Longines’ new HydrConquest models have been re-designed to include a GMT function and in-house movement, bolstering the already popular collection and available in 4 great colours.
Longines was one of the first brands to pioneer a GMT function. They debuted a second time zone on a wrist watch back in 1925, helping ships convert local time to Universal World Time (UTC) or Zulu Time (hence the name) making timing and navigation easier. Since then, GMT’s have become one of the most sought after functions and complications on a watch. Understandable due to its ease of use and one of the more practical functions you can get on a watch.
The Longines HydroConquest has always been a great value option sports watch, ranging from smaller quartz options to the larger automatic variants. Its style cues are more classic than modern, but like all modern Longines, mix this with contemporary design and manufacturing. And now with a GMT function, are more versatile than ever.
The new HydroConquest GMT comes in a 41mm case, that measures 12.9mm thick, which for a 300m water resistant steel sports watch with a GMT function, is quite slim compared to other GMT steel sports on the market today. This is due to the new and exclusive to Longines GMT Calibre L844, which is a Self-winding mechanical movement beating at 25’200 vibrations per hour (3.5Hz), with a power reserve up to 72 hours.
Like all new Longines sports models, the L844 calibre is equipped with a silicon balance-spring and components in non-magnetic materials. This movement is ten times more resistant to magnetic fields than the ISO 764 benchmark standard, meaning that it will stand up perfectly to any magnetic fields your household appliances and devices can throw out.
The Longines HydroConquet GMT comes in four colour variants – black, blue, green and brown and all with a sunray finish. This gives you the option of a colour variant to suite your style and to add to this, you can opt to have the green and brown on matching NATO straps, or the black and blue variants on matching rubber straps. This makes these highly versatile sports watches, and all for under AUD $4,500
Each colour variant features a GMT hand that tells you the second time zone via the two-tone 24-hour scale on the outer dial track, which itself is broken into night and day indicated by the lighter or darker numerals, and the gilt or silvered polished hands and hour-markers are coated with Super-LumiNova®, making them easy to read in any circumstances. Added to the legibility, the markets are round at 6 and 9 o’clock and triangular at 12 o’clock.
A date window is at 3 o’clock, and depending on the model, is either colour-matched to the dial, or white. Green and Brown are matched due to the fauxtina lume, the black and blue are white to match the white lume on the dial markers and hands. This is the Longines design team being smart here, and not just going with one method or the other, like many brands that charge 10x the money do. Well done Longines.
The HydroConquest GMT is also distinguished by its new unidirectional notched ceramic bezel fitted with a luminescent capsule and a screw-in crown. The alternating polished and satin-finished surfaces add a sophistication and elegance to these new models, and as Longines have put the 24hr GMT time zone on the outer dial track, they’ve retained the graduated dive scale on the uni-directional bezel.
Longines have also given the new HydroConquest GMT a re-designed bracelet, making them more comfortable, and now featuring a double security folding clasp with micro adjustment, and this can also be found on the rubber strap options too, making these great alternatives to the steel and allowing for maximum comfort and fit.
Final Thoughts
Longines is one of those brands that is starting to punch above it’s weight. The Spirit line, and most recently the Spirit Zulu Time is one example of this, and now the new HydroConquest GMT gives watch lovers a great value alternative diver with GMT function.
The four colourways allow for versatility, and the NATO or rubber straps changes the look dramatically. If you’re after a more classic diver, the black and blue on steel will suit. Want more of an adventurous looking piece? The brown and green on NATO fit the part.
Whilst we’re yet to try these on and go hands on with them, on paper, and knowing what Longines are doing with their brand and watches, they look the goods and are a solid option for anyone wanting a sports steel diver or GMT – in this case, you can have both.
A full gallery is below the specifications so you can look at each variant up close.
References:
- Black – Steel (L3.790.4.56.6), Rubber (L3.790.4.56.9)
- Blue– Steel (L3.790.4.96.6), Rubber (L3.790.4.96.9)
- Green – Steel (L3.790.4.06.6), NATO (L3.790.4.06.2)
- Brown – Steel (L3.790.4.66.6), NATO (L3.790.4.66.2)
Specification:
- Case: 41mm, 12.9mm thick
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Dial: Black, Blue, Brown and Green with sunray finish with offset24 hour scale
- Crystal: Sapphire domed glass with multi-layered anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Water resistance: 300 m (10ATM)
- Movement: Longines exclusive self-winding movement, L844.5, with silicon balance-spring and magnetic resistant. 25,200 vph (3.5Hz), pivoting on 21 jewels
- Power reserve: 72 hours
- Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel bracelet or rubber strap with double safety folding clasp and micro-adjustment system. (Black and Blue Variants) / Stainless steel bracelet or NATO strap with pin buckle made from recycled material (Brown and Green Variants)
