When I heard about Cartier, I never paid attention to it. For me, it was a jeweler who was trying his hand at watchmaking, a big mistake on my part. Then I became a little more interested in the Tank, in the history of Cartier, I discovered the Santos-Dumont, the Ballon Bleu, the Must... What a slap in the face, Cartier is the first house to make me want to start a collection as the models are so sumptuous and different. My choice to start this collection was oriented towards the Tank, I am sure, it will be the Tank Must Grand model quartz (The classy, chic and discreet side disappears for me with a mechanical movement, I am obviously speaking according to my tastes and the size of my wrist...). A friend came to disrupt my plans by showing me a "Basculante". Under the spell, immediately, I want it! The rest of the story takes place on my wrist. A fine, elegant, chic, discreet watch. A rectangular case, blued sword hands, a recognizable railway, Roman numerals, the "secret" signature in the VII. Added to all this is a clever system that allows you to tilt, as its name suggests, the dial in order to protect it. A must-have in watchmaking in my opinion, and the beginning of a long love affair with Cartier. My Instagram for more photos: https://www.instagram.com/mrytchwatches/

The Cartier Tank... Stunning!

"If you have it restored, I'll give it to you, I won't wear it anymore..." That's what my father told me, and that's what I did. It's the first watch he bought in 1970, and I wear it with pride today. I wanted to keep the traces of its previous life and at the same time make sure that it could be used every day. Its movement is quite capricious and it sometimes stops or loses minutes when I'm not wearing it. Its case, called a "super-compressor", is quite small in diameter but is quite thick. An internal bezel is activated by the crown located at 2 o'clock, the one at 4 o'clock allows you to set the time. It is pleasant and easy to wear. When we talk about the Nautic Ski, we instantly think of Tabarly and Cousteau, a historic French watch. I wear it with pleasure, although not very often, preferring more recent and more robust models.

A Father-Son Story

Can we talk about love at first sight when talking about a watch? Love at first sight, for sure. Here is a watch that had all the attributes to not please me and yet, it is one of the pieces that I consider important in my collection. A contained diameter, 38mm, vintage colors, Roman numerals, Arabic numerals, a central disc that turns, a "secret" button that allows you to open the back, hour angles, an aviation story... A watch full of information, complex to use (if you want to use the calculation of hour angles, not to read the time...), the term complications will never have been so apt but very endearing at the same time. It is one of my watches that most often attracts attention when I wear it and that we don't have much opportunity to see. To summarize, a vintage watch, that we enjoy wearing, that attracts sympathy and that is more precise and reliable, or how to treat yourself with a watch that has a story for a relatively "soft" price.

A Transatlantic Story, the Longines Lindbergh

Well done Swatch, for better or for worse, this watch has made people talk! All controversy aside, this MoonSwatch is a very fun, colorful watch with reminders for all those who know a little about the Speedmaster and its many variations. It is a watch that I find very easy to wear, very light, obviously given the material in which it was created and with proportions identical to the Speed. I think that it is a watch not to be worn daily given its low water resistance and its fragile appearance. A Nato strap that is not particularly comfortable and which gives a "cheap" look to the watch. A small detail that you should not hesitate to change in my opinion to make the most of this Swatch. Its price of €260 makes it an accessible watch but at the same time slightly expensive in terms of quality/price ratio. A watch that must be taken for what it is, a fun and colorful watch, a nod to its big sister, the Omega Speedmaster Professional.

MoonSwatch, a fun watch, to be taken for what it is.

The Longines Conquest GMT is the first Swiss watch I bought. It was this one, along with the first watches of my adolescence (Seiko, Casio) that got me started in watchmaking. I was looking for a Swiss watch, with a recognized watchmaking history, automatic and with, if possible, a complication that was a bit nice and different from what we see, like dates or days. All that in a "content" budget, namely under the 1500€ mark. I found all that in this Longines. Its blue sunray dial is magnificent and the red hand of the second time zone contrasts with the dial and gives it a sporty side. You should know that this watch is quite thick and quite heavy to wear. Despite these two small flaws (as well as a slightly noisy oscillating weight but hey...), it remains quite pleasant to wear and remains a special piece in my eyes. It is water-resistant to 5 Bars, remains relatively precise over the hours and days, which makes it a perfect "daily". She is and will remain the one who made me put my finger in the Watchmaking gears.

My First Swiss Watch, the Longines Conquest GMT.

