Whilst I believe everyone has actually heard of Longines, the Swiss watchmaker, who dates back to 1832, is not necessarily a brand that many people actively seek out, especially when it comes to a male audience here in Europe and the Nordics. However, globally, Longines is a solid and well-established name, consistently ranking among the best-selling Swiss watchmakers worldwide.
This spring, an email landed in my inbox with news about an update to the brand’s diver line. While I usually find myself looking at their DolceVita collection, there was something appealing about the new design. And on top of that, the internet watch community was completely divided, being split into two camps, one really liking it, the other completely against it, so I had to give it a try and spend some time with the model on my wrist.
Introduced in 2007, the HydroConquest is Longines’ take on a modern diver watch that has gone through several updates and iterations over the years. While there was nothing wrong with the original model, the updates, even if subtle, helped elevate the look and shift its overall presence, allowing the brand to compete with others in the same or even higher price range. The slightly more curved case has a more contemporary feel, comes with a slimmer profile not only in 42mm, but also in 39mm (thank you for that). Both sizes feature a ceramic bezel and inside beats the brand’s latest-generation automatic movement, offering a 72-hour power reserve, and as expected from a dive watch, a 300m water resistance rating.
But size is not the only option, as the watch comes in multiple colour combinations, ranging from light and dark blue to black, grey, and green (you can check all the options at the official website here). All models are available either on a classic bracelet with an H-link design, allowing micro-adjustment of the length (very handy during summer days or when diving, obviously), or on a Milanese bracelet, similar to what we know, for example, from Omega’s watches, adding a slightly more elegant touch to the sporty look.
For my time with this model, I picked the 39mm size: a size that fits most wrists, mine included. When it comes to colours, I was able to try a few variations, but ended up wearing and preferring the light blue dial the most, not only on me, but also when seeing it on my friends’ wrists. And when it comes to bracelets, even though I really like the Milanese style, it felt and looked better on my wrist with the classic bracelet. The only exception could be the black/grey version, which I would happily wear with the Milanese instead.
But enough with all the specs, because as we always say, the most important part is how the watch feels on the wrist. And I must say the 39mm version wears really well. The case sits nicely, and the micro-adjustment system is a great feature, for example, in summer, when a watch can suddenly feel slightly too tight.
In my opinion, it’s a watch that could be a great option as a gift for milestones or birthdays, or as a starting point into the watch world.
I had a really good time with it.
All details and colour options available at the official website.
Becoming a watch nerd?
- Bezel – the part of the watch case that surrounds the watch glass, serving as a protective guard and as an aesthetic frame. Rotating dive watch bezels help to track a diver’s bottom time – the total time spent underwater – a reminder to prevent divers from exceeding their diving time with limited oxygen.
- Dial – also known as the face, is a big part of a watch’s personality and the portion of the watch that displays the time, or any other indicators, such as date, day, moon phase etc.
- How should the watch fit – To give you an idea of how they wear on an average wrist: mine is 18-18.5 mm in diameter (7.1-7.3 inches, size 8-8.5). And even though I primarily wear watches around 38-39mm, I’ve lately started to enjoy wearing even smaller ones. If you’re unsure how a watch would fit on your wrist, I always say: put it on and see how it looks and feels for you. That’s the most important part. Sometimes it helps to see it from a third-person view. Just ask someone to take a half-body photo of you wearing it. If you like it too, go for it… And please, don’t be afraid of smaller case sizes. After all, that was the standard for a long time. Don’t ask me why we needed to go so big for a couple of decades, but… we did. Luckily, in the past few years, we’ve started to realise that smaller watches can look just as good as the big ones. And sometimes… even better.
- Longines – a Swiss watchmaker founded in 1832 in Saint-Imier, known for its precision timekeeping and elegant design. The brand built its reputation early through sports timing and aviation. Over time, it has become known for balancing classic aesthetics with accessible luxury, often seen as an entry point into Swiss watchmaking. Today, Longines remains one of the most established names in the industry, with collections ranging from heritage-inspired dress watches to modern sports models like the HydroConquest.
- Milanese bracelet – Milanese link bracelet, intricately woven into a mesh known as pezza (Italian for “cloth”) and hand-soldered link by link.
- Movement – can be automatic/self-winding, manual winding or quartz and is what keeps the watch going.
- Omega – founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds before later moving to Biel/Bienne, where the brand remains today. Over the decades, Omega built its reputation through precision timekeeping and became heavily involved in sports timing, aviation, military watches and eventually space exploration. The Speedmaster became one of the brand’s most recognised models after the Moon landing in 1969, while the Seamaster gained another wave of popularity in the 1990s through its association with the James Bond franchise.
- Power reserve – how long the watch can show you the time when it’s not on your wrist.
- Water resistance – refers to a watch’s ability to withstand exposure to water without damage. It is measured in meters (m), atmospheres (ATM), or bars, indicating the depth or pressure the watch can endure. However, these measurements are theoretical and don’t always equate to actual diving depths. 30m (3 ATM): Splash-proof, suitable for everyday use but not for swimming. 50m (5 ATM): Safe for showering or light swimming. 100m (10 ATM): Suitable for swimming and snorkelling. 200m+ (20 ATM or more): Ideal for professional diving or water sports.
