I had no intention to buy a Longines Hydroconquest, but it kept popping up, inside lots my grey market dealers were bringing in and since one of my close friends were asking for one, I acquired this example and I held on to it until I was able to complete this review.
| Model Number L3.883.4.96.6 | Model Family Hydro Conquest |
| Case Size 43mm | Lug To Lug 52.7 mm |
| Lug Distance 21 mm | Thickness 15.9 mm |
| Water Resistance 300 meters | Case Back Screw Down |
| Movement L688 (Based on ETA 7753) | Power Reserve 56 Hours |
| Complications Chronograph, Date | Strap Stainless Steel Bracelet |
Longines launched the HydroConquest line at 2007 and until the second generation arrived, several different case sizes were used, ranging from 39 mm to 47.5 mm, not including the ladies versions. Chronographs joined to the collection at 2011. Second generation arrived at 2018 with improvements while at the same time simplifying case options to 41 mm and 43 mm. One of the most notable improvements was ceramic bezels which I think is a better fit to this contemporary everyday diver. The model, I am reviewing here belongs to the second generation and is at the moment of the review marks the last HydroConquest with a chronograph as the third generation line up, introduced at 2026 is missing one. With the third generation, following Omega’s steps, Longines also reduced the case sizes and thickness. So if you are after a modern looking Longines diver with some complications that doesn’t want to hide under a cuff this model could be the right choice. Otherwise you may want to check the third generation models, though they are considerably more expensive.
There is not much to write about the box watch came in, other than it seems to be holding it’s condition far better than some other boxes I have. And can’t pass without stating that it comes with one of the industries biggest user manual probably covering the instructions in all possible languages spoken on mother earth. Later on Longines came to their senses and dropped down to more sensibly sized manuals.
The watch houses L688.2 caliber, that’s specifically manufactured for Longines by ETA. It’s not an in house caliber but this is as close as you can get without being in house I guess. This caliber somehow finds its way to Valgranges line up, however despite what some sources claim, it looks like it does not share much with the oversized Valgranges family and is derived from the 7753. Unlike the base 7753, L688 is a genuine column wheel chronograph and side by side push button feel is incomparable to a standard 7753 or 7750. Other then column wheel there were a few more improvements including a new two-armed self adjusting reset hammer and increased power reserve to 54 hours, though I measured a even better 58 hours on this particular example. Unfortunately due to solid case back, we can’t benefit the newly designed automatic winding bridge that exposes the column wheel. Also Incabloc shock protection system is replaced with slightly improved Nivachoc. Finally L688 is better regulated out of factory, in my instance this never serviced watch was achieving +4 sec (dial up) , +2 (crown down) and smilar on other positions, not bad. Otherwise L688 carries over the dial lay out of 7753 and 10 oclock date quick set button that’s recessed to the case.
This watch belongs to the era where skinny dive watches were not taken seriously. If your wrist is smaller than 17.5 cm, I strongly recommend checking the 41mm version, although, due to thickness I find the 43mm version proportionally more ‘correct’. Watch makes zero effort on hiding it’s dimensions. The only thing that increases wearability is the nicely executed female links. This helps the articulation of the bracelet on relatively smaller wrists, yet this is no Submariner in any means, it’s thick and big. On the positive side, this is a nicely executed case with very clear and clean lines, no unnecessary surfaces, no bevels. Like a proper dive watch should be, most of the surfaces are brushed and polished surfaces kept to minimum. Chronograph pushers (all sides) and logo side of the crown are the only parts that are polished on the watch body. Designed as being a part of the crown guards which are brushed like the rest of the watch, polished pushers create a quite nice detail by forming alternating finishes adjacent to each other though I bet you’d find owners who is unaware of this nice detail. Quality of brushing is very very good, it’s subtle and very uniform within and across surfaces. Execution is inline with the watches modern character. Most characteristic design element of the otherwise normal looking case is the combined structure of chronograph pushers and crown guard. I personally think the same look, on the non-chronograph second generation Hydro Conquests look awkward, out of place and unnecessary. But here, it’s a different story, it looks ok, adds some unique character and most importantly prevents the watch shout that it’s chronograph by hiding the push buttons. So at the very first glance it gives the impression that it’s a diver first, chronograph second watch.
Bracelet is 3-piece oyster style with a polished center. It offers minimal tapering from 21 mm at the end-link to 19 mm at clasp. There are half links for fine tuning the bracelet adjustment and if it’s not enough clasp offers three micro adjustment holes to further fine tune it to your liking. Unfortunately there is no on the fly or tool-less adjustment. As expected there is a divers extension however it’s a bit of a disappointment that divers extension and main cover of the clasp is pressed rather then milled steel. Overall folding clasp which has a security snap is I think one of the weakest parts of the watch. On the positive side it’s relatively small while offering micro adjustment holes and divers extension.