The Longines brand was created in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz in Saint-Imier, located in the Swiss Jura. First registered watch brand, Longines shares a large part of its history with the rise of sports, the two worlds having in common values ​​of tradition, precision and elegance. This DNA has allowed the brand to launch models that have marked watchmaking history, such as the Longines Chronograph 13ZN or the Longines HydroConquest.
The current Longines range offers classic watches like the Longines DolceVita or the <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/longines/master_collection">Longines Master Collection</a>, as well as sports watches like the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/longines/legend_diver"> Longines Legend Diver</a>,<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/longines/conquest"> Longines Conquest</a>,<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/longines/spirit"> Longines Spirit</a>,<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/longines/hydroconquest"> Longines HydroConquest</a> or<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/longines/ultra-chron"> Longines Ultra-Chron</a>. Longines has also been involved in polar and aerial expeditions, providing precise measuring instruments to explorers to calculate longitude and latitude. Indeed, it is notably the brand which was chosen by Charles Lindbergh to design a navigation watch during his famous transatlantic flight in 1927. The watch, called <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/longines/lindbergh_hour_angle">Longines Lingbergh Hour Angle</a>, was used to determine the position of Lindbergh's plane during the historic flight.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Longines watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Longines watches sold on the brand's website vary between $900 and $8,950 depending on the models and finishes. Expect to pay $1,950 for a Longines Hydroconquest and $3,500 for a Longines Spirit Zulu Time.
The brand Longines is owned by the Swatch Group like the brands <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/omega">Omega</a>,<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/tissot"> Tissot</a>,<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/breguet"> Breguet</a> or<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/blancpain"> Blancpain</a> and produces around 1,700,000 watches per year, all models combined. Longines is part of the <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_swiss_watch_brands">Top most popular Swiss watch brands ranking</a>. To choose the Longines model that best suits you, the Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating different models through real owner experience.
(Updated December 2023)

This is one of my vintages that I wear the most because it is so fine, endearing and luminous with its applied indexes, its logo, its solid gold crown. Its background with the gold and enamel insert and its fish that does not like water. Its slightly faded linen dial attests that it has lived well since 1961 but it works perfectly. Its date window at 12 o'clock. A brand that deserves to be even better known because there are so many rarities.

Lovely vintage with linen dial and gold indexes and crown

This Longines has a very special place in my collection. After having the "heritage" version from 2014, I couldn't help but think of the original version from 1954. So I sold the first one while waiting to find a good example of a vintage Conquest. Finally, in 2022, I found exactly what I was looking for with this watch in superb condition, with the 19.AS movement, which represents for me the embodiment of Longines' know-how and attention to detail of the case, dial and movement, without compromise. So here we have a watch resistant to water, magnetism, shocks, designed to meet the challenges of exploring the modern world that the second half of the 20th century was destined for. A robust and sophisticated watch, with a degree of finishing equal to the finest watchmaking productions of the time. Yes, the main rubies of the movement are set in gold chatons, the indices are solid gold, and the back of the case features a deep blue enamel motif (the steel and gold-plated versions have a green enamel medallion). A watch that evokes all the attributes of modern watchmaking and Swiss watchmaking tradition simultaneously. For me it is an extraordinary watch, a distillation of history that transports me into its universe and makes the flame of passion burn within me.

A vintage solid gold explorer

41mm quartz watch. Watch purchased with a chocolate brown leather strap. This is my first beautiful watch that I had for my 20th birthday, since then I can't do without it. 8 years later, I gave it a real youthful look with a metal strap and my watch is alive again, it has nothing to do with it. It is sporty and robust. I wear it every day, whether it's to go to work, play sports or whatever. The only small problem is its size, I would have loved it in 39mm given my small wrist.

Sporty but not too much

I present to you my Longines Conquest Automatic in 41mm.
This is a watch that arrived in my collection at a time when I no longer had a watch collection, having been burgled. So I was looking for an extremely versatile watch, ready to accompany me everywhere without flinching, to work, on an adventure or in the evening.
The Longines Conquest remains an enigma in my watchmaking journey: it is a watch that I first discovered in images, via different photos and videos, and systematically, I wondered what people could find in it: it is not particularly beautiful (I would go so far as to say that I found it rather ugly), not particularly original, nothing crazy... then I saw it in real life in London, and I can't really explain why, but it caught my eye. Then a few months later, passing by an AD, it was love at first sight (especially with a discount of 400chf!).

Coming to the watch itself: it's a big watch, with 41mm in diameter and 50mm from lug to lug. On the other hand, where many people seem to find that it's a bit larger than it says, I don't quite agree. It's a thin watch (11.7mm), with plunging lugs, which allows it to fit a lot of wrists (and I have a very small wrist of 15.5~16cm).
300m of water resistance for this piece, which is absurd, but nevertheless very cool!

The finishes are excellent considering its price, with many very well-made polished surfaces, a crown with an original design. The deep black lacquered dial brings very pretty reflections and plays of light, it's probably my favorite detail. The set of hands is very pretty, with two facets, and even prettier in the version with painted indexes and luminescent paint on the hands.
The bracelet is very nicely made with an elegant butterfly clasp. Downside, it will be difficult for you to adjust it perfectly to your liking, given that there is no kind of micro-adjustment. You will have to deal with half links, but in my case it is either slightly tight or too wide...

The movement is a Longines L888, derived from an ETA 2892: excellent reliability and more than proven movement, crazy precision (my copy runs at -2sec/day). Completely satisfied on this side!

On the downsides:
- It is a heavy watch on its steel bracelet (188 grams all the same), we do not forget it!
- Enjoy the moment when you see it immaculate in the store, because it will be scratched the next second! It is a scratch magnet, it is terrible! For my part, I like objects that live so it does not bother me at all, but if you are maniacs, run away!
- The original bracelet and its lack of micro-adjustments which can make it uncomfortable to wear for some wrists, inherent to the butterfly buckle...
- If you like it to be bright, it's the same, run away because it's sincerely crap aha!

