Watch reviews 4U - Longines Heritage Conquest Automatic L16454524 'Maxi' 40mm watch

                                         

Longines Heritage Conquest Automatic L16454524 'Maxi' 40mm watch

A review of the black dial Longines Conquest Automatic 40mm 'Maxi' watch

Longines Heritage Conquest - 

a retro design, but new take on the 1954 original

Longines has produced another super looking watch, this time for their Heritage collection. The Conquest Automatic design harks back to a 1954 original from Longines. So, how does it fare against today's other Longines offerings? Nicely. And against the offerings of similarly pegged Swiss watch companies it is now gaining new fans with friendly pricing and great style.

                        A 1950's original Longines shows the Conquest's heritage roots

The Conquest is available in silver dial, cream dial and black dial versions, each variant has the gold dial triangular markers and gold accents. I think that the black dial version is the most striking of the model options as the gold furniture stands out. I quite like the Bauhaus inspired 'minimal' modern look of the 1950's Longines designs including this one, which is why I was drawn to this attractive piece. 

I wasn't intending to buy this but it was available at a good price. I did look at some Tissot Visodate watches recently but they were a bit of let down as they had no antireflective coating to the glass.

This old Goldsmiths advert for the Conquest shows the retail price - 

new Longines Heritage watches of a similar level I have seen priced around £2950

The watch reviewed here is the black dial 40mm Conquest, it was a one owner from new off  eBay and in as new condition, but with an after market strap fitted, no issue as I have a new 20mm Longines genuine strap to hand, although this strap as on the watch is quite adequate. 

Comparison of 40mm case Longines Conquest and 1832 from the Heritage collection -

this new take on Retro styling on some models is strengthening the Longines brand

Originally priced at £750 on eBay this Conquest was purchased for £600. It was something I looked at and considered for sometime before buying after deciding against a Tissot Visodate, I am no stranger to the retro Longines, my first in 1993 being an old 1958 Longines Silvergines which I still have. The Silvergines at c.35mm is a bit small but is a nice retro piece.

I saw some youtube videos on the Conquest which showed the watch from all angles and I decided that this would be a nice addition to my Longines box! I was certainly not disappointed with the purchase, it is in fantastic condition and looks really stylish and better than the photos.

                       The Conquest dial up close - a triumph of minimal elegance

                     The hands and dial feature small but functional lume sections

The Conquest model here is available in c. 37mm and a 40mm sizes, the smaller case size Conquest at 37mm has the 19mm strap and an acrylic crystal fitted, the acrylic harks back to the originals from 1954.The 40mm has a 20mm width strap. Ladies may prefer the smaller size watch, it is not a heavy or thick case watch so will suit a smaller wrist. It is weight wise not obtrusive and is light on the wrist.

          The Conquest Silver dial version also looks fantastic with the Gold features

The 40mm 'Maxi' size watch as the Longines brochure refers to it as, has the sapphire crystal fitted which cuts the reflection back. All have a highly polished 316L stainless steel case. The 37mm case might suit the smaller wrist, I prefer the 40mm size as this size sits well on my wrist and is about as small as I usually go on a watch, the exception being my old Japan Seiko 5's at c.37mm!

This is the 37mm version of the Conquest -

a typical size more akin to the 35mm of the 1950's originals

The Conquest is quite slim at around 9mm thickness and is not heavy, making it a great watch to wear all day. The stylish design allows it to wear as a work or leisure timepiece and also follows the Longines gift of making the watch look more expensive than it actually cost! The superb styling makes the Conquest equally at home in the office, at the Races or at dinner. It is truly a watch for all seasons and for everyone.

                                           

The classy enamelled button detail in the centre of the rear case -

a tasteful and striking part of the design - a glass exhibition panel 

around the centre button would have been a nice touch in my opinion.

The rear of the case is solid, unlike most of the Longines watches of today which have glass exhibition backs, the cover is topped off with a very nice looking enamelled centre button in the case back. A really good touch in my opinion would have been to have had a partial exhibition back in the area between the flats on the case base and the central emblem. There is nothing nicer than to see the watch movement and the Longines ones are so nicely finished.

 

The slim watch case is topped by a Longines Logo Crown - 

The Crown's proportional size is perfectly in scale to the case

Power for the watch is provided by an ETA movement as you would expect from Longines and although some might say that the ETA movement used in this watch is not the highest grade, it is very functional and does the job with a lovely smooth seconds hand which moves without any great jerkiness always a good sign. 

Although these Conquest model watches are competitively priced, they are great value for money. They deliver a good retro Longines look with a modern movement and great style without breaking the bank, secondhand they can be very reasonably priced.

The Gold appointments against the Black dial really shows off the watch to perfection.

The small date aperture above the logo is quirky but functional -

it doesn't please all but it gives the watch its own character.

Some might suggest that the case should have been gold plated to match the dial furniture, but I think that the design's style works on all the versions.

Overall, this is a very nicely designed and well thought out watch design. The design is very nicely done, it is not heavy and is very nicely finished. It has classy retro elegance and would suit the man or lady about town. Definitely a good buy.

Watch Reviews 4U Longines Master Collection L2.793.4.92.2 Automatic 40mm Blue dial Watch

 

Watch Reviews 4U 

Longines Master Collection L2.793.4.92.2 Automatic 40mm Blue dial Watch

The Longines 40mm Master Collection Automatic with Blue Dial

This is a super looking watch in the Longines Master Collection series, the fabulous L2.793.4.92.2 Blue sun ray dial automatic watch with matching blue strap.

