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The Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve 38mm is Longines revisiting its 1950s Conquest lineage with a functional twist: a central sweep hand indicating remaining power reserve, reading against a printed scale at 12 o'clock. It is not a complication for its own sake , the hand integrates cleanly into the sector dial layout, and the 38mm case puts it in genuinely wearable territory. For a collector who wants vintage Longines DNA with a legible complication at an honest price, this reference delivers without demanding premium money.
Longines introduced L1.648.4.78.2 in 2022 as part of the Conquest Heritage relaunch, drawing from the sector-dial Conquests of the 1950s. The movement is the L896, which is Longines' designation for the ETA A31.L01, a proven base caliber with 42 hours of power reserve. No mid-production caliber changes have been documented for this reference.
The 38mm diameter and two-tone sector dial in silvered and matte segments are the defining identifiers for this variant within the range, with parallel references offered in gold-tone and bicolor executions.
Confirm the central power reserve hand moves freely and returns correctly after a full wind , a sticking or jumpy hand can indicate service neglect or damage to the indication mechanism. The sector dial printing is susceptible to moisture intrusion given the 30m water resistance rating, which is conservative by modern standards; inspect the dial under magnification for any silvering loss at the segment boundaries. The sapphire crystal sits relatively flat on this case profile, so check for chips at the edge where the bezel meets the crystal.
Verify crown gasket condition before any water exposure , 30m is a light splash rating, not a swimmer's watch.
This reference trades close to retail on the secondary market, typically between $1,400 and $1,800 USD depending on condition and whether the box and papers are present. The sector dial references in gold PVD or two-tone metal bracelets tend to hold slightly better because they have stronger visual contrast, but the steel piece on a leather strap is the cleaner daily-wear proposition. Dealers have not yet assigned meaningful premiums to this reference; it remains a buyer's market.
The L896 (ETA A31.L01) is a widely serviced movement and any competent independent watchmaker can handle it without sending to Longines. Longines recommends service every five years; independents generally extend that to seven or eight years under normal use conditions. Expect $200 to $350 USD at an independent for a full service including cleaning, oiling, and crown gasket replacement.
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The central power reserve hand is a fragile and uncommon complication; verify it moves continuously as the watch runs down.
| Area | What to check | What is correct | Red flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| dial | Central power reserve hand position and movement | Power reserve hand sweeps smoothly through its semicircular arc as the watch runs; hand position reflects actual reserve level | Stationary power reserve hand on a running watch; hand that jumps between positions; hand that does not return to full when wound |
| dial | Power reserve scale arc printing | Clean arc with clear empty and full indicators; scale lettering is crisp and consistently dark | Faded arc markings; scale text that has worn away; dial that shows moisture damage around the arc area |
| movement | Cal. L896 power reserve module |
| Caseback shows Longines-finished movement with power reserve gear train visible; movement winds easily from both rotor and crown |
| Movement that winds roughly; power reserve gear train that shows corrosion or missing teeth |
