BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
Longines has been on a roll for the past few years, with their reimagining of the watches that made them famous in the mid-20th century being the best indicators of this. 2024 saw the release of the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve, a tribute to the reference 9028 originally released in 1959. Now, for 2026, a new version of the Conquest has been released, and it comes with a light blue opaline dial.
The dial’s centre shows the watch’s power reserve, which, unusually, is made of two disks that move depending on the reserve level, coming together when it reaches zero. The total power reserve from this watch is 72 hours. The self-winding calibre L896.5 powers the watch; it was developed by ETA exclusively for Longines and has a 3.5Hz beat rate (25,200 vibrations per hour) with 21 jewels.
The date at 12 O’clock on the dial is most unusual, but it works, as does the light blue opaline colour, which looks great. I haven’t seen this watch in person yet, but I imagine it’s very legible thanks to the applied markers (with Super-LumiNova) and the general tidiness.
The stainless steel case measures 38mm x 12.3mm and offers 50m of water resistance, which, in my view, is the only thing that lets it down. While taking the new Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve in before writing this, it struck me as Longines’ answer to Omega’s Seamaster Aqua Terra, which is sporty and dressy, with practicalities like a true 150m of water resistance, meaning it can be used daily. On the stainless steel bracelet with the polished centre links and comes with an integrated micro-adjustment system, the Conquest seems to me to be a perfect dressy/sporty piece for daily wear, but it needs a solid water resistance to go with it.
With everything said, the new Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve looks like a great addition for the summer, and with a bracelet or a grey alligator leather strap, there’s sure to be something for everyone in this piece.
The price of the watch with the leather strap L1.648.4.92.2 is $4,300, and with the bracelet L1.648.4.92.6, it is priced at $4,400.
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