THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: LONGINES
MODEL: 9025
YEAR: 1966
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 35mm
CASE MATERIAL: 18K YELLOW GOLD
BRACELET MATERIAL: 18K YELLOW GOLD
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC
Here at Falco, we’re fortunate to handle a wide array of vintage watches on a daily basis. But every so often, something comes through the door that truly makes us stop and say WOW.
Longines released the Conquest line in 1954 as their flagship model—and incidentally, it was the first line to have its name officially protected by the Federal Intellectual Property Office in Berne. The original ref. 9001 showcased the brand’s latest innovations at the time: an in-house automatic movement and a water-resistant case. It also featured a stunning champlevé enamel medallion inlaid into the caseback—an element that would become the signature of the Conquest line.
In the 1960s, Longines introduced several variations of the Conquest Deluxe, crafted in precious metals and aimed at clients who wanted to make a statement. Some 60 years later, not many of these survive—and when they do surface, they’re almost always on a leather strap.
What we have here, however, is far more glamorous—and infinitely rarer. This ref. 9025, dating back to 1966, features a full 18k yellow-gold case paired with an 18k yellow-gold bracelet that is nothing short of a work of art. The watch has barely been worn and remains unpolished. The gold hands, gold date wheel, and Singer-made gold dial are all absolutely pristine. The bracelet is uncut and can accommodate a wrist up to 19.5 cm. The enamel medallion on the caseback has retained its full colour, with only negligible signs of wear.
We recently checked over the movement, and it’s running very healthily at +3 s/d, 285 amplitude, with a beat error of 0.3 ms. From our research, we’ve found only two other examples of this reference ever sold publicly—both within a few thousand serials of this one.
It’s an unbelievable watch and still represents tremendous value compared with offerings from other major vintage watch brands.