Conquest is the official name of the Longines sports watch collection and in 1954 the Manufacture from Saint-Imier registered it with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It soon became synonymous with precision and associated with timing sporting feats. This initial watch family was subsequently interpreted through variations such as the Conquest Classic line reflecting watchmaking traditions and created to celebrate the brand’s involvement in the most prestigious equestrian events; the Hydroquest diver’s watch range; and the Conquest Heritage commemorative line launched in 2014 to honour the 60th anniversary of the patent filing.
A brief overview
The understated yet sophisticated Conquest models for men and women are distinguished by their round cases available in 29.5 mm, 34 mm, 336 mm, 38mm, 41 mm and 44.5 mm sizes, their wide bezel and their crown with its protective side guards. In keeping with the sporting spirit, the watches are mainly made of steel, but the collection also features two-tone steel/red gold versions. The silver-toned, black, white or blue dials have at least one extremely legible Arabic numeral at 12 o’clock, and sometimes also at 6 o’clock, along with wide baton-type hour-markers. Some ladies’ versions also come with diamond hour-markers. In terms of functions, the simplest models are the three-hand plus date variations, flanked by chronographs, 1/100th of a second chronographs, a dual-time model, and even one with an exclusive calibre dedicated to showjumping, the Conquest Jumping. Conquest watches are driven by quartz or mechanical self-winding movements. We take a look at three stellar models.
Conquest 1/100th Roland Garros
This 1/100th of a second chronograph with its 41 mm case celebrates the brand’s partnership with the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament. The steel case, water-resistant to 30 m and fitted with a screw-lock crown, houses the L440 quartz calibre specially developed by ETA for Longines. It powers small seconds at 6 o’clock, central seconds and 1/100th of a second hands, along with 12-hour and 30-minute counters. The timepiece is part of the Conquest 100th line dedicated to sports requiring great timekeeping precision, that began in 2014 with the Conquest 1/100th Alpine Skiing, followed by the St. Moritz and Horse Racing models. This year, in response to a special request from Steffi Graf, Longines Ambassador of Elegance, a 36 mm ladies’ Conquest Roland Garros was introduced. While it does not have the hundredth of a second function, it reflects the existing men’s model with a sunburst anthracite dial dotted with colourful accents evoking the red clay of the Parisian courts, while its caseback bears a commemorative Roland Garros engraving.
Mechanical chronograph
The Conquest chronograph displays its standout watchmaking performance in an exceptionally elegant mechanical self-winding model. The L688 column-wheel chronograph movement oscillates at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour and ensures 54 hours of autonomy. Water-resistant to 50 m, the 41 mm steel case is protected on both sides by a sapphire crystal and its bezel features a tachymeter scale. The sunburst silver-toned dial combines elegance with legibility. Another mechanical self-winding chronograph, housed in a large 44.5 mm case and powered by non column-wheel Calibre L696 with a 46-hour power reserve, will appeal to fans of more imposing sports models.
Mother-of-pearl and diamonds
Several Conquest models combine sportiness with traditionally feminine diamond and mother-of-pearl touches. These quartz-driven three-hand plus date models in 29.5 or 36 mm versions are graced with a gemset bezel framing a white mother-of-pearl or polished lacquered dial, punctuated by diamond hour-markers and swept over by polished rhodiumed hands.
