Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. A New Generation of Longines HydroConquest 300m Diver, in 39mm and 42mm
Longines' classic dive watch entirely redesigned, built on the concept introduced with the GMT models.
Born in 2007, the HydroConquest is Longines‘ classic 300m, modern dive watch. While the Legend Diver is there to evoke the past, the HydroConquest is meant to be a contemporary offering, mixing strong diving credentials with a daily-oriented, sleek design. Until now, we’ve come to know the watch in this form here, when it benefited from a makeover in 2018, adding fresh colours and a ceramic bezel to the equation. But, as you’ve probably noticed, Longines launched in 2023 the HydroConquest GMT Collection, a practical traveller/diver with a design that didn’t have much in common with the classic 300m HydroConquest… Well, what was to be expected is taking shape today, as Longines introduces a brand new generation of HydroConquest for 2026.
Let’s go straight to the point. The HydroConquest you’ve come to know since 2018, as reviewed here in 43mm with a blue dial, or in a more compact 41mm two-tone edition here, is gone. And the transformation of the collection is built around the design concept introduced in 2023, with the HydroConquest GMT Collection. Longines is thus harmonising its two sides of the HydroConquest range, the classic Diver 300m now boasting the same fresh design as the travel-oriented version.
More modern, sleeker, more ergonomic, slightly thinner and not sharing much anymore with the previous collection, the new Longines HydroConquest retains, however, the classic recipe of a daily-oriented dive watch. Longines slightly streamlines the collection, as the previous generation was available in 39, 41 and 43mm variants (depending on the colours, choices might have shorter). The HydroConquest 300m Diver is now available in 39mm or 42mm versions, sharing the exact same specifications and colour options.
As said, the case and overall design have been comprehensively reimagined, now in line with the GMT models. The case has a more contemporary touch and feels more curved than before, with a slightly more compact feel to it. Made of brushed stainless steel, the 39mm and 42mm cases share the same reduced thickness of 11.7mm (about 0.5mm less than before), with respective lug-to-lug measurements of 48.10mm and 51.20mm. Framing an anti-reflective sapphire crystal is a redesigned bezel, made of ceramic and borrowing its mechanics from the Ultra-Chron Diver model, for an enhanced tactile feeling. As expected, the crown is a screw-in element with lateral guards, and the caseback, which screws down, borrows its design from the GMT models. Water-resistance is classically rated at 300m.
Moving to the dial, the evolution between the 2026 generation of HydroConquest and the previous generation is obvious. Even though slightly retouched, the handset retains its familiar design, with a diamond-shaped lumed tip on the hour hand and a lollipop seconds hand. The markers are, however, entirely new for this collection and much sleeker than before. One of the defining elements of the HydroConquest was the large 12-6-9 applied numerals, paired with round applied hour markers. All of that is gone and replaced by a combination of rectangular, triangular and round applied markers, like the GMT versions. And while it might lose a bit of its personality, the new HydroConquest feels sleeker and more contemporary like this…
The collection offers 12 references in total (6 styles, each available in 39mm or 42mm), using 4 different dial options and 5 ceramic bezel colours. Let’s break them down:
- classic black dial and ceramic bezel, polished lacquered dial, H-style steel bracelet
- classic navy blue dial and ceramic bezel, polished lacquered dial, H-style steel bracelet
- dark green dial and ceramic bezel, polished lacquered dial, H-style steel bracelet
- black dial with slate grey ceramic bezel, polished lacquered dial, Milanese bracelet
- black dial with luminous blue ceramic bezel, polished lacquered dial, Milanese bracelet
- frosted blue dial with black ceramic bezel, sunray-brushed dial, Milanese bracelet
Inside the case, no surprises, as Longines equips its HydroConquest with the latest generation of L888 automatic movement, the Calibre L888.5 produced by ETA exclusively for Longines. Using the ETA 2892 as a base, it’s been refined with a lower frequency of 3.5Hz and an extended power reserve of 72 hours. It also features a silicon balance-spring for enhanced resistance to magnetic fields (10 times more than required by the ISO 764 standard, or about 600 gauss).
The final touch comes from the bracelets. As said, 3 versions are available on the same steel bracelet as the GMT version, with its H-shaped links and overall classic look. The other 3 models are introducing a new style for the HydroConquest collection, a steel Milanese bracelet with straight end-links and a full brushed finish with polished sides, with a tapered effect towards the clasp. Both bracelets come equipped with a double-folding safety clasp with a built-in micro-adjustment system.
Availability & Price
The new 2026 Longines HydroConquest 300m Diver collection is released as part of the permanent collection and should be available immediately from the brand and its retailers. The prices are identical for the 39mm and 42mm versions, and the 3 models on H-link bracelet are priced at CHF 1,850, and the 3 models on Milanese bracelet are priced at CHF 1,950. For more details, please visit longines.com.
3 responses
Very good. So many microbrands come out with junky diver designs in an effort to be unique, but this is really the way to go. Bravo.
I like the green 39 mm version quite a lot. Great dimensions, reliable movement, good choice of a solid colorway, fully brushed metal, standard lug-width, micro-adjustable bracelet and the price is just fair. Yes, bezel action you only know, once you really handled it. But it will be above average for sure. I would have loved a color matching date complication, or better non at all. But it is executed well as such. I will wait for W&W26 to see, what the watch market as a whole will offer. But this Longines model is already on the personal purchase list, only its rank needs to be decided on, still.
As soon as I see more than a couple of geometric indices, and counting the date window and the hour hand, this has no less than five shapes scattered across the face of the watch, I can’t help thinking about infant shape-sorter toys. The 6 and 9 round indices don’t work well with the date window and triangle at 12. And why bother copying Tudor’s most divisive and mostly hated awful snowflake hour hand? This could have been such a nice watch until Longines decided to scatter-gun it with random shapes…..