Longines Hydroconquest?

Longines Hydroconquest?

Author
Discussion

marcosgt

Original Poster:

11,011 posts

175 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
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Anyone got a Longines Hydroconquest?



I was interested in the Omega Seamaster 300M, but I have a couple of Omegas already and the Hydroconquest Automatic looks a lot of watch for not much money. I'm not looking for a watch to actually dive in (I have a Citizen for that).

Is the Longines a good watch?

Anything to consider.

It's the non-Chronograph one I'm interested in, btw.

M.

Lunablack

3,494 posts

161 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
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I had that exact model above...... There was nothing not to likesmile To my eyes, it was every bit as good as the Omega Seamaster, but for a fraction of the priceyes

ReaperCushions

5,951 posts

183 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
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Personally prefer the black, but this is what I'm going after next... proper watch at a decent price

clockworks

5,292 posts

144 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
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Good value for a mainstream Swiss brand.
Steinhart are similar quality, but even cheaper. You don't get the fancy packaging, or the buying experience, though.

GC8

19,910 posts

189 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
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I struggled to buy one in 2010 because no one had stock. In the end I increased my budget and bought a 44mm titanium Oris.

Id still like one but the dealers apathy puts me off to some degree. There are blue and black dialed versions in two sizes with a choice of quartz or automatic movement. Those resellers who had stock seemed to consider that a 'Hydroconquest was a Hydroconquest', so finding the correct combination was more than I was up to.

If Longines can supply to order now then this shouldnt be a problem, obviously.

rickf_uk

420 posts

187 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
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I bought myself one as an early xmas present a couple of weeks ago and love it. The pricing on these watches perplexes me. As far as I'm concerned the quality is every bit as good as my Brietling and better than the seamster, and they have excellent heritage, yet for less that £1000.

Only problem is while I was at the jewellers I caught sight of the new Aviation A-7 and now I want one. Not cheap but still cracking value.

AndrewWF

280 posts

141 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
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The quality of Longines is fantastic. Pop to Harrods if you can, and you'll see how well their pieces fit in amongst some very, very expensive stuff.

SlimJim16v

5,617 posts

142 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
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AndrewWF said:
The quality of Longines is fantastic. Pop to Harrods if you can, and you'll see how well their pieces fit in amongst some very, very expensive stuff.
But Harrods didn't have the Hydroconquest, so tried on an Oris diver instead. Lovely watch, but went for a titanium one off ebay instead.

hilly10

7,076 posts

227 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
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Nearly bought one a few months ago missed it by minutes on TZ. Great watch and I agree every bit as good as an Omega at a fraction of the price.

ali355

384 posts

170 months

Thursday 6th December 2012
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Had one since Jan of last year. Quartz Chrono. Picked it up new from a dealer not too far away for a fair whack under list price via watchfinder.co.uk. I have other watches but its the one I wear most. Impressive build quality, has worn very well and has attracted a fair few compliments. Also has done a great job of stopping me buying more expensive watches!

Edited by ali355 on Thursday 6th December 22:22

traffman

2,263 posts

208 months

Friday 7th December 2012
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If i hadn't have found a black dial Omega , this would have been second on the list . Very attractive.

phumy

5,671 posts

236 months

Friday 7th December 2012
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I have had my Longines Hydroconquest Automatic for nearly two years now, black faced, its been a fantastic watch and has done really well considering it has spent that whole time on my wrist on a heavy construction site. The usual minor scratches on the bracelet but the crystal is perfect and it keeps time very well, I adjust it once a month and it seems to gain about two minutes over that time so in my mind thats pretty accurate.

Thoroughly recommend it..

Got mine from Dipples in Norwich and got a really good deal, i was buying this watch and one for my wife at the time and the cost of both came to 1300 pounds, I managed to knock Dipples down to 1000 pounds cash for both.

speedtwelve

3,510 posts

272 months

Saturday 8th December 2012
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I have a 41mm blue-dial auto similar to the OP photo. I'll echo what has already been said: it's pretty much as good as a Seamaster for 1/3 of the price. I tried mine side-by-side with my brother's 41mm SMP auto. Heft, finish, bracelet quality, the engineering of the bezel ratchet, all just as good.

They seem to be rare-ish on the High Street. A lot of Longines dealers don't seem to hold stock in the window. I bought mine used at 9 mths old, and it hasn't missed a beat in 3 years or so.

FWIW the auto has a red arrowhead second hand pointer as shown above; the quartz has a straight red pointer. otherwise they look the same.

tickious

1,392 posts

173 months

Sunday 9th December 2012
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I've always said Longines are great value for money. Good quality swiss movements & build quality. One thing to consider is the amount of advertising brands do. Omega are a massive brand and a good watch, but I'm thinking being all over the olympics and bond isn't cheap and that cost is passed onto the customer.

sneijder

5,221 posts

233 months

Sunday 9th December 2012
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The Swatch Group have brands coming out of their ears.

Hamilton and Longines are great value, they've been steadily pushing the list price of Omega as much as they can over the past years in order to get it a bit more 'top end'.

It's seemingly where they want their brands to be.

tickious

1,392 posts

173 months

Sunday 9th December 2012
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True. And with the likes of the hour vision they're well into the Rolex price bracket, and even though it's their own movement/escapement. I still think you get more for your money with a Rolex. And especially if you go for a sports model, you'll get more money back when it's time to update.

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

181 months

Sunday 9th December 2012
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I've nearly bought one on many occasions. Maybe I'll sell an Omega and get one. They do look lovely.

Junior Bianno

1,400 posts

192 months

Sunday 9th December 2012
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I've got one - black dial 41mm. Had to have it at that price. It really is an amazing amount of watch for the money. Not a massive collector, but have a fair few watches, and the Hydroconquest gets the most wrist time at the moment by far.

steve2

1,771 posts

217 months

Sunday 9th December 2012
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I bought the Legend Diver in October but nearly got the Hydroconquest but wanted a plainer watch this time

shambolic

2,146 posts

166 months

Sunday 9th December 2012
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Just seen this after buying a 300M today banghead
Lovely watch.
The Omega shop in Glasgow was great though, as was the champagne and chocolate while buying it. cool