This is a watch you can wear in a business or leisure situation, it will look stylish, elegant and striking and will grab attention for all the right reasons. It is delightfully understated too.

The beautiful Longines Sun Ray Blue dial surface

This Longines Master Collection 40mm watch takes me back many years to 1983 - to a Seiko '5' model 7009-4040 I purchased new in November 1983, with a blue dial and the silver baton markers in a similar general style to the Longines. I still have six identical Seiko 5's the same  in my collection, it was a design that looked right then as it does now.

For the sake of comparison and old times - 

Left: the Seiko 5 Blue from 1983 and Right: The Longines Master 2021

Both great classics in their own right! The Seiko 5 still looks great 40 years on.

The Seiko 5 Blue dial is beautiful to look at and the best version of the watch I think.

Longines have in this L2.793.4.92.2 got the 'modern retro' style just right - a watch that looks modern and classic but equally at home in an earlier era. Good design and style doesn't date. It is not thick in case height either, so will fit under a sleeve unobtrusively. This is another case of Longines getting the design right across all considerations for a watch.

Also available with a metal Longines strap -

I have just purchased this version used but like new condition 

but changed the strap to a new Longines 21mm Blue deployment clasp type

as I feel this really sets the dal colour off nicely and the leather strap is lighter.

At 40mm in case size, (there is a 38.5mm one available), this watch is just right for many what I would call 'average' wrist sizes. It looks right sized but not too large. 40mm might be a good size for the market in Asia, not too large but large enough for those customers who might have smaller wrist measurements in that region.

Perhaps at 42mm it would just look that bit larger, but with many customers from the far east market who prefer smaller watches, this one at 40mm is going to meet the need pretty much all round. I wouldn't really want anything smaller than this at 40mm. 

On the wrist (I would say I have an average size wrist) the 40mm size watch looks about the perfect size. Given that I tend to go for 41mm + size watches, I am pleased with how this looks, not 'undersized' by any means. In fact, it looks and wears just right. 

I have a Longines Record Chronometer 40mm in blue and that is another great watch, I do like the Blue dials, they just looks so good. The L3.793 on review here is also available in other dial colours including black and green. 

The elegant 21mm Deployment Clasp Strap in Blue

The watch is well appointed with either a 21mm wide strap - Alligator faced outwards with a Calf leather inner layer or a superbly finished Stainless steel metal strap. The leather strap is lighter than the Stainless one, the Stainless strap looks great but the blue strap / blue dial combination just looks so good.

Longines have produced a number of watches with this unusual 21mm size width strap and it does have on this watch the aesthetic solution to not having to make the lugs too widely spaced - for a 22m strap, perhaps on a 42 or 44mm watch case then the 22mm gives a similar sense of proportion. 

Also the lugs are well proportioned and not too heavy, they look graceful  and slim. The case is superbly designed and finished and the exhibition glass back shows off the decorated movement nicely.

Simple classic design always works and never dates - 

Longines have made similar designs in the 1950's and these still look great!

The dial is available in a number of colours including an unusual Green shade but the one that really appeals to me is this lovely blue one. The metal hour markers, the hands and the Longines logo in bright silver just work so nicely in contrast to the ocean blue dial.

The bevel angle Chapter ring really suits this design -

the minutes indices are very useful have to view -

the chapter ring also helps the dial look more complete

The hands are elegant in their 'leaf' shape and look delicate but easily readable, there is a date window at 3 o'clock and  the chapter ring in matching colour to the dial is a bevel shape which allows a nice way of finishing inside of the watch case and tends to make the dial look larger than it is face on, as it adds depth.

Beautiful finishing extends to the movement and case back

Setting the watch is easy - pull the crown out one click to set the date and the second stop on the crown pulled out allows you to set the hands and hack the watch for setting to a time signal. Nice and easy to operate. From run down, wind the crown clockwise about 12 times to start the mechanism.

The watch is also available with this steel bracelet

which is comfortable to wear and superbly finished

The watch case is a stainless steel material with the usual superb design and finish you would expect from a watch at this level. The lugs are set nicely so the watch follows the wrist and does not look lost or badly positioned, the ergonomic fit is nicely thought out here.

At 40mm case size on the wrist - 

it is not too large but reassuringly large enough

The blue ray dial can be seen to effect here

The dial colour is cleverly applied so that as the name suggests it does give a sun ray Blue effect. It isn't a flat solid colour gloss navy blue from any angle, but the colour alternates across the dial as the natural light finds the dial surface almost glowing in colour. Topping the fabulous dial off is a sharp sapphire crystal glass with anti reflective coating and it is a viewing pleasure every time you check the time.

The strap at 21mm is an unusual size - 

The Blue colour really just adds the finishing touch here

As with most of these comparable Longines pieces, a 30m 3atm water resistance is standard, this is pretty well adequate for most of the situations you'll be wearing the watch in.

Elegant from any angle

If you are looking for a dressy and casual elegant watch with an eye-catching colour dial, then I think that this would fit the bill. At an RRP of £1950.00 in most places it is a quality timepiece and can be had at around £1400 or under for a used example in good condition with box and papers. 

I saw some ranging from £899 to one that had been worn and was a few years old to £1395 for now that was some years old but in nice condition. There are bargains to be had if you can find them.

The beautiful Sun Ray Blue dial surface

Longines have produced a really sharp looking watch that gives you quality, beauty and wearability without breaking the bank. They are not easy to find used so they are obviously highly sought after.

I have just picked up a 2021 made example of this Longines up on Ebay for just over £900, the same watch is on the Longines site for £2000 new, so I think this is a great bargain. I am very pleased with the look, feel and weight (it is not a heavy watch).