Longines expands on their Conquest Heritage line with a new, contemporary light blue opaline dial.
When it comes to heritage revivals, there’s a fine line to tread. Wanting to pay homage to references of old carries a certain air of nostalgia, but it also requires a great deal of deliberation in its execution. What do you change? What do you keep the same? How do you innovate while keeping it relevant in the modern landscape? These are all questions Longines has to answer on a daily basis.
Home to one of the richest horological archives in the industry, the brand has become famous for its ability to confidently and consistently refine heritage timepieces, often turning them into modern staples. Sometimes, though, the best way to bring something back is to change very little about the winning recipe.
This is especially true in more niche vintage revivals, like the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve. Available in cream, grey and black, it established itself as a delightfully old-school reintroduction of the 1959 original. This year, however, Longines has taken the model a step further, introducing a new light blue opaline dial that pushes the watch into one of the defining design trends of the 21st century.
Blast From the Past
Measuring 38mm in diameter, the new Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve is slightly larger than the standards of its era. While not entirely historically accurate, it makes perfect sense for the modern wearer. After all, 38mm to 39mm is often regarded as the sweet spot for its balance of wearability and legibility.
Combined with a compact 45.6mm lug-to-lug measurement and a thickness of 12.3mm, that certainly remains the case here. In stainless steel, the new watch is offered on either a standard steel bracelet or a dressier grey alligator leather strap with a pin buckle.
While I personally love how this watch looks on the grey alligator strap, it’s hard to ignore the convenience of the bracelet’s on-the-fly micro-adjustment. With 50 metres of water resistance, it’s up to you whether you wear it in a sportier or dressier setting, but the added practicality of the steel bracelet speaks volumes about Longines’ broad appeal.
Cool Heads Prevail
With such a distinctive design, it’s difficult to bring it into the modern spotlight. But Longines has found a clever solution in the watch’s new colourway.
Rather than sticking to another period-correct tone, the opaline finish is now presented in a light, almost ice-blue shade. It feels more relaxed than the previous colourways while still retaining the original’s DNA. Speaking of that DNA, this remains one of Longines’ most distinctive-looking timepieces.
Instead of a traditional power reserve display, the watch indicates its remaining power through a rotating central disc. The printed black indicator rotates clockwise from the leftmost marker until it reaches zero, at which point the watch runs out of power.
Another detail that really sets this piece apart is the grooved ring running through the hour markers, adding a subtle layer of dimensionality to the dial. Complete with a colour-matched date window at 12 o’clock, elongated applied indexes and lumed syringe hands, the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve’s old-fashioned design is perfectly complemented by its contemporary light blue opaline finish.
Central Powers
Thankfully, the dial colour isn’t the only element that feels comfortably modern. The automatic movement is too, visible through the sapphire caseback. Inside, the Longines Calibre L.896.5 beats at the brand’s signature 3.5Hz frequency (25,200vVpH).
Combined with an upgraded 72-hour power reserve, a significant improvement over the original model’s 45 hours, the Calibre L.896.5 demonstrates Longines’ commitment to not just remastering, but genuinely improving its archival references. I can’t help but wonder exactly how the movement achieves its central power reserve display, as it’s hardly what you’d call a commonplace complication. If I ever find myself at the Longines manufacture, or ETA’s for that matter, I’ll be sure to ask around and report back.
Initial Thoughts
Light blue dials can sometimes feel like a convenient cop-out for watch brands. But somehow, it feels earned on a model like the Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve.
I’ve had a love-hate relationship with this dial colour over the past few years, something that was partially remedied by, funnily enough, another Longines: the HydroConquest 39mm in ice blue. My distaste for the colour has always been less about the shade itself and more about the industry’s tendency to chase trends rather than pursue originality.
Yet despite using a similar tone here, it’s immediately clear that the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve is unlike almost anything else on the market. As I said, a central power reserve display is hardly a common feature, and the light blue dial allows the watch’s eccentricity to shine.
Once again, Longines manages to pull the rabbit out of the hat, remastering and refreshing a cult classic reference. In that, it appeals to veteran enthusiasts while drawing in the next generation of watch lovers like myself.
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | L1.648.4.92.2 (Leather Strap) L1.648.4.92.6 (Steel Bracelet) |
| Dimensions | 38mm case diameter x 45.6mm lug-to-lug x 12.3mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Dial | Opaline light blue |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. L896.5 with power reserve & date indicator complications |
| Power Reserve | 72 |
| Beat Rate | 3.5Hz / 25,200VpH |
| Water Resistance | 50m / 5bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Steel bracelet with micro-adjustable folding clasp Grey alligator leather strap with steel pin buckle |