But I forget all that and forgive it because beyond the fact that I love it enormously, it has a real emotional dimension which means that whatever happens, I would never part with it!

For 1250chf/1400e, you will have a real Swiss watch from one of the most important manufacturers in the history of watchmaking, a reliable, robust and precise movement, excellent finishes and a look so cool and versatile!

The best all-purpose Swiss watch for under €1,500

La marque Ollech &amp; Wajs a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 1956 par Joseph Ollech et Albert Wajs &agrave; Zurich en Suisse. Albert &eacute;tait charg&eacute; de la conception, de l&rsquo;ing&eacute;nierie et de la fabrication des montres, tandis que Joseph s&rsquo;occupait du marketing et de la vente au d&eacute;tail. Avant de cr&eacute;er leur propre montres sous la marque Ollech &amp; Wajs, ils ont commenc&eacute; leur activit&eacute; en 1954 en fabriquant des bracelets en acier pour d&rsquo;autres marques.
La marque est connue pour avoir distribu&eacute; des montres &agrave; des unit&eacute;s de l&rsquo;arm&eacute;e am&eacute;ricaine pendant la guerre du Vietnam et pour avoir gagn&eacute; sa renomm&eacute;e aupr&egrave;s des plongeurs et pilotes du monde entier.
Apr&egrave;s 12 ans de n&eacute;gociation et apr&egrave;s avoir &eacute;t&eacute; son distributeur pour le march&eacute; fran&ccedil;ais, en 2017, Charles Le Menestrel, un passionn&eacute; d&rsquo;horlogerie, rach&egrave;te la marque. La gamme actuelle comprend des mod&egrave;les comme la Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 et la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/p-104">Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104</a>, la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/c-1000">Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000</a>, la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/ocean_graph">Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph</a> et la Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron.
<h2>Combien co&ucirc;te une montre Ollech &amp; Wajs ?</h2>
Les prix des montres Ollech &amp; Wajs &eacute;voluent et diff&egrave;rent selon les mod&egrave;les. La plupart co&ucirc;tent entre CHF 1,500 et CHF 2,000 selon les mod&egrave;les et les finitions. Comptez CHF 1,456 pour une Ollech &amp; Wajs 350CI et pr&egrave;s de CHF 2,300 pour une Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron Chronographe. Le march&eacute; de l'occasion est &eacute;galement une opportunit&eacute; &agrave; regarder pour acheter une Ollech &amp; Wajs moins ch&egrave;re. Les mod&egrave;les Vintage notamment les Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron et&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/astrochron">Ollech &amp; Wajs Astrochron</a>, sont tr&egrave;s pris&eacute;es des collectionneurs et ils convient de bien se renseigner sur le vendeur avant de franchir le pas de l'acquisition d'une vintage.
Ollech &amp; Wajs est une marque de montres ind&eacute;pendante et produit plusieurs centaines de montres par an, tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Pour choisir une Ollech &amp; Wajs qui vous correspond le mieux,&nbsp;les avis clients Dialicious sont une pr&eacute;cieuse ressource pour &eacute;valuer chacun des diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients.
Consultez le <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_suisses">Classement des meilleures marques de montres suisses</a> dont Ollech &amp; Wajs fait partie.
(Mise &agrave; jour Octobre 2024)

The brand Ollech &amp; Wajs was created in 1956 by Joseph Ollech and Albert Wajs in Zurich, Switzerland. Albert was responsible for the design, engineering and manufacturing of the watches, while Joseph handled marketing and retail sales. Before creating their own watches under the brand Ollech &amp; Wajs, they started their business in 1954 making steel bracelets for other brands.
The brand is known for distributing watches to units of the American army during the Vietnam War and for having earned its reputation among divers and pilots around the world.
After 12 years of negotiations and after having been its distributor for the French market, in 2017, Charles Le Menestrel, a watchmaking enthusiast, bought the brand. The current range includes models like the Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/p-104">Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/c-1000">Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/ocean_graph"> Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph</a> and the Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does an Ollech &amp; Wajs watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Ollech &amp; Wajs watches change and differ depending on the model. Most cost between CHF 1,500 and CHF 2,000 depending on the models and finishes. Expect to pay CHF 1,456 for an Ollech &amp; Wajs 350CI and close to CHF 2,300 for an Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron Chronograph. The second-hand market is also an opportunity to look at to buy a cheaper Ollech &amp; Wajs. Vintage models including the Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/astrochron">Ollech &amp; Wajs Astrochron</a>, are very popular with collectors and they should find out about the seller before taking the step of purchasing a vintage one.
Ollech &amp; Wajs is an independent watch brand and produces several hundred watches per year, all models combined. To choose an Ollech &amp; Wajs that best suits you, Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real owner experience.
Consult the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_swiss_watch_brands">Ranking of the best Swiss watch brands</a> of which Ollech &amp; Wajs is part.
(Updated October 2024)

Longines Conquest Owner Review : Robust, casual and reliable

My First Swiss Watch, the Longines Conquest GMT.

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