Longines’ Latest HydroConquest Collection Dives Provides Some Eye-Catching Options

When it was first introduced in 2007, the Longines HydroConquest was a bit of a script rewrite for the esteemed watchmaker.

While Longines has made dive watches since the late 1950s (and, in fact, its current Legend Diver line continues to draw historical inspiration from the early Nautilus Skin Diver and Super Compressor models of the era), the HydroConquest was, at the time, a totally new dive watch design (a rarity worth noting, in and of itself) for a brand that is notoriously obsessive about its aviation history.

But heck, nearly 20 years of production now counts as history, and the strides HydroConquest has made over the years are legion. However, this year will likely go down as a particularly special year for HydroConquest fans, given the abundance of choices.

With today’s unveiling, there has been a comprehensive re-envisioning of the HydroConquest: Notably, a 39mm case size across the whole line of steel divers, in addition to a 42mm option, opens up more flexibility for wrists desiring to venture into the deep (perhaps a bit more vintage-y in its overall look, yes, but certainly in line with modern case size shrinkage).

In what might be considered another nod to a vintage feel, for the first time, three of the new models ride on a slinky Milanese steel mesh bracelet. Five ceramic colors are offered on a revised unidirectional bezel derived from the shapely, higher-end Ultra-Chron Diver model. A new dial redesign rides across the whole collection, focused on legibility and lume use. And the Longines calibre L888.5 automatic movement drives them all.
 

As Brand Ambassador Henry Cavill puts it in press materials about the new HydroConquest models: “This watch brings with it a sense of lightness and dignity. It evokes thoughts of spring and summer shores, docksides, and with them the promise of discovery; evocative of the classic elegance from Longines.” And hey, he’s not talking Kryptonite in that regard.
 

Let’s take a look at all the new models.

Classic H-link steel bracelet vs. steel Milanese mesh bracelet executions might be the easiest way to attack this shoreline.

In the classic bracelet trio, you have an option of, again, 39mm or 42mm case sizes with equally classic deep blue (Ref. L3.779.4.96.6), black (Ref. L3.779.4.56.6), or foamy green (Ref. L3.779.4.06.6) dials with color-matched unidirectional ceramic bezels and 30 bars of water resistance.
 

There is also an evocative boutique and e-commerce exclusive model with a frosted blue sunray dial and a dark blue bezel (Ref. L3.779.4.98.6) in this bracelet style.

On mesh, the dial and color options open up a bit (and, I have to confess, the smaller 39mm case size just works so well with the Milanese accent of this new bracelet). Here, color combos vary between black with a deep blue ceramic bezel (Ref. L3.779.4.90.6), light blue with a black ceramic bezel that mimics the special dial color of the boutique-exclusive above (Ref. L3.779.4.99.6), and a particularly handsome black dial with a grey ceramic bezel execution (Ref. L3.779.4.70.6).
 

Sharp-eyed readers can probably tell which is my favorite, but the entire new line just draws a pretty deep line in the sand on this beach.

Debuting today, the new HydroConquest models in deep blue, black, or foamy green, with the classic H-link bracelet, are priced at $2,200 in either 39mm or 42mm. Meanwhile, the models sporting Milanese mesh bracelets, be they 39mm or 42mm, are priced at $2,400.

Sadly, no pricing information was available at press time for the boutique-exclusive model with an H-link bracelet (Ref. L3.779.4.98.6). For more information, check out the Longines website.