Longines HydroConquest Review

A lot of watch enthusiasts love to muse about the good old days when tool watches were still tool watches and had a price tag that was relatively high, but still affordable. A lot of those watches are still on the market, but now marketed as a luxury watch with a price tag that will cost you an arm and a leg. Watches that are technically probably perfectly capable to behave like a real tool watch, but do you want to exposure your expensive timepiece to – for instance – salty water, shocks and hard surfaces where a watch is almost bound to get scratched.

But have no fear, as there are still brands out there who deliver – or try to deliver – tool watches that are also up to the task and have a very friendly price tag. If you want to have a good watch for daily (ab)use, one that will probably outlive you, there is no need to spend over € 5000.- Euro. However, the challenge for watch enthusiasts is to find such a good mechanical watch with an attractive price tag and still be impressed with all of its characteristics.

Although we love to ramble about haute horlogerie timepieces, expensive vintage finds or similar topics, the quest for a good and affordable watch is perhaps a more important one for many of our readers.

We did a bit of research on new mechanical watches below € 1000.- Euro (~ $1245 USD) and found this Longines HydroConquest L3.642.4.56.6 mighty interesting. Almost to good to be true to be honest. Interested? Keep on reading our Longines HydroConquest review.

Longines HydroConquest Review L3.642.4.56.6

Picture this: a 41mm diameter stainless steel case, water resistant up to 300 meters (30ATM), stainless steel bracelet with double security folding clasp and integrated diving extension, a mechanical Longines caliber 633 movement (based on ETA’s caliber 2824), unidirectional rotating (aluminium) bezel, screw-in crown and a sapphire crystal. Longines offers this HydroConquest for € 940 Euro (~ $1170 USD) in their catalogue (including VAT).


The Longines HydroConquest was introduced in 2007 already and at a time where colleague Swatch Group brand Omega decided to increase the list prices (due to the in-house Co-Axial movements) of their watches. Although the Omega Seamaster Pro 300M 2531.80 was always a bit more expensive than this €940 Euro, Longines filled the [sudden] gap in the Swatch Group gamma with their new HydroConquest diving collection.

Specifications are one way to impress people, but how does the watch wear in the flesh? We received this Longines HydroConquest for review and we would like to share our thoughts about it after wearing it for a while.


Let me start by saying that I am by no means a diver. Some of the Fratello Watches team have their diving certificate from the PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) but I have not. I only go for the occasional recreational swim and most of the time take off my watch anyway. However, a diving watch does not only mean that it is suitable for use in water, to me a diving watch represent a solid and sporty watches that can be – also due to its water and dust resistance – used as a daily watch.


The Longines HydroConquest watch is handsome enough to go with a suit as well as with more casual clothing. Especially when wearing short sleeves, a watch should be prepared to face some everyday dangers such as shopping carts, water (shower, washing hands, rain (snow with long sleeves), car wash etc.), edges of desks, children etc.

The 41mm stainless steel case looks well built and fits perfectly on my wrist. There is also a smaller version, that measures 39mm, for those with slim wrists and a 30mm for women. The quartz version adds a 25mm version to the HydroConquest collection as well.

The case has a satin brush finish as well as some polished parts which plays nicely with the Sun rays. The dial is super legible and uses Super Luminova for the indexes, Arabic numerals and the wide Silvered polished hands. A sports watch should have a very readable dial, especially diving watches. This Longines HydroConquest shows how it should be done. Although I personally don’t care about a date function myself, this model has a date aperture at 3 o’clock. All necessary functions are on the watch you could say. For those interested in a chronograph, there is good news, as there are also HydroConquest Chronograph versions. However, we decided to keep it under a €1000,- Euro and the chronograph version costs €500 Euro more.

Below you will see two pictures, one with normal light conditions (well, studio light) and one where we shut down the light to show you the powerful Super Luminova dial of this Longines HydroConquest timepiece. I think this will do perfectly on the night stand, right? Don’t underestimate the usefulness of a luminous dial. I never paid too much attention to it myself other then for reviews, but as of lately I am wearing a watch that has no luminous dial and it annoys me when I am in the dark. It seems now that it isn’t there, I am missing it on almost a daily basis (perhaps this needs some explanation: when I bring my little daughter to bed there is absolutely no light in her bedroom, she requires me to be with her for a short while until she falls asleep. I have no clue how long I am sitting there and can’t check the time in the dark with a luminous-less dial on my watch).

