The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

A very special watch for me since it is the one that my great-grandfather bought in New York in 1942/43 while he was in the US Air Force.

First of all, what is Colomby? It is a Swiss watch importer based in New York who rebadged watches with its logo on the dial and engraved "Colomby & co" on the movement.
They imported reliable military watches for soldiers. The function of these watches was essentially utilitarian.

This watch, whose reference I do not know, is a 32/34mm mechanical watch, (was) waterproof, with an hour and minute hand and a sub-dial for the small seconds. Its patina is magnificent and testifies to its age. The leather strap is not original unlike the steel one, and the plexiglass was recently changed. Apart from that, everything is original and the watch has never been serviced. After having lived through the war, landed in the south of France, met the American Indians and accompanied my great-grandfather throughout his life, it still works, although it is a few dozen seconds behind per day.

To conclude, I got this watch when I was already bitten by watchmaking and it immediately became the most important watch in my collection because of its history and the symbolic side. The watch has lived and continues to live.

History on the wrist

Who would have thought that veepee would sell a Swiss made watch brand created in 1884?

I bought this watch without thinking with the idea of having my first "beautiful" watch according to my criteria at the time: a Swiss and well-finished watch. It is a steel diving chronograph with a black dial and a date window at 6 o'clock and quartz movement, nothing extravagant. But Edox was created in Bienne in 1884, was in the same group as Mido, Oris etc in a sub-holding of ASUAG, the ancestor of Swatch Group, that's what made me fall in love.

And 7 years later, I still wear it with pleasure but much less often than at the time. Its sunray sub-dials, the date at 6 o'clock, and everything else still makes me so happy! Today, to be 100% satisfied, I would have needed this watch to be mechanical and not quartz.

In short, it was a very nice watch to start watchmaking

A quartz chronograph but from a brand from 1884

The Hydroconquest is a simple but effective diver. The ideal, in my opinion, to enter the world of watchmaking. With an affordable price, my 2020 Longines has an automatic caliber L333 with a 38-hour power reserve, sapphire crystal, water-resistant to 300M with its screwed back, a clearly legible crown, a small date, a sporty/chic look and a coat of arms of a historic brand in addition! What more could you ask for?

Its dial and reflections are also magnificent, after 5 years on my wrist I am not tired of this watch, quite the contrary, I enjoy wearing it and looking at it every time I put it on.

A no-frills diver

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)

I think everyone knows Longine, this mythical Hydro Conquest has been produced for a long time. It is a superb diving watch. I bought it in black in 39mm, there is ceramic, but I wanted to stay in its DNA, so I bought it 2 years ago and it is still a pleasure to wear it from time to time.

