INTRODUCING: The tiny modification to the Longines Spirit 37 collection that make the watches even better

When the Longines Spirit collection originally dropped, perfection was on everybody’s mind. The design was fresh enough to be exciting, yet familiar enough to feel as though we’d all been thinking about these watches for years already. The details were impeccable, the specifications were all there, and they just looked fantastic, but there was one problem. Even on the 40mm references, the lug-to-lug length is 49.6mm. That’s not the end of the world and, in fact, the angle of the lugs is fairly complimentary to most wrists. However, those wanting a slightly smaller vintage-feeling watch were left conflicted. But no compromise is needed anymore with the Longines Spirit 37 collection, bringing three colour options down to a reasonable 37mm size and a unisex attitude.

With the new downsized case, the lug-to-lug length is now closer to 47mm. This will still fit nicely on an average sized wrist if you’re a fan of a more vintage-accurate look, but more importantly it gives an option to those with smaller wrists to wear a Longines Spirit within their own comfort zones. Perhaps the best part of this new size is that none of the original design has been compromised, with the 6 o’clock date window still in tact and the two most popular colours of black and blue still available. Longines have avoided the trope of overly feminising the smaller version, understanding that a watch like this already strikes a wonderful balance between its masculine and feminine features.

That said, Longines have introduced a new champagne colour scheme exclusively for this size that leans into neutrality more, with the golden hue so subtle it borderlines onto a sandy-parchment beige. Paired with the silvery steel bracelet or the desaturated grey-brown strap, this watch carries a lot of unique character while still easily matching any assortment of clothing. It simultaneously evokes a Panama hat in the Sahara desert and the glitzy ballrooms of the early 20th century.

The other colours are nothing new to the Spirit range, but that doesn’t make them any less attractive. The black is the most classic, with a feel that harkens back to its military heritage and more than just a whiff of Dirty Dozen inspiration. The red tip to the seconds hand gives it just that tiny dash of colour that breaks up monotony and also helps with legibility, if you need to take a seconds reading. The sunburst blue reference is absolutely dazzling, with the creamy off-white lume standing out a little more without venturing too far into the land of faux-ageing.

The Longines Spirit 37 collection pricing and availability:

The Longines Spirit 37 collection is available now via Longines Boutiques and authorised dealers. Price: $3,600 AUD on bracelet and $3,200 AUD on strap.