Furthermore, the dial has only the necessary printing on there. You could debate whether it is useful to state that it is an automatic movement, but in terms of design and having a well-balanced dial, it surely has its function.

The uni-directional bezel works perfectly and has no real play. Solid clicks and it has a luminous pearl to indicate the 0 (or 60). The aluminium uni-directional bezel is a necessity on a real diving watch but can also be used to keep track of a specific time frame.

Another typical diving watch feature is the screw-in crown. Longines has a nice signed crown that is easy to grasp and operate. A pair of crown-guards will ensure sufficient protection from door posts, shopping carts and so on. Or should I say rocks below the surface? In any case, in order to prevent bumping it off, there are these nicely shaped and polished crown guards that will do their job perfectly.

The picture below also shows the nice polished facets on the case. Longines really did a nice job on designing this tool watch and give it a finish that also makes it a perfect every day watch or even a classy watch to go with a suit.


As you already noticed, we received the Longines HydroConquest on a stainless steel bracelet (there are also rubber strap versions available) and we requested that on purpose. The finish of a bracelet is very important for a watch and tells us much about the effort that a company is willing to put into designing and developing a good solid timepiece. Although a rubber strap is very comfortable and easy-to-use, we were more curious about their stainless steel bracelet.

The big Oyster-like bracelet is a typical diving bracelet, similar design used by many other brands. It is all about the details in this case though.The links are connected using screws and the center link has a nice polished finish.The finish of the bracelet perfectly matches the polished and brushed finish of the HydroConquest watch case.

The clasp of the watch – as you can see – is solid and well designed. Another thing I noticed during wearing is that it is still quite flat on the back of your wrist. It has ‘Longines’ engraved in it – as you can see – and it looks and feels very sturdy. It appeared to me that it looked a bit more solid than the diving extension. Although I didn’t use it, the bracelet also has this diving extension so you will be able to wear the Longines HydroConquest over your Neoprene wet suit. Although the diving extension appears to be a bit thin, it did feel solid and even after twisting the watch on the wrist a bit I didn’t get a feeling that it would snap soon. Since it is a relative short piece, it probably needs quite a bit of force to bend or break it anyway.


Some people might perceive a solid case back a bit as a let down, perhaps especially those people who buy a mechanical watch for the first time. However, in my opinion it doesn’t make much sense for two reasons.

The first reason is that it is a diving watch (or tool watch), it needs a solid screw-down caseback that will ensure the water resistance of the watch. While there are certain brands that does offer a transparent or display back for a diving watch, think about the extra effort (and thus cost perhaps) that will need to go into it making sure it stays water proof at great depths.


My other reason might sound snobbish, but is in no way meant to be like that. I have great admiration for ETA movements which seldomly break down and to be honest I rather have a proven ETA movement that having an in-house movement just for the sake of having one with the additional price tag. However, I do not need to have a display back with a regular ETA movement. It would be a nice feature, but there are other movements that I rather enjoy looking at. This ETA is a workhorse, a diesel, and perhaps you can agree with me that looking at a current BMW 530D engine is less fun than looking at the V8 or V12 engine of a Ferrari or other (super) sports car. The work horse does its job though, and pretty damn well.

In short, for below €1000,- Euro (~ $1245.- USD) list price, you will receive a solid performing watch that will last forever. It also is the one watch that might sparkle your interest in mechanical watches and before you know you will end-up with a collection of them. Dangerous stuff. As you can see on one of the pictures above, the watch is delivered in a pretty presentation (or storage) box and comes with a big manual which is basically not really a necessity to wear this timepiece. Unscrew the crown, set the time and date and you are ready to go forever.


It might seem we are über enthusiastic about this watch and we definitely are. But aren’t there any cons regarding this Longines HydroConquest? Well, not really and especially not at this price point. However, if you want us to nitpick then you might prepare yourself having a discussion with other watch enthusiasts that it does look a bit similar to a Rolex Submariner watch. Perhaps it does, but it is the typical divers look & feel these watches have with their large luminous hands, readable contrasting dial and uni-directional bezel.

This is a value for money piece that is – and will be – hard to beat (we will continue looking though). Just like the Legend Diver that we reviewed, or the Master Moonphase that we also reviewed, Longines is definitely a very interesting brand to consider if you are in the market for a new & good mechanical timepiece to own (and wear).

