GOING BIG

After debuting the Hydroconquest GMT in a 41mm case last year, Longines bets on a more muscular 43mm version that keeps virtually everything the same

- ASHOK SOMAN

By virtue of being absent from any watch fair, some watches do end up being unsung heroes, such as this Longines Hydroconquest GMT. It debuted last year in a 41mm case, much as you see it here in 43mm; Longines might be one of the only brands sizing up aggressively in 2024, making this unusual dive and GMT watch combo significant. On that note, Longines does have a relatively new GMT model in its Spirit collection and this Hydroconquest uses a similar movement but it does bear a slightly different name; both the 41mm and 43mm version use the same automatic calibre L844.5 while the Spirit Zulu Time uses calibre L844.4. Further technical details on these calibres are not available at this time. We saw both the Spirit Zulu and the Hydroconquest 41mm on the debut of the models last year.