Editorial
The Spirit Pilot Chronograph 42mm is Longines' aviation-heritage piece done with mechanical substance: a flyback chronograph on a column-wheel movement, wearing a cockpit-instrument dial with large Arabic numerals and a bold 12 o'clock triangle marker. At 42mm it sits in the sweet spot for aviation sizing without crossing into oversized territory. For collectors who want a genuine flyback function at this price tier, there are very few alternatives that aren't either quartz or significantly more expensive.
Longines introduced the Spirit collection in 2021, reviving the Spirit name from the brand's mid-century aviation-instrument heritage. The Pilot Chronograph launched as part of that initial rollout, powered by the L688.2, which is a column-wheel flyback chronograph movement based on the ETA A05.H31 platform with silicon balance spring added. The reference L3.372.4.53.6 designates the 42mm steel case with blue dial; sibling references cover the green dial (L3.372.4.93.0) and the sandstone-beige pilot dial that joined the lineup in 2023.
No significant movement change has occurred since introduction. The L688.2 replaced the older non-silicon ETA base found in some prior Longines chronographs, making this generation meaningfully better for antimagnetic resistance and long-term rate stability.
Confirm the reference number on the caseback matches the dial color you are buying: dealers occasionally mislabel the blue and green references. Inspect the column wheel and flyback pusher function before purchase; these mechanisms are more complex than simple COSC-style push-reset chronographs and are the first place wear shows in neglected examples. The sapphire crystal on this reference is flat rather than AR-coated on both sides in early production; check for reflective glare in direct light, which some owners find distracting on the pilot dial.
The bracelet end links on early Spirit pieces have reported some play at the clasp after moderate wear; try the bracelet articulation in person and factor in a potential aftermarket strap swap if you buy preowned. Verify the silicon parts are intact by confirming the watch holds rate within manufacturer spec after a basic timing check.
