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Over the holiday break, I frequented the local Chinese restaurant not once, not twice, but three times. And each time, before my General Tso was brought to the table, I would pore over the paper placemat, going to the list of everyone’s birth year in my head. Oh, he’s definitely a horse, I’d think. Her? A dragon…eh, I don’t see it. I, myself, am a Sheep, which makes sense considering I’m pretty much useless and wear a lot of wool. But the real star of the show is the Snake. Representing wisdom, rebirth, and vitality – I’m cautiously optimistic about what 2025 may bring for us.
And that optimism is only fortified by the string of new watches that are coming from Longines right out of the gate for the New Year. Their latest limited-edition, a Conquest Heritage model designed to honor the Chinese zodiac, is a bold, thoughtful design, and a welcome addition to this year’s Lunar New Year offerings from some of our favorite brands.
What’s noticeable first about this new edition to the Conquest Heritage line-up is the sunray gradient dial that’s as eye-catching as it is unique. Being a traditional color in the Chinese New Year tradition, red seems a fitting choice that also helps to set this specific reference apart from the more neutral dial colors of the line, which is all beige, black, and silvers. The gradient is a particularly smart choice, giving the lumed gold indices room to shine, while not being too vibrant against the stainless steel case.
On the opposite end, the real star of the Conquest Heritage Year of the Snake is the engraved motif, designed by Chinese artist Wu Jian’an. Through his interpretation of “The Legend of the White Snake”, Wu depicts a snake clutching a mushroom, creating concentric circles at the center of the caseback. In both Longines’ and Wu’s own words, this design is meant to represent harmony, prosperity, tradition, and the passage of time. This may seem like a tall order to try to represent; but, hey – I have a feeling a maison that’s been around since 1832 can do it better than most.
Ticking within the 40mm case is the Longines L88.5 calibre automatic movement. This specific calibre features a silicon balance-spring to ensure magnetic resistance ten times greater than the standard. This automatic movement promises up to 72 hours of power. How’s that for the passage of time?
The Conquest Heritage Year of the Snake is available now at a retail price of $3,150. As stated, this is a limited edition with only 2,025 pieces produced. You can learn more at Longines’ website here.
