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The Longines HydroConquest line ranks among the most successful and best-known collections the brand has launched in recent decades. Over the years it has repeatedly been expanded with new models and versions, so there is now a wide selection of watches bearing this evocative collection name. Alongside dive watches in various colors, the line now also includes somewhat larger models. What all these watches have in common is that they are fit for diving and stand out with a distinctive, sporty yet elegant design. We are happy to share our experience with the Longines HydroConquest.
A Close Connection to Sports Is Part of the "Brand DNA"
Longines is one of the oldest Swiss watch brands still in existence and, at the same time, the oldest registered watch brand in the world. Early on – as wristwatch production began in the first years of the 20th century – the company placed a focus on developing watches suited to timekeeping in sports and to use on scientific expeditions.
The brand with the winged hourglass in its logo was, for example, the official timekeeper of the 1952 Olympic Games and remains present to this day at numerous sporting events as timekeeper or sponsor. The extensive hands-on experience Longines has gathered in timekeeping continues to give rise to exciting watch models.
A close connection to sports has therefore become an integral part of the "DNA" of this storied brand. This was – and still is – regularly reflected in the development of its model range. The year 2007 marked a particular milestone. That was when the Longines Sport collection was launched, which at the time comprised the four model lines Admiral, Conquest, HydroConquest, and Grande Vitesse. They had been developed explicitly for the needs of sporty buyers, yet for all their sportiness they were not meant to sacrifice elegance.
While the Admiral and Grande Vitesse lines have since been discontinued, the Conquest sports watches and the HydroConquest dive watches remain part of the brand's lineup to this day and have repeatedly been expanded with additional new models and versions since their introduction. This also has to do with the positive experiences many customers have had with the Conquest and HydroConquest. Today, these two lines are considered the core of the brand.
Ready for Maritime Adventures
The watches of the HydroConquest line are intended above all for those who enjoy spending time in the water, whether for work or leisure. This is expressed primarily in their water resistance to a pressure of 30 bar, or a depth of 300 meters, which in our experience means they can be used not just for the occasional swim or snorkeling trip but as full-fledged dive watches. They are also popular with sailors, surfers, and other water sports enthusiasts who may not take their watch on extended underwater stays but are still likely to catch the odd splash or wave.
The cases and bracelets are generally made of stainless steel, which on some models is partially finished with a yellow-gold PVD coating. Some models are also supplied on a rubber strap. To ensure optimal legibility, the watches of the Longines HydroConquest line are not only fitted with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal but also feature multiple layers of anti-reflective coating on the underside of the crystal.
A screw-down caseback, a unidirectional rotating bezel for setting dive times, and a screw-down crown are further features that mark them as rugged dive watches. The hands and hour markers are generously coated with Super-LumiNova, so the time remains easy to read even in the dark.
In addition to the hour, minute, and seconds hands, a date display is part of the standard equipment of every HydroConquest.
Instead of a central seconds hand, the chronograph features a small seconds at 9 o'clock, a central 60-second chronograph hand, a 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock, and a 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock. Notably, at 41 millimeters in case diameter, the chronographs are no larger than the three-hand version. So that you can wear these Longines watches with a wetsuit just as easily as with business attire, they feature a double safety folding clasp and an integrated diver's extension. Our experience with the Longines HydroConquest is thoroughly positive: the dive watch passes every test with flying colors – in all its variants.
Quartz or Automatic, Gentleman or Lady, Large or Medium?
Longines dive watches are available with both quartz movements and mechanical self-winding movements. Apart from the ticking or sweeping motion of the seconds hand, nothing reveals the difference to the layperson. If you want to experience a Longines HydroConquest for yourself as a man, you are spoiled for choice between quartz and automatic and between case diameters of 39, 41, or 43 mm. Then there are the strap options and the color schemes, which bring many variations to this popular line.
In addition to the various men's models, the line also includes women's watches. Measuring 29.5 millimeters and offering up to 40 hours of power reserve, the women's models work very well as a matching partner watch. The 39 mm size also suits women. Our shop provides an overview of the options.
Larger Dive Watches with More Color
On the original Longines HydroConquest Quartz and Automatic models, the dial and bezel were predominantly black, and in a few cases blue. In 2013, however, a bit more color came into play when the chronographs were offered with cream dials in addition to black or blue ones, and red joined black and blue as a bezel option.
Three years later, the manufacturer followed the trend toward ever-larger watches and launched new versions of the three-hand models in its dive watch collection with a 44-millimeter case diameter. Nothing changed, however, in terms of water resistance or the other diving-relevant details of the Longines HydroConquest Large. It is worth noting that the dive watches with the winged hourglass have retained a distinctive character in a market segment dominated by numerous similar models. Their design identifies them as dive watches at first glance, and among the many products closely modeled on the Rolex Submariner or the Rolex Sea-Dweller, they stand out at first glance as a unique exception.
Since their dimensions are by no means too bulky to be worn in everyday life or with business attire, they are popular not only with active divers but also with many other customers who want such a watch to reflect their sporty, active lifestyle.