She flies over time

I present to you my Longines Hydroconquest model L3.781.4, the model with the ceramic bezel, I will tell you about my love for this model first of all (the Hydroconquest) and for the Longines brand, for Longines it was quite simply my first real "luxury" watch for me, I had bought the Longines Conquest Quartz at the Doux house in Avignon, it was my first customer experience also in a real high-end watch retailer, not that I denigrate the others far from it, but I must admit that the customer experience is not the same, so there you have it Longines already symbolizes that for me, the entry into the world of Swiss watchmaking, after I sold resold, bought back a lot of Longines Conquest and Hydroconquest both Quartz and automatic, they accompanied me in my various missions abroad and underwater because being a diver I use them as real tools ... Then comes my encounter with the model that I present to you today and that I wear every day since, it was the end of May last year (2022), I was leaving to do my last mission abroad (24 years of service and 15 missions) my sixteenth mission and I wanted to treat myself, and have a companion whose reliability of the old model and the brand in general I know, so basically I'm going for the 39mm model, I'm three days away from leaving, everything is going well for me to have the 39mm because the order was placed by Doux with the item in stock, then two days before I go to pick it up because my order is ready and there on the way I have a phone call from Doux who tells me that they made a mistake and that the model they have in stock is the 41mm and there problem is that if I want the 39mm I will have to wait a week minimum to have it, mission impossible because I'm leaving in two days so too bad I take the 41mm, and I don't regret it, it's her who chose me for the occasion, so I'm doing my last mission in Africa with it in Niger, honestly I had a great time with this watch, even if the mission wasn't the best I've done due in particular to the disengagement from Mali and the end of Barkhane, so two months of a real mess and honestly the Longines was a daily pleasure because even on the worst days, admitting it on my wrist brought me "comfort" it's stupid to say but lovers will understand, then working in the field of fireworks and explosives I wasn't allowed to have a phone or any other connected watch, so needless to say it played an important role, even more so at the end of my mandate when my phone broke so no more alarm clock and only my watch as a means of knowing the time... rather practical at that time to have a Lumi that works especially when you have to know the time in the middle of the night in a tent either to leave for work or not to miss your plane home... so there you go for it already for me it marks my last missions with the army (which happened exactly 20 years after my first mission), on my return I was able to use it for diving too and it's perfect, nothing to say, a bezel that works perfectly (not too hard, not too soft either), a super lum, clearly visible indexes, a very practical crown protector especially when diving from the shore, an extension of the bracelet to put over the wetsuit, in short a good diver and designed for diving... it goes well with a Nato bond or black too, I love it, it's really elegant and more refined than the latest version even if I still love the old version too.... In any case, if you are looking for a weak, robust, precise watch (from +2 to +4 seconds max daily drift depending on the extreme climatic conditions of Africa or the cold of diving in winter), at an affordable price (1750€ to date), and a brand with an incredible history and the oldest brand and the oldest logo in the history of watchmaking then go for it and if you want information do not hesitate to contact me, my insta: Time-To-Diving

My Longines adventurer

I fell for this diver from the winged hourglass brand, and it was first of all the colorful aesthetic of the perfectly readable blue dial that I liked. With its trio of colors: blue, white, red in honor of this exclusive FRANCE edition. I find the tricolor Lollipop second hand very original. The watch is super comfortable to wear (currently with a steel bracelet). It comes with a nato that is also tricolor. 
Good power reserve of around sixty hours and precision more than sufficient for my taste. In addition, the case back is numbered (really! and not "one of ...") with my lucky numbers, which I was able to choose in store. 
I love this watch and I never take it off!

Hydroconquest exclusive France edition

This is a watch that has eaten away at my brain!! I discovered the Longines brand when I was in my twenties, I am 42 today, at the time I thought they were luxury glasses I was told, then in 2017 after watching show jumping competitions on the Equidia channel where Longines was a sponsor..., this brand came back to me, and I went to see my AD to see what the models were like... I didn't know anything about it but I liked the look and especially this galloping second hand fascinated me. A few weeks later I went to the checkout, some €1000 in months but I had it on my wrist. More surprisingly, this watch was a small mattress, I did not hesitate to sell it as soon as a need for money arrived, or a vacation.. I must have bought it at least 6 times new and used, that's why I give the adjectives like Indispensable and Addictive, because as it is the first one I really need it, otherwise there is a lack! And perfect; I would say, because it is super well finished, movement at the top a few +/-1s per day and quality/price ratio we do not do better I found in several years of passion. Now, it is no longer in the catalog of the brand, the model stops for the ceramic bezels ... So it's up to me not to sell it anymore ...

Longines Hydroconquest, my first luxury watch!!

In search of a diver's watch combining performance and prestige without breaking my budget, my choice naturally fell on the Longines HydroConquest. This model is a real success, not only for its high-quality movement, but also for the brand's unwavering reputation.

From the first time you hold it, you can feel the weight of the watch, testifying to the robustness and solidity of the materials used. Every detail is taken care of, from the clasp to the impeccable finish of the stainless steel. The watch, with its elegant appearance and impeccable construction, gives off an impression of luxury while remaining accessible.

This purchase also has a special resonance for me. My father had received a Longines for his 25th birthday, but he unfortunately lost it over the years. Acquiring this HydroConquest was a bit like bringing a Longines back into the family, thus perpetuating a tradition and a family attachment to this iconic brand.