Longines Ladies Dolce Vita - ETA 980.153 Battery & Strap change

This time on the Missus's Longines Dolce Vita. The Dolce Vita is an extremely popular watch for ladies, being fairly well priced (at the retail level) and it is a very elegant and classy watch, at the same time very versatile. You can dress it up or down and comes with many different dial colours and styles. Hers is the beige dial with black roman numerals, giving it a hint of Cartier from China.

The Dolce Vita has a snap-on case back, so fairly easy to open with the right tool. It is very tight (as it should be) so best to leave one side of the bracelet on the watch, as the end link gives you some leverage to pry open the case back. (Otherwise the case back sits very flush with the case, and you risk damaging the case/scratching the case/deep gouges on the edges which are all big no-nos when it's the Missus's watch. Even if it is already scratched to buggery...)


Once it's popped open, all smooth sailing from here. As most other quartz watches, there really isn't much to see. Simple plastic casing ring with a Longines L178 movement, aka ETA 980.153. What I do find interesting is that Longines has also signed the movement with name and calibre. (Tag Heuer didn't do this with their quartz movement) I'm pretty indifferent about this aspect. It's a quartz movement that in general consumers don't see, so... meh... Battery size fitted here is 379, but according to the manual a 317 will also fit. However you'll find that the 379 is much, much more common.


The movement is again very common. If you see a ladies watch with 3 hands, small seconds at 6:00, More likely than not this would be the movement. Haven't heard anything bad about it, so I'm going to assume that it's reliable enough. As a smaller movement it is not much cheaper to replace, a quick glance over the interwebs prices the movement at around about USD25-35.


Snapping the case back in place takes a bit of pressure but easily done. The Dolce Vita unfortunately has a less-common lug width (outside the norm of 14mm, 16mm, 18mm 20mm, etc) at 15mm across, meaning it can be a little more difficult to find aftermarket straps to fit. As the watch is quite small, a 1mm difference can be quite huge (unlike, say, squeezing a 24mm wide strap into a 23mm lugth width which would be ok...)


The versatility of the watch comes into play once again with straps. You can fit almost any colour strap to the watch (provided you can find them in 15mm width) Here it is with a lovely white strap to give it that summer feeling.


Yes- again, this is not taking into consideration the water resistant ability of the watch after the battery change. But it's not really a watch you'd stick in water anyway, and as it is, a bit of rain will not cause damage.

180th Anniversary---Longines Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece Chronograph

First impressions are essential, that’s something everyone knows, and Longines did a marvelous job. The Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece Chronograph ref. 2.776.4.21.3, or let’s refer to it as the “Monopusher”, features all of the classic looks that certain would expect having a watch from the Heritage collection. The round 40 mm stainless situation with vintage-styled lugs, is shackled by your wrist having a beautiful brownish alligator strap.

The crisp whitened dial features Roman numbers for hour-markers and also the number XII is within red-colored, an attractive retro-touch. Round the perimeter from the dial is really a railtrack for that minutes and seconds as well as in the middle are a couple of registers for that chronograph’s 30-minute counter and also the small running seconds. Everything relating to this watch inhales vintage, retro, classic.

The dial has all of the crisp whitened looks of a classic enamel dial, but it's really colored whitened. On first glace you'd easily mistake it to have an enamel dial, but when Longines had selected to make use of enamel dials that will have elevated the cost substantially!

Both your hands aren't simply colored blue, but Longines went the entire way and used warmth blued steel hands. The main difference between colored blue hands and warmth blued steel hands is definitely identifiable, since the warmth blued steel includes a certain luster into it that can't be copied by fresh paint. The form from the hands incidentally, perfectly resembles that old monopusher with quality 13.33Z. Not just the hour and minute hands, the big centrally placed chronograph seconds hands, but the small running seconds hands and also the 30-minute chronograph counter’s hands that finishes inside a small arrow.

All around the dial are large colored Roman numeral for hour-markers along with a railtrack minute chapter ring, with slightly thicker stripes in the full hrs. The Roman numeral twelve is colored red-colored and also the brand’s title is printed inside a vintage styled font. The 2 dials, one for that small running seconds and yet another for that 30-minute chronograph counter, have a similar railtrack chapter ring.

