Longines Conquest Watches

Longines Conquest Watches
Introduced in 1954, the Longines Conquest is a classic example of midcentury watch design. Its round case shape and clean dial with oversized hour markers have made this model particularly popular among vintage watch collectors. Longines continues to innovate with the Conquest and has introduced many new models and styles over recent years. For someone looking for a reliable mechanical watch with an excellent history, the Longines Conquest is a great choice.

Longines Conquest Offers a Solid Case Construction

The Longines Conquest features a screw-in caseback, which is a hallmark of solid case construction. In the past, many watches used what is described as snap-back cases. These cases have a simple construction in which the caseback is pressure-fit into the main case of the watch. To open the watch for service, a watchmaker would use a special knife that fits in between both parts of the case. Twisting the knife would put pressure in just the right spot and force the caseback to pop off the watch. The benefit to this case style is ease of servicing and manufacturing, but the disadvantage is the small amount of damage that can be done to the case when opening it. Another major issue is the potential for water intrusion into the movement. A screw-in caseback solves these problems by introducing threads that allow you to screw the caseback into the case. A rubber gasket is placed between them to ensure a high level of water resistance. On the Longines Conquest watches, a polygon design on the caseback accepts a specialized wrench, which will screw the caseback on tightly.

Longines Conquest V.H.P. Provides Very High Precision on Your Wrist

In 1984, Longines introduced the Conquest V.H.P. (Very High Precision). This version of the Conquest used an extremely precise quartz movement that boasted an accuracy of +/- 10 seconds per year. It is helpful to put that number in context with what a mechanical watch can achieve. When thinking about the precision of a mechanical watch, we usually think in terms of days. A mechanical watch that achieves +/- 10 seconds per day is considered to be in good shape. Refining those statistics even further to +/- 5 seconds per day puts the watch into chronometer territory. But thinking in terms of years with accuracy ratings was rare in a wristwatch in the 1980s. In 2017, Longines took this a step further with a new version of the Conquest V.H.P., which boasted an incredible rate of +/- 5 seconds per year. If you want to always be exactly on time, the Conquest V.H.P. should be on your radar.

Longines Conquest Heritage 1954-2014 Celebrates Sixty Years 

In 2014, Longines introduced a 60th-anniversary version of the Conquest, called the Longines Conquest Heritage 1954-2014. This re-creation of the original Longines Conquest is a great representation of the midcentury style that is seeing a resurgence in popularity today. Longines released their Conquest Heritage in three case variations: yellow gold, pink gold and stainless steel. The yellow gold version has the option of an alternate gilt dial that adds a large amount of wrist presence to this watch. The caseback features a beautiful engraved Longines logo with enamel decoration. The Longines Conquest Heritage uses the famous ETA 2824/2 caliber, which is widely considered to be a reliable mechanical movement. It is appropriate for Longines to use an automatic movement in the Conquest Heritage, as the original Conquest used one as well. The Conquest Heritage even uses an acrylic crystal, as a nod to the origin of the watch. Most Swiss watches today use the popular sapphire crystal, which is much more durable, but there is a certain charm to using an acrylic crystal on a new watch.

Longines Conquest Owns the Oldest Trademark in the World

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) began registering international trademarks in 1893, and Longines’ winged hourglass logo was in the first group of trademarks ever registered. The companies that registered the other trademarks in that first year have since disappeared, leaving Longines as the rightful owner of the oldest trademark in the world. In modern Longines watches, an updated logo appears on the dial, but the original winged hourglass trademark appears on the caseback. The winged hourglass logo goes back even further than that, first used in 1889 by Longines, but only registered in Switzerland at that point.

Longines Conquest Pricing and Availability

There are many preowned Longines Conquest watches available today. In 2021 Longines Conquest watches with quartz movement sell in the $200-$500 range and those with automatic movement for $400 to $800. Longines Conquest Heritage watches range from $675 to $1,000 . Longines Conquest V.H.P. watches can range from just over $200 to nearly $2,000. On the even pricier side, a Longines Conquest Heritage 60th Anniversary watch in 2021 is on sale for about $3,200.