Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Longines Conquest Heritage Year of the Snake
A tribute to the upcoming Year of the Snake, the 1950s-inspired Conquest Heritage flaunts a red dial with gilt elements and a snake engraved on the caseback.
The Chinese Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and on the 29th of January, the Chinese zodiac welcomes the Year of the Snake. To celebrate the event, Longines unveils a 2,025-piece limited edition of its Conquest Heritage with a rich red gradient dial and a special engraving on the caseback of a snake designed by renowned Chinese artist Wu Jian’an.
The Chinese Lunar New Year sparks a spate of zodiac-themed watches. Longines jumped on the bandwagon last year with a limited edition of its Flagship Heritage model. This year, Longines has picked a model from its Conquest family, the brand’s first collection to bear a trademarked name that appeared in 1954. With its elegant vintage 1950s dress watch spirit, the watch blends its classical past with modern specifications.
The 50m water-resistant stainless steel case has a 40mm diameter and a thickness of 10.8mm and is finished with polished surfaces and a vintage-inspired glass-box sapphire crystal protecting the dial. Where the 1950s aura really comes into play can be appreciated on the domed, gradient red dial with its distinctive gilt indices, sharp dauphine hands and winged hourglass logo that emulate the original. The combination of red and gold (relayed by the applied golden elements on the dial) is highly auspicious in Chinese culture and associated with good luck, wealth and happiness.
Instead of emblazoning the snake on the dial, Longines has gone for a more subtle approach, and the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac is featured on the 12-sided screw-down caseback. Associated with wisdom, rebirth and infinite vitality, the Year of the Snake lasts from 29 January 2025 to 16 February 2026.
Chinese artist Wu Jian’an turned to a story from the famous Legend of the White Snake for inspiration. His design depicts a coiled snake clutching a Lingzhi mushroom (immortal herb) for the engraving on the caseback. The Conquest Heritage is powered by the L888.5 automatic calibre with a robust 72-hour power reserve and a silicon balance spring to offer magnetic resistance ten times higher than the ISO 764 standard.
In keeping with its 1950s dress watch vibe, it is accompanied by a black alligator leather strap and a classic steel pin buckle. A limited edition of 2,025 pieces, the Longines Conquest Heritage Year of the Snake retails for EUR 3,350. For more information, please visit the Longines website.
