Longines Conquest

The Longines Conquest was introduced in 1954 and, according to Longines, represented a "stepping-stone to progress." While the collection has evolved over the decades, its earliest references remain some of the finest expressions of mid-century Swiss watchmaking—elegant, technically advanced, and rich with thoughtful details.

Longines, of course, was already known for producing refined dress watches, but the Conquest was something more. Automatic winding, water resistance, a screw-down caseback, and a date complication were all considered premium features at the time. Wrapped in a clean, versatile design, the Conquest quickly became one of the manufacture's most important collections, appearing in everything from practical stainless-steel references to luxurious solid-gold models like the one offered here.

This particular Reference 9045 is a wonderful example of the collection at its most refined. Housed in a beautifully proportioned 18K yellow gold case measuring 35mm across, it combines classic dress-watch elegance with a surprising amount of visual depth. The champagne-gold dial features one of the model's most distinctive characteristics: a faceted and stepped chapter ring that catches light from every angle, creating a layered effect rarely seen on watches of the era. Applied gold markers, matching hands, and elongated lugs complete a design that feels both understated and unmistakably sophisticated.

And then there's the caseback.

A hallmark of the Conquest collection was its beautifully executed enamel medallion set into the center of the screw-down caseback. While some early Conquests featured Longines' famous fish emblem, this example depicts rolling ocean waves beneath a deep blue night sky. It's the sort of detail most owners would rarely see, yet Longines lavished it with the same care and craftsmanship as the dial itself. No detail too small.

Inside beats a reliable automatic Longines movement, continuing the brand's tradition of blending technical excellence with timeless design.

The Conquest may not receive the same attention as some of Longines' more famous vintage references, but watches like this make a compelling case that it should.

Founded in 1832 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, Longines was at the forefront of watchmaking during the early days of modern horology. Constantly innovating, the company devised some of the most important wristwatches of the 20th century. Indeed, by 1919, Longines was the official supplier of timepieces for the International Aeronautical Federation, working to develop highly accurate navigation chronometers for many of the era's great aviation pioneers.

Most famous among Longines' forays into navigation pieces is the Lindbergh Hour Angle watch, a wristwatch designed by famed aviator Charles Lindbergh in conjunction with the brand to allow aviators to calculate, with the help of a sextant and a known latitude, their exact geographic location.

From the 1930s to the 1950s, Longines also released a series of stunning time-only watches. Often referred to as “Calatravas” after the iconic Patek Philippe model, most of these watches had thin stainless steel cases measuring 32-35mm, standard sizes for the time. Like the Patek Philippe Calatrava, these timepieces were known for their perfect proportions and elegant simplicity.

But it wasn’t just time-only watches that drew clients' attention worldwide — particularly in the Americas: The company’s caliber 13ZN, first released in 1936, is widely regarded as one of the finest chronograph movements ever devised by any brand. This development would form the basis for work in sports timing, in which Longines developed timepieces with flyback functionality and 1/100th-second counters.

Today, Longines produces a remarkable number of watches annually — over 1.5 million of them — and rakes in over $1B in annual revenue through the sale of everything from simple quartz watches to sophisticated moon phases and chronographs. Incredibly, they produced their 51 millionth timepiece in 2019, and in some ways, it feels like the brand is just getting started.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.