A meaningful and quality purchase

I have owned this Longines Hydricoonquest since 2011 and I have never regretted it since I bought it on impulse, I was looking for an affordable and quality dive and that are 2 strong points for this watch, another important element for me, the precision and there we are not far from a Cosc. After more than 13 years I still wear it with as much pleasure as the first days

Hydroconquest 

This watch is very comfortable, thin and easy to wear, you forget it. Every time I look at the time it surprises me with its accuracy in proportions, its finishes... I find it very beautiful. With a diameter of 39 mm, powered by a Quartz movement, I wear it every day with great pleasure

The quiet strength

I literally fell in love with this steel/gold version on a black dial of this Longines Hydroconquest that needs no introduction. At 41mm in diameter, it is the happy medium between a sports watch and a dress watch. At less than 12mm thick, it almost looks like a skindiver and its steel/PVD GOLD finish makes it sublime when worn as a tuxedo. In-house caliber L888 derived from ETA, it displays a drift depending on use between 0 and +2s/day, a real precision weapon for less than €1300 when I bought it. Very comfortable despite this all-metal version, its bracelet is a marvel of softness. To wear and contemplate without moderation, it should be reimbursed by social security so much it does good for morale!

My diver for the big nights.

If you are looking for a beautiful sports and Swiss chronograph, I invite you to take an interest in the Longines Hydroconquest Chronograph! This is a beautiful chronograph with automotive sports trends, with a frankly very nice design and also very pleasant to wear. This chronograph has the advantage of being able to be worn with both formal and casual attire. Its dimensions of 41mm remain reasonable and the Eta Valjoux 7750 movement is very reliable and precise. I really appreciate its dial without the magnificent case back. Finally, we no longer present Longines which is a historic and legendary brand, but its watches turn out to be of excellent quality and have nothing to envy other big Swiss names.

Longines Hydroconquest Chronograph auto 

A solid diving chronograph watch that I have owned for almost 9 years. 
This watch, chosen on a photo impulse, was given to me to accompany me during my world tour in 2014. It is a robust and reliable watch with which I made my best dives (Similan Islands, Hawaii). 
The red bezel and the red circle of the minute counter give it a strong sporty side. In addition, it goes perfectly with any type of bracelet. 
After a small servicing at Longines (special mention for the quality after-sales service), here it is again, ready for great adventures! 


A great dive timer

Acquired at the end of 2019, it was first of all the sunray gray dial that particularly seduced me, an original color and a breathtaking rendering. The hyper robust and qualitative look and the 64 hours of power reserve add to the pleasure of wearing this diver. Some characteristics: L888 movement (ETA A31, frequency 25200), diameter of 41.2mm, lug-to-lug of 51.2mm, thickness of 12.1mm, weight of 186gr, ceramic bezel, AR sapphire crystal, water-resistant to 300m… The movement is up to the standard of the House, very well adjusted. This watch confirms the excellent quality/price ratio of the brand. Despite a rather high weight, it is not felt after a few minutes (the watch being well balanced with the bracelet). However, we can regret the large lug-to-lug, and the bracelet difficult to remove for possible change (+21 lug).

41 steel gray/ceramic

Here is a watch that I had my eye on for many years but for which I fell for last week after trying it on.
What put me off about this watch was the fact that its diameter was less than 44mm and as I am used to watches of this diameter, I had a lot of trouble taking the plunge until I came across an ad for this watch at a very interesting price for a piece dating from January 2024 and I decided to go and try it on.

As a result, I left the store conquered and I contacted the seller to tell him that I would take it from him.

The watch arrived two hours ago and it was love at first sight as I find it so magnificent. Its gray sunray dial is superb and the rubber strap suits it much better than the steel strap.

Anyway, a new piece that I love and that I am sharing with you here.

Thunderbolt

I bought this watch last summer. The Hydroconquest was on my radar and it was its ceramic case that made me fall in love. It captures the sun's rays thanks to its polished ceramic case and has a great presence on the wrist (43mm). I would have liked a slightly smaller diameter. Despite this, it is discreet in the evening with this deep black with gray highlights.
Is this the beginning of a trend to combine ceramic with a diver's watch? Is this the future James Bond watch? Watch this space. The submariner had better watch out!!!



A diver in a tuxedo

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 HydroConquest Owner Review : Simple, functional and efficient

A no-frills diver

Pros & Cons for this watch

Where to buy your Longines?

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