Longines Heritage Conquest Special Edition Celebrates Chinese Year of the Snake

Most of the world celebrated the coming of the New Year on January 1, but in Asia, there are millions of residents counting down to January 29, recognized as the first day of the Chinese or Lunar New Year. In 2025, following the dictates of the traditional Chinese calendar, those celebrants are ringing in the Year of the Wood Snake (and ringing out 2024’s Year of the Dragon). As has become customary in the world of watchmaking, several brands with large Asian customer bases are commemorating the occasion with special-edition timepieces. Today, we’re taking a look at one of the most intriguing and most accessibly priced, the Conquest Heritage Year of the Snake from Longines.

The Longines Conquest is the Swiss watchmaker’s first named collection, trademarked all the way back in 1954. The Conquest models have been revamped several times over the years since but the Heritage model chosen for this 2,025-piece limited edition evokes the look of the original midcentury model, with a domed, sunray-finished dial (with no date window) and gilt dauphine hands pointing to the time on gilt wedge-shaped indexes, Marking this watch as a special edition is the use of a deep, gradient red color for the dial, which makes for a stark yet warm contrast with the dial’s golden elements. 

On the caseback you’ll find the most direct aesthetic homage to the Year of the Snake: an engraved illustration by Chinese artist Wu Jian’an that reinterprets a scene from the ancient “Legend of the White Snake” story from Chinese folklore. The tableau of a coiled snake clutching a Lingzhi mushroom depicts the story of “Stealing the Immortal Herb,” with the mushroom’s rippling form symbolizing the passage of time and continuity of life. Titled “Divine Snake Presents Treasure,” Wu’s artwork is meant to convey “wishes for harmony and prosperity,” according to Longines, as well as symbolizing the brand’s own “commitment to blending tradition with innovation.” 

Behind this decorated caseback, which also features the watch’s limited edition number, beats a proprietary movement, Longines’ automatic Caliber L888.5, whose silicon balance spring helps ensure an elite level of resistance to magnetism (and hence enhanced accuracy in the timekeeping) and which stores a power reserve of 72 hours, or three days. The stainless steel case of the Longines Conquest Heritage measures 40mm in diameter and 10.7mm thick, with a lug width of 20mm; mounted on a black leather strap, it retails for $3,150 in the U.S. — just $425 more than the standard Conquest Heritage models at 40mm.