Initially the round situation appears like an easy round situation, that's connected to the strap by vintage styled lugs. These lugs draw a lot of the interest from the polished round mid-situation band and also the polished bezel and situation back. Both bezel and situation back protrude a little, making the mid situation slightly recessed. The ribbed crown with integrated monopusher (also known as single push-piece) sits within the right-hands side from the situation band. On the other hand is really a small recessed pusher that enables you to definitely quick-set the date.The situation and lugs feel rather light. That improves convenience of putting on, but simultaneously might feel a little cheapish.

The proprietary movement, quality L788, self-winding column-wheel chronograph movement beats in a frequency of 28,800 oscillations per hrs and offers 54 hrs of energy reserve. That sounds great so when you switch the keep an eye on to determine all of the mechanics it will get better still. The column-wheel is performed in warmth blued steel and also the large bridge that holds all gears in position is completed with circular recognizing.

The rotor features the Longines logo design and slightly recessed and full of gold fresh paint would be the brand’s title and quality reference. Thinking about that this is exactly what you receive just for € 3.620 (official retail cost within the Netherlands, including 21% VAT), it's just spectacular!

Nice men watch---Longines Saint-Imier Retrograde Moon Phases

Longines is among those brands that clearly marked certain eras previously if this involves the watch-making industry. This brand from Saint Imier in Europe includes a wealthy history in timekeeping that dates back so far as 1832. However, from your own curiosity about the company we are able to state that within the nineteen fifties and sixties, Longines had these wonderful Conquest watches having a beautiful gold and hands colored eco-friendly medallion around the case back. 

Within the seventies, Longines adopted the Swiss industry with sports watches featuring integrated bracelets. Within the eighties, Longines was a common title in timekeeping and sponsoring of F1 racing (Ferrari). In addition, they developed and introduced their VHP (high precision) quarta movement watches towards the Conquest range.

This watch comes complete with complications: moon phase indicator at 6 o’clock, day/evening indicator at 12 o’clock, retrograde day indicator at 12 o’clock, retrograde 24-hour indicator in the left side from the dial and retrograde date indicator in the right side from the dial. Each one of these complications are operated by a computerized quality L707.2 movement. 

This nicely finished movement of Longines exclusive moon phases watch is based on ETA’s quality A07 L31 movement. From what we’ve understood, ETA is causing this to be movement solely for Longines. This really is something we'll most likely see more frequently, as ETA will give mostly Piece of fabric Group brands now. What this means is they are able to most likely do greater number of these special collaborations using their ‘own’ brands.

The situation diameter of the Longines Saint-Imier watch is 44mm, which - although you should be accustomed to it right now - still looks large while you're reading the specifications of the watch. When putting on the timepiece - the model we received came on a stainless-steel bracelet as you can tell - we didn’t discover the 44mm situation to become too large. It suits the timepiece which is most likely also why the dial has a lot space left regardless of the four retrograde hands, day/evening and moon phase indicator. 

When we would purchase a Saint-Imier Retrograde Moon Phases ourselves, we most likely would order one having a leather strap. Our prime polished and high bracelet helps make the entire watch quite heavy and too shiny for all of us. The bracelet - keeping the vehicle safe clasp - continues to be well finished though and appears to be really tough.

Aside from the great classic appearance of this watch in the The watch-making industry Tradition assortment of Longines, there's another aspect which will please many people. While you most likely know Longines is situated inside the Piece of fabric Group like a serious the watchmaking industry brand with many different heritage to exhibit but additionally one that's still affordable. This specific Saint-Imier Retrograde Moonphase includes a cost of 2950 EUR, that is roughly $3700 USD.

Subtle claret colored bezel---Longines Heritage Diver 1967 Watch

The new Longines Heritage Diver 1967, revealed at Baselworld 2015, draws inspiration from the diver chronograph created in 1967.The contrast between your bordeaux aluminium bezel and also the black opaline dial with silver-colored counters works well and provides a powerful personality for this watch. Counters are asymmetrical using the chronograph 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock much bigger compared to small seconds sub-dial at 9 o'clock. In comparison towards the original model, the brand new Heritage Diver 1967 adds a chronograph 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock and a date aperture at 4:30.

