Longines Brings Us A New And Charming Hydroconquest 41mm
When I spoke here a couple of days ago about the new Longines Master Collection “Small Seconds”, I was far from imagining that the brand would launch a new Hydroconquest, going against all my thesis of goodbye summer and welcome autumn.
Launched in 2007 and renovated in 2018, the Hydroconquest collection offers a wide range of diving watches in five different sizes (32, 39, 41, 43 and 44mm), in steel or two-tone case, Quartz or automatic movement and with different strap options. The new Hydroconquest despite not coming with any design or technical changes, comes substantially different and we explain why.
I confess that despite recognizing the solid construction of the Hydroconquest collection and its sober design, it never managed to captivate me compared to other options on the market within its category, a situation that has remained unchanged until today, the day I discovered the new Longines Hydroconquest.
The latest brand diver despite maintaining all its contemporary design now comes with a vintage inspiration full of small details that make all the difference and that we loved, proving that with little you can do a lot.
But let’s get to the point and start with the dial, it features a black matte-grained background, with the traditional hour markers and the Arabic numerals 6-9-12 applied in the style of a Rolex Explorer which together with the hour and minute hand comes now filled with beige Super-LumiNova, a lollipop centre seconds hand and a date window at 3 o’clock that has not been forgotten and which is dressed in the same booklet, drawn in a black disc matching the dial with beige numerals.
The 41mm stainless steel case comes with long lugs and alternating polished and brushed finish, a unidirectional ceramic green bezel with a 60-minute scale in the same beige of the accents of the dial and pip-lume, domed sapphire crystal, screw-down crown with crown-guards, screw-in case back engraved with retro brand’s logo and 300m of water resistance.
Its heart continues to be driven by the automatic movement Caliber L888.3 based on ETA A31.L02 that comes with a silicon hairspring, reaching 25,200 Vph and offering an admirable 72 hours of power reserve.
The watch is available in two versions, one which is attached to a 3-link steel bracelet with a folding clasp and diving extension, and the other with a green NATO-style textile strap. Both variants come at the same price €1,950.
Our Opinion
The bet on a black dial and a green bezel is a winning formula that had already been tested by the brand in its Zulu model and therefore now transferring it to the Hydroconquest collection is a smart move.
But the brand did not limit itself to copy, but also reinventing through the insertion of silver accents that are now filled with Faustina and that replace the gilt accents of Zulu, and the result is genius.
We loved the final result, but it seems pretty obvious, so we can only pray that Longines can replicate it in the future for a moderate size.
Read more here.
General Specifications:
Brand: Longines
Model: Hydroconquest Collection
Reference: L3.781.4.05.2 (textile strap), L3.781.4.05.6 (steel bracelet)
Dial: Black grained
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Case Material: Stainless steel
Case Dimensions: 41 mm Diameter, 11.90 mm thick
Crystal: Sapphire
Case Back: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 300 Meters
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp, green NATO-style textile strap
Caliber: L888.3 (ETA A31.L02 based)
Dimensions: 25.60 mm Diameter
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 25,200 Vph
Jewels: 21
Power Reserve: 72 Hours
Price: € 1,950
Limited Edition: No
