With clean and pragmatic silhouettes, Longines has been diving into a new sea of timeless yet contemporary design, including versions fitted with coloured ceramic inserts on the bezel. Raising the bar higher, the luxury Swiss watchmaker introduces a new HydroConquest model in full black ceramic to its acclaimed HydroConquest family – a collection launched some 10 years ago specially for those with a passion for the world of aquatic sports as part of the brand’s sports range.
The most exciting element of the watch is that its case is fashioned, for the first time, out of high-tech, scratch-resistant black ceramic with the chemical composition: ZrO2 – proudly indicated on the dial. A matte dial, a polished case, a round satin bezel and a back blending a circular satin and matte finish – to ensure that this isn’t just a dull, black affair, the different finishes further heighten its boldness allowing it to stand out with a modern, sportier character.
Aside from the new-fangled material, the 43mm case is indistinguishable from that of its steel siblings and is still water-resistant to 300m. The notable updates are the unidirectional bezel, now in a solid block of ceramic, which operates smoothly and precisely, and design of the crown guards which has been slightly reworked and adapted to the ceramic production constraints.
Beating inside the watch is the automatic calibre L888.3. Developed exclusively by ETA for Longines, it boasts a 25,200-vph frequency and a user-friendly 64-hour power reserve. Under a double AR-coated sapphire crystal, the dial features three big Arabic numerals at 12, 9, and 6 o’clock; white Super-LumiNova treated indices and hands which contrast with the deep black colour; and a date window at 3 o’clock. This HydroConquest watch is completed with a black rubber strap with a folding clasp made from the same black ceramic as the case.
Discover more about the Longines HydroConquest Full Black Ceramic here.
