I walked into Mazzucchelli’s Jewellers in the Karrinyup Shopping Centre in Perth’s northern suburbs to purchase a Tissot PRS 516 for my nephew’s eighteenth birthday later in the year. I enquired about the Tissot PRS 516 and the TAG Heuer Formula One quickly discounting the wrist feel of the entry level TAG Heuer Formula One for the more robust feel of the Longines Conquest.

For not a whole lot more, I was able to upgrade to the Longines Conquest. I believe the Conquest is a much better option even if the Tissot PRS 516 is a chronograph inspired by classic 1960s motorsport. The Conquest I chose for my nephew is a three hand model although a chronograph is available, the dial of the three-hand model is clear and uncluttered. Later when I discussed watches with him, he did not like a chronograph as the dial is too busy.

The 41 mm stainless steel case is water resistant to 30 Bar [300 metres] and fitted with a screw-down case-back embossed with the Longines winged hourglass logo enhancing professional level water resistance rating. The large screw-in crown is protected with a crown guard that is fitted externally. The three-piece H-link bracelet is stainless steel fitted with a triple safety folding clasp keeping the bracelet lines clean, the bracelet is pretty top notch.

The black lacquered dial is polished with Arabic numerals at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock positions and hour markers around the dial with the date window positioned at the 3 o’clock position. The silver polished hands and markers have a luminous coating allowing low light reading of the dial. I really enjoy the chambered bezel adding to the minimalist look of the Conquest, dating back to the original release in 1954, this timepiece isn’t over complicated. A scratch resistant sapphire crystal is treated with multiple layers of anti-reflective coating on the underside.

I chose the the L157 quartz movement as my nephew is young and wont fully appreciate the engineering of mechanical movement plus the servicing costs of a mechanical movement are a little prohibitive for a young man starting out on his life journey. A quartz movement better suits his stage of life, the accuracy of the quartz movement is fantastic and he won’t need to be continually resetting the time as I hope to find him an apprenticeship and he shouldn’t wear a wrist mounted watch in the workshop.