Feel The Power! The Newly Refreshed Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve
When it comes to the Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve, three years are important: 1954, 1959, and 2024. 1954 marks the year of the Conquest collection’s birth, 1959 is the year in which the first Conquest with a central power reserve indicator debuted, and 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the Conquest collection. This is also when Longines reintroduced a watch featuring a central power-reserve indicator. This year, the Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve with a light blue dial first appeared. And it does so with a dark gray leather strap and a new three-link bracelet. Is the attraction still the central power reserve display? Is it the dial color? Or is it the new bracelet? Let’s see, and also find out if 2026 will prove to be another year we need to remember when we think about the Conquest collection’s lifeline.
The Conquest collection is important for several reasons. Since its launch in 1954, the watches in the collection have been at the technical forefront of what Longines can do. The collection was also the first Longines line to have its name officially protected by the Federal Intellectual Property Office in Bern, Switzerland. It marked a defining moment in the brand’s history, and you could say it was the beginning of modern watch marketing, in which name-building and storytelling are of great importance. The latest Conquest is a watch that draws inspiration from the past, celebrates an anniversary, now comes in a bright, lively colorway, and debuts a three-link steel bracelet. The icy dial, combined with the steel bracelet, gives the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve a refreshed, new look that’s worth a hands-on.
Hands-on with the refreshed Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve
Back when it debuted, it must have been something cool and fresh. Though I doubt that in 1959 those words were actually used to describe the Longines Conquest ref. 9028 that displays the power reserve centrally. Still, the system that works using two rotating discs positioned at the center of the dial was, and still is, not something you see every day. Better yet, that 35mm watch, outfitted with the self-winding Longines caliber 292 and displaying the remaining power reserve on a rotating disc at the center of the dial, was the first-ever watch to do so. And today’s version is still in a league of its own.
Longines Conquest Automatic reference 9028 — Image: Watchsteez
The Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve’s power source is the caliber L896.5. That’s an ETA-produced automatic movement that’s exclusive to Longines and beats at 25,200 vibrations per hour. And just like the original watch, the new creations show the date at 12 and a central power reserve indicator on a gently rotating disc.
Reading the power reserve is a very intuitive affair; it’s a case of “technique aids functionality.” In the center of the dial is a stationary disc and, on it, a baton with a widened top. This indicates the movement’s power level by pointing to the disc surrounding it. This disc features alternating dots and numerals in eight-hour increments and uncoils to display the remainder of the caliber’s 72-hour power reserve. Turning the crown or moving the watch while wearing it winds the movement and causes the disc containing the pointer to rotate. If you set it down for a while, the pointer disk remains stationary, and the outer disk with the numerals continues to rotate until it reaches zero, at which point the movement stops. The whole display system is just as original and smart in 2026 as it was in 1959.
Playing it cool
With over 70 years under its belt, the Conquest collection can be labeled as “Classic.” And every watch in the collection lives up to that label. So did the three versions of the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve that debuted in 2024. The version that appears this year is different. With a light blue opaline dial, it plays it cool. It brings that special allure that only a light blue dial has. It’s the promise of being something very exclusive, although sometimes it turns out to be an illusion. But then again, isn’t the world of luxury watches in some way an illusion?
Anyway, the latest iteration of the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve comes with a light blue dial. And what stands out apart from the frosty color and the central power reserve is the date at 12 o’clock, which features a color-matched date disk. The trapezoid-shaped date window echoes the watch’s classical origins, and so do the 12 applied, faceted indices on the domed dial. Other traditional details worth mentioning are the box-shaped sapphire crystal (with a multilayered anti-reflective coating on both sides) for that distinct 1950s look. The crown also features the famous winged hourglass logo.
The hands are not to be overlooked as well. The “skyscraper-style” polished hour and minute hands look strong and bold. And since they’re filled with Super-LumiNova, unlike the needle-shaped seconds hand, they also assist in reading the time in dark and gloomy circumstances.
Wearing the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve
The original watch measured 35mm in diameter, and although some of you may lament that Longines decided not to use that size again, a 38 × 12.3 mm case with a 45.6 mm lug-to-lug length is the traditional choice. This size lets you wear the Conquest as a dress watch. Especially on the gray leather strap that fits the 19 mm lug spacing. With the three-link steel bracelet, the mood shifts slightly towards the contemporary. The wrist presence is uplifted, but due to the modest size, the watch is never too exuberant.
Nothing is too exuberant about this Conquest. The case features alternate satin-brushed and polished surfaces, a signed crown with the winged hourglass logo, a box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, and a screw-down sapphire case back. The transparent case back allows you to view the movement while also guaranteeing 50 meters of water resistance.
Besides the size and color, water resistance and automatic movement make this Conquest an everyday watch. The steady-beating exclusive-to-Longines ETA-made L896.5 automatic caliber beats at 25,200VpH and features a silicon balance spring for better resistance to magnetic fields.
Nothing spectacular happens when you strap on the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve. The watch feels good on the wrist, and its look is pleasing. Wearing a watch with a light blue dial, combined with something blue, always looks good and serves as the icing on the cake, IMHO. The quirky and original power reserve adds horological depth, which enriches the experience. It’s not just the color that makes this watch entertaining; it’s also the way it displays one of its functions.
Final words on the Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve
Which version of the light blue Conquest do I prefer? I do applaud Longines for choosing a dark gray leather strap, as it pairs well with the dial’s cool color. However, I prefer the newest Conquest on the bracelet as it looks more homogeneous. On a strap, you have three visual elements: the all-steel version just shows polished and brushed steel and light blue, and that comes across as more substantial. That steel bracelet, by the way, like the case, has polished and brushed finishes and features a double-folding safety clasp. There’s a push-piece opening mechanism for safety reasons and a micro-adjustment system for comfort.
To clarify, the ref. L1.648.4.92.6 is the version on the new bracelet, and the ref. L1.648.4.92.2 is the one with a gray alligator leather strap. With a bracelet, the watch costs €4,450; with a leather strap, it costs €4,250. The version with the bracelet is my favorite. This Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve looks more powerful, pun intended. Still, both new versions make 2026 a memorable year for the Conquest collection.
Any thoughts on the latest iterations on the central power reserve theme from Longines? Please share them with us in the comments section below.
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