The hands and hour markers are covered in Super-LumiNova for perfect legibility even just in poor light conditions. The bezel, finished to 60 and 1 to 12, causes it to be easy to calculate the space of the dive as the tachometer scale of the internal flange may be used to calculate the rate of the diver. The stainless steel case includes a diameter of 42 mm and houses a self-winding L688.2 (ETA A08.231) movement with column wheel chronograph mechanism. Beating at 28,800 oscillations each hour, it provides 54 hours of power reserve.

An engraving of the diver decorates the case back like an indication of the first divers watches created by Longines. The rear and crown of the piece are screwed to make sure water resistance as high as 30 bar (300 meters / 1000 ft).The Longines Heritage Diver 1967 (ref. L2.808.4.52.x) could be matched up to some steel bracelet, to some black leather strap in order to a rubber strap.

In case of knocks or tanks under water, the bezel on the dive watch is ratcheted, meaning it'll go one of the ways only, counter clockwise. What this means is whether it does get knocked and also you don’t notice it you’ll reach the top sooner than planned, that is always much better than later. Although just about all divers make use of a sophisticated computer to assist them to out, some discover the nostalgia of wearing a mechanical piece created for diving liberating.

Around the inner bezel of the watch is really a tachymeter scale which fits in symphony using the chronograph seconds hand. Another chronograph registers are in 3 o’clock for the hours and 9 o’clock for that minutes. In addition, there's a sub seconds dial at 6 o’clock but instead of style it identical to the other two sub dials, Longines rather elected to merely apply indications towards the black dial, instead of fit a creamy sub dial. In addition, there's a date window at half past 4 around the dial.

The movement within this piece is definitely an automatic L688.2 movement and it is sitting in the 42mm case. The water resistance of the watch is 300m that is virtually the conventional for any diving watch. Also, to assist with legibility under water, the hands and hour markers receive a small quantity of Super-LumiNova. You will not find any movements displayed round the back of the watch, sadly, but there's a picture of the scuba diver rather. The watch will come in steel on the bracelet, but both rubber strap or perhaps a leather strap can also be found.

Several men’s wathes for formal occasions

Nowadays, people pay much more attention to their appearance than ever before, especially men. Wrist watches as the most important decoration for them have play an essential role in the daily life, which can clearly reflect wearers’ social identity and status as well as their taste and temperament. Therefore, to select an appropriate wrist watch is of great importance, especially on some formal occasions. Because we all know that the first impression greatly depends on one’s appearance. And today I’m going to introduce three men’s watches for you guys and help you make a good choice. 

1. Longines L4.821.4.11.6

Longines is a famous Swiss watch brand, being good at manufacturing excellent watches, and its fine reputation is the reason we should have no doubt about its quality. This wrist watch Longines L4.821.4.11.6 is a nice choice for men to wear on formal occasions. It adopts traditional round shape, full and mellow. And the case material is stainless steel, rust resistant. The size is also an important choice, therefore the diameter of the watch is 35millimeteres, showing gentlemen’s capable and experienced image. Besides, the symbol of power and noble should not be missed, which I mean is the date display that is carefully inlayed in the 3 o’clock position. 

2. Reef Tiger Classic Fusion RGA810-YWY

It’s well-known that Reef Tiger has ways been devoting itself to making excellent watches, and with its rich experience and delicate technique, it has gained much admiration from numerous watch lovers. Classic Fusion RGA810-YWY is one of marvelous watches. As a men’s watch for formal occasions, it perfectly combines its outstanding appearance with its remarkable technology, which are the basic requirements of a fine watch. Seeing carefully, you notice that the whole design is very elegant and simple. Wearing this watch suddenly increases your confidence and makes you different with its sapphire crystal case, copper-made hands, grace date display and metal watch bracelet. 

3. Mido M8605.3.11.8

It goes without saying that, Mido has already been a very noted brand in this world and lots of men are proud of owning a Mido wrist watch. Mido M8605.3.11.8 has a power reserve of 40 hours with its automatic mechanical movement. The movement has been through serious and professional tests to make certain of its good performance. And I’m sure that if wearing this watch on formal occasions, it will definitely increase your charm and help you better work. Different from the two above watches, Mido uses genuine leather strap for this wrist watch, and it’s really fashionable and full of texture. 

From what I mention above, I believe you already have a choice. Actually, you can at least own two wrist watches, prepared for those formal occasions. 

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