One of the most handsome parts of this watch is the ceramic bezel. It’s a no frills, perfectly executed classic 120 clicks unidirectional bezel. Text is superb, lume is fantastic and most importantly looks very much inline with the overall design and character of the watch. I need to admit I am positively surprised how much the bezel action is refined, sounds crisp, feels consistent, aligned perfectly and there is almost no back play.
You can’t go wrong with this blue dial and I really like the subtle, refined sun burst effect dancing with light without exaggerated drama. Unfortunately as with many diver chronographs, dial is significantly busier compared to a regular dive watch. And in this instance, while watch is designed to provide 300 meter water resistance without locking the chronograph pushers, Longines state that chronograph should not be operated under water. Back to dial, of course first thing to notice is the three sub dials of L688 which carries over the lay out of the ETA7753. Each sub dial is outlined by a slightly different silver track and inner parts of it is decorated with azurage, in other words concentric micro grooves. Running seconds is located at 9 o’clock and it’s small silver hand has beautiful small lume pip, making sure that you can verify that the watch is running even in dark. Chronograph sub-dial hands, along with the central chronograph seconds tip are painted red in coherence and they don’t carry any lume. This is again in line with the watches design where chronograph functionality is not offered as part of the dive package. However I can’t say the same thing with the design of the sundials. Don’t get me wrong, execution is superb, but for a diver first chronograph, sub dials have a bit too much emphasis.
In contrast, IWC Aquatimer Chronograph whose chronograph is designed to be operated underwater , carries lume on chronograph sub dial hands.
Date window is squeezed into 4:30 and while I am not a big fun of a date complication in any diver watch, this complication comes with the base 7753 and Longines did not go far enough to create a variant without a date, though when Omega was using 7750 based chronographs, they did. On the positive side, date window is executed very nicely with a nice bevel and a white painted frame. I’d probably prefer a dial colored date disk with white text but Longines went for a classic white disk. And before moving to an other part of the bezel, I need to tell that I don’t understand the reason for “30Bar 300meter” circular text written around the top quarter of the 9 o’clock sub-dial. Dial is already busy, text is impossible to read without a loop and it negatively impacts the symmetry. I will also add the ‘Automatic’ text under the 12 o’clock printed Longines logo to the list of unnecessary text on the dial. That sub-dial lay-out is specific to automatic variant of the watch anyway. On the other hand, in effort to not over crowd the dial more, hour indices are moved to the outer edge of the dial, an uncommon location indeed. These very well lumed indices are absent on 3,6 and 9 positions due to the close proximity of chronograph dials. At 12 o’clock position a very large, generously lumed, arabic numeral can be found in a very dominant attitude. I need to say that I find large numerals used on the non-chronograph version significantly unbalanced, however in this dial, the large ’12’ at twelve o’clock position balances the 3,6,9 sub dial lay out very well. This is one of the reasons why I strongly prefer the chronograph version over the base version.
While one might say I have seen these hands some where else, I think there is some unique elements on the execution of the snowflake hour hand and sword like the minute hands. They don’t have the three dimension effect of a Grand Seiko or the refinement of Rolex, but very well executed, even under a loop they look great. Of course they carry good amount of lume to help the diver calculate remaining dive time or help a desk diver calculate remaining sleep time before the wake up alarm.
If you have read until here, thank you , and I guess you are somehow still wondering what I personally think about the watch. I need to admit, I am a bit different, especially when it comes to diver watches. I very strongly prefer the ones that have sacrificed being a normal watch in someway, to become a proper diver. This watch is not it, neither the Rolex Submariner. Having said that, if you are looking for a reasonably priced diver with a great movement that feels at home both under water or on land, this is a very well put together watch with amazing value. There are very few 300m divers with a unique, column wheel chronograph movement, so well executed at this price point, on the second hand market. So, yes, not for me, but 99.5% of the other watch people out there, it might be a good watch for you.
When hunting down deals on the second hand market, I’d recommend choosing the chronograph version of this line, and if you have the wrist to carry go for the larger version, it does look better proportionally. Both blue and gray dial versions are superb and you can’t go wrong with any one of them. Always prioritize the examples with steel bracelet vs the rubber strap. This is a recent watch, so you should have no problem finding one that also have the box and papers.
Finally , I am sorry regarding the quality of the photographs as I needed to ship the watch to my friend before my proper camera set up is in place. Happy watch hunting, may the force be with you.
