There’s a New Contender for the Best Affordable Everyday Watch

The latest Longines Conquest looks practically perfect in every way.

Published June 14, 2024

·

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

The everyday watch. The GADA watch. The one-and-done watch. Whatever you want to call it, having a single watch that works well in just about every conceivable situation is a must for any collection — especially if that collection consists of only one watch.

There are a lot of watches out there that can stake their claim as the best everyday watch around, leaning on a combination of a robust build, a sweet-spot size and a versatile design that is equal parts dressy and casual.

The 38mm Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra is one such watch. The 36mm Rolex Oyster Perpetual is another. A number of references from Grand Seiko fit the bill.

All of those watches are priced north of $3,000, sometimes far north, and finding a competitive GADA (go anywhere, do anything) watch for less can be a challenge.

Or, at least, it was a challenge until Longines dropped the version of its Conquest we’ve all been waiting for.

Longines Conquest Automatic 38

$2,075 at Longines

The Longines Conquest, Now in 38mm

Longines’ Conquest Automatic is the brand’s interpretation of an everyday watch. The line received a massive revamp last year, getting a clean and attractive cosmetic makeover that made it far more competitive as a more affordable alternative to the Aqua Terras and Oyster Perpetuals of the world.

There was just one problem with the 2023 Longines Conquest: its size.

The revamped collection was available in 41mm and 34mm sizes, meaning it lacked a mid-sized “sweet spot” for many potential buyers. For someone like me with 6.5-inch wrists, 41mm is too big, while 34mm is too small. Something like 38mm, meanwhile, would be just right.

Now, Longines has made the Conquest even more compelling by releasing the watch in a 38mm case size. The watch is essentially the same as its big brother, with an identical design (it even looks a bit more proportional to my eye), the same stainless steel bracelet, the same 100m water resistance, the same 10.9mm thickness and the same robust Calibre L888 automatic movement with a six o’clock date window and 72 hours of power reserve.

The biggest difference, other than the 3mm that’s been shaved off the case diameter (and reduced lug-to-lug measurement of 2.3mm), is the smaller version is available in one different color. The sunray silver, black, blue and green variants are available in both sizes, but the 38mm option replaces the 41mm Conquest’s brown variant with a stunning champagne dial.

Finally, like the 41mm version, the Longines Conquest 38 is priced at just $2,075. With its combination of affordable pricing, versatile good looks, take-anywhere capability and, now, crowd-pleasing sizing, Longines’ latest might just be the best affordable everyday watch on the market.