Introducing: The Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve Watch In Three Iterations
There’s almost no limit to the things you can celebrate. If you’re a watch brand, you can celebrate the anniversary of your founding, for instance, or a particularly significant watch. What you can also celebrate is the birth year of a watch collection. With the new Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve, Longines does just that. This release honors 70 years of Conquest watches. It does so with a remarkable watch with the date at 12 o’clock and a power reserve indicator on a rotating disc in the center of the dial. There are three versions to choose from.
For the 70th anniversary of the Conquest collection, Longines probably had to deal with the agony of choice when it came to reviving and reinterpreting emblematic watches from the past. From the very beginning in 1954, the Conquest line has embodied the qualities of self-winding and water resistance, and it has always been closely linked to the realm of sports. Five years later, the collection was further enhanced with the addition of a watch showing its wearer a unique power reserve indicator. This exceptional feature is represented by two rotating discs positioned at the center of the dial.
The Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve and its inspiration
The watch that inspired the trio of Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve models is the Conquest ref. 9028 from 1959. That 35mm watch was equipped with the self-winding Longines caliber 292 and displayed the remaining power reserve in the center of the dial on a rotating disc. This was a first in the watch world, which is why the first three new watches to honor the longstanding Conquest collection are anything but middle-of-the-road creations.
Longines Conquest ref. 9028 — Image: Watchsteez
The new ref. L1.648.4.78.2 is the reinterpreted result that’s closest to the original because of its champagne-colored dial and yellow-gold-colored indices and hands. The case of the anniversary watch, however, grew to 38mm in diameter and measures 12.3mm thick. Still, it is fairly small for a modern watch and a size that will surely please watch fans with a preference for traditional timepieces.
There’s also an anthracite-dial version with pink-gold-colored indices and hands (L1.648.4.62.2) and a black version with silver-colored dial details (L1.648.4.52.2). Regardless of which of the three versions you pick, the price is €4,250.
Technique aids functionality
Inside the new Conquest trio beats the caliber L896.5. That’s an ETA-produced automatic movement that’s exclusive to Longines and beats at 25,200 vibrations per hour. And just like the original watch, the new creations show the date at 12 and a central power reserve indicator on an uncoiling disc. Reading the power reserve is a very intuitive affair; it’s a case of “technique aids functionality.” In the center of the dial is a stationary disc and, on it, a baton with a widened top. This indicates the movement’s power level by pointing to the disc surrounding it. This disc features alternating dots and numerals in eight-hour increments and uncoils to display the remainder of the caliber’s 72-hour power reserve. Turning the crown or moving the watch while wearing it will rewind the movement and show the disc recoiling as well.
By the way, the inspiration for this innovative mechanism may even go back nearly 100 years into the history of Longines. In 1928, the brand created the Weems Second Setting Watch, which featured an inner rotating dial to allow pilots to accurately sync their watches with radio time signals. While the functional purpose was different, a similar aesthetic principle applies to this power reserve indicator. Its central position on the vintage Conquest and its three modern counterparts creates balance on the dial. But “balance” might sound a bit boring. Fortunately, the rotating disc causes the dial to change its appearance constantly. It’s the little spectacles that matter in the realm of the wristwatch, don’t you agree?
Date at 12, details everywhere
It’s not just the power reserve indicator that makes this newest Conquest model stand out. No, the date at 12 is also an eye-catcher. Otherwise, though, the watch features more traditional and soft-spoken details. The trapezoid-shaped date window, for instance, is a very classical touch, and so are the 12 applied, faceted indices on the domed dial. The same can be said about the satin and high-polish finishes of the 50m-water-resistant stainless steel case. The 19mm lug spacing accommodates a black alligator strap on the models with champagne and black dials. The version with an anthracite dial comes equipped with a matching gray alligator strap. Longines chose a relatively simple and sober steel pin buckle over a folding clasp this time. This buckle honors the sporty history of the Conquest.
Other details that need mentioning are the box-shape sapphire glass with multilayered antireflective coating on both sides for that distinct 1950s look and the crown with the famous winged hourglass logo. Perhaps we also need to take another look at the hands.
Longines chose “skyscraper-style” polished hour and minute hands for the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve, and they look strong and bold. And since they’re filled with Super-LumiNova, unlike the needle-shaped seconds hand, they’ll also assist in reading the time in dark and gloomy circumstances.
What are your thoughts on the three new versions of the Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve? The diameter of the watches seems to be just fine. I’m curious to find out how they wear and hold up in the metal, but my first impressions are positive. I have a slight preference for the champagne-dial version as it stays closest to the marvelous 1959 original. What are your first thoughts? Share them down below, and check the official Longines website for more information.
