technological advancements, making titanium watches is no longer as expensive as it once was. So there’s no wonder why the biggest watchmakers in the world are rushing to convert their most popular models to the material.
Longines is definitely a legendary brand, and its semi-recent introduction of the Spirit pilot line outlines its history with the aviation industry. Adding a chronograph take on the watch was only a logical next step. The new titanium Flyback doesn’t differ much from the steel version, with the same 42mm case diameter, 100m of water resistance, ceramic bezel insert, and in-house L791 automatic chronograph movement (visible through the exhibition caseback). The new edition comes with a black bezel to match the black sunray dial. In terms of weight, however, the implementation of grade 5 titanium to the case and bracelet makes this model 1.89oz lighter than its steel counterpart. This difference will be even greater if you opt for the NATO strap option that’s available.
To get your hands on the Spirit Flyback Chronograph in titanium, head over to Longines’ website where it’s available starting at $4,850.
