The 9 Best Longines Watches To Buy

With a history stretching back the best part of two hundred years, Longines has been making some of the best watches in Switzerland for a very long time. Worn by some of the world’s most famous individuals, and responsible for more than its fair share of technical innovations, today Longines’ watches remain synonymous with quality, precision, and strong value among the collector set.

However, with such a significant legacy and a suitably sizable catalogue to match, working out exactly which Longines watch is the best for you isn’t exactly straightforward.

In that spirit, I’ve put together a roster of the best Longines watches on the market below: ranging from ultra-robust divers to elegantly refined dress watches.

RELATED: How Longines Plans To Pass $3.3 Billion In Sales By 2025

BH Approved: The Best Longines Watch Overall That You Can Buy In Australia

The Longines HydroConquest has been a favourite collection within the Boss Hunting office for years, but it was the launch of the Longines HydroConquest GMT that cemented its position as a perfect everyday diver.

Not only does it continue to offer the robust case and comfortable bracelet we already knew and loved, but with the addition of the multiple timezone tracking GMT function, the HydroConquest has become an even better package.

Available in either a 43mm or 41mm case size (the 41mm wears a little better for most people in our experience), the crown guards add to the “go anywhere, do anything” qualities of this watch; while there’s a satin brushed finish applied to the lugs and case flanks. Framing the sunray brushed dial is a scratch-resistant ceramic 60-minute bezel, with markings that have been matched with the tone of the hands and hour markers on the dial.

It’s available on your choice of a matching satin brushed stainless steel bracelet, a rubber strap, or a textile NATO strap, the first two of which are capable of micro-adjustment. If the regular NATO is a bit too plain for your taste, Longines has collaborated with Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung First Nations artist Otis Hope Carey to create a set of colourful alternatives inspired by his art.

If you’re after a watch you can wear every 24-7, no matter how you spend your days, then the Longines HydroConquest GMT needs to be top of your list.

The Best Longines Watches To Add To Your Collection

Longines Master Collection Small Seconds

SPECIFICATIONS

• Case Diameter: 38.5mm
• Case Thickness: 10.2mm
• Case Material: Steel
• Bezel Material: Steel
• Bracelet/Strap Material: Leather
• Dial Colour: Salmon
• Water Resistance: 30m
• Movement: L893 calibre
• Power Reserve: 72 hours

If the HydroConquest GMT is one of the best-value sports watches at its price point, so too is the Longines Master Collection Small Seconds one of the best looking dress watches for under $5,000.

Arriving with your choice of a salmon, black, or grey dial, its Breguet numerals appear to have been directly engraved; while the small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock is one of the best-proportioned contemporary examples I’ve glimpsed in a long time.

Equipped with an automatic movement that boasts 72 hours of reserve power, it’s paired with a supple leather strap that ties its design together very well. Honestly, hard to fault.

Longines Legend Diver

SPECIFICATIONS

• Case Diameter: 39mm
• Case Thickness: 12.7mm
• Case Material: Steel
• Bezel Material: Steel
• Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
• Dial Colour: Black
• Water Resistance: 300m
• Movement: L888 calibre
• Power Reserve: 72 hours

Featuring a dual-crown super compressor shape that was born in the 1950s, the Legend Diver is based on a mid-century Longines dive watch with a compact and ultra-legible design.

While we’ve seen several different expressions of the Legend Diver over the last decade and a half, this latest generation, with a 39mm stainless steel case and remarkably comfortable beads-of-rice bracelet, is arguably the most put-together iteration yet.

Longines Ultra-Chron Diver

SPECIFICATIONS

• Case Diameter: 43mm
• Case Thickness: 13.6mm
• Case Material: Steel
• Bezel Material: Ceramic
• Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
• Dial Colour: Black
• Water Resistance: 300m
• Movement: L836.6 calibre
• Power Reserve: 52 hours

Another heritage reissue, but this time with a focus on accuracy, the Longines Ultra-Chron Diver is based on a late-60s timepiece equipped with a ‘hi-beat’ movement: so-called because it ticked away at 10 vibrations per second (i.e. 36,000 beats per hour).

This modern interpretation (one of our favourite watches of 2022) enjoys the more contemporary proportions of a 43mm stainless steel case and 300m of water resistance, while it’s still powered by a hi-beat movement — in the updated 52-hour power reserve L836.6 calibre.

Longines Spirit Zulu Time

SPECIFICATIONS

• Case Diameter: 39mm
• Case Thickness: 13.5mm
• Case Material: Steel
• Bezel Material: Ceramic
• Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
• Dial Colour: Blue
• Water Resistance: 100m
• Movement: L844.4 calibre
• Power Reserve: 72 hours

When the Longines Spirit collection first launched, its historically informed yet modern design cues showed great promise, which we caught a proper glimpse of with the original Longines Spirit Zulu Time was released.

Once again, however, Longines decided to give the people what they wanted with the latest generation of Longines Spirit Zulu Time, enjoying a nicely proportioned 39mm stainless steel case (with a two-tone yellow gold option available), ceramic bezel, and symmetrically positioned date window at 6 o’clock.

Overall: a slam dunk of a design.

Longines Flagship Heritage Moonphase

SPECIFICATIONS

• Case Diameter: 38.5mm
• Case Thickness: 12.4mm
• Case Material: Steel
• Bezel Material: Steel
• Bracelet/Strap Material: Leather
• Dial Colour: Blue
• Water Resistance: 30m
• Movement: L899 calibre
• Power Reserve: 72 hours

Regarding the balance and proportion of watch design, Longines is better than most others in 2024 and the Flagship Heritage Moonphase is a brilliant example of this harmony in the metal: a dressy timepiece, with an attractive date, and elegantly executed moonphase at 6 o’clock.

Despite its 38.5mm diameter, it wears larger thanks to the elongated, carefully faceted lugs: decorated using a combination of brushed and polished finishes to great visual effect.

Longines HydroConquest

SPECIFICATIONS

• Case Diameter: 41mm
• Case Thickness: 11.9mm
• Case Material: Steel
• Bezel Material: Ceramic
• Bracelet/Strap Material: Rubber
• Dial Colour: Green
• Water Resistance: 300m
• Movement: L888 calibre
• Power Reserve: 72 hours

Now, this isn’t the latest generation of Longines HydroConquest, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a fantastic timepiece from every angle: with an attractive green dial and one of the more comfortable matching rubber straps we’ve handled this year.

Its 41mm steel case has been kept impressively slender at just 11.9mm front-to-back, while it’s built to handle anything: courtesy of the 300m water resistance rating and a movement that stores up to 72 hours of reserve power.

All things considered, pricing being a notable factor, you’re looking at a very compelling package.

Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve

SPECIFICATIONS

• Case Diameter: 38mm
• Case Thickness: 12.3mm
• Case Material: Steel
• Bezel Material: Steel
• Bracelet/Strap Material: Leather
• Dial Colour: Cream
• Water Resistance: 50m
• Movement: L896 calibre
• Power Reserve: 72 hours

One of Longines’ more recent releases, the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve is based on the Longines Conquest ref. 9001 from 1954 and features the relatively unusual detail of the movement’s power reserve displayed proudly on the centre of the dial. Combined with the symmetrically located date at 12 o’clock, gold dial furniture adding to the warmth of the already creamy dial shade, and a classic black leather strap, and you’ve got a very solid offering right here.

Longines Conquest

SPECIFICATIONS

• Case Diameter: 41mm
• Case Thickness: 10.9mm
• Case Material: Steel
• Bezel Material: Steel
• Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
• Dial Colour: Brown
• Water Resistance: 100m
• Movement: L888 calibre
• Power Reserve: 72 hours

Last, but certainly not least is this Longines Conquest, a quintessential everyday timepiece that, to use a well-loved phrase, does everything you want and nothing you don’t need.

With no less than five different dial colours in the 41mm case size available (and many more in the other sizes), the watch’s narrow polished bezel makes the dial look larger and easier to read, while its stainless steel case and matching bracelet are both designed for workaday comfort over years of ownership.

An ideal contender for the ‘one watch collection’ buyer.

Now that you’re acquainted with all of the best Longines watches of the year, take a look at a couple of our favourite related articles below:

• The 18 Best Watches Under $5,000 You Can Buy Today
• How Longines Plans To Pass $3.3 Billion In Sales By 2025
• The 31 Best Affordable Watches Right Now
• On The Blue Carpet With Regé-Jean Page: Leading Man & Longines Ambassador
• Longines x Otis Hope Carey Is An Australian Special Edition With A Difference
• The Best Military Watches To Complete Your Everyday Carry