We put two of the most popular Tissot and Longines watches head-to-head

If you’re heading into the mid-range sports watch market, it won’t be long until you come across Tissot and Longines. Both brands appeal to those with $750 – $1500 to spend, offering a pathway into truly well-made automatic Swiss watches. 

In this article, we will put two of the most popular Tissot and Longines watches head-to-head with the battle of the Tissot Gentleman vs. Longines Conquest. After we’ve taken a look at both brands, we’ll compare the Gentleman and the Conquest on their design, specs, and price to help you decide which one is best for you. 

Let’s get comparing! 

The brands

Before we get into the watches themselves, it’s worth setting the scene on the two brands – starting with Tissot. 

Tissot

Since their inception in 1853, Tissot has been known worldwide for creating high-quality Swiss watches at relatively affordable prices, typically between $500 – $750. That popularity has seen the brand change hands many times, having been part of the Omega watch company before becoming part of the Swatch group in 1998. 

Tissot is a powerful brand that appeals to new and seasoned watch fans alike. Their simple yet sophisticated designs appeal to most tastes, with offerings in both the quartz and automatic categories.

Longines

In comparison, Longines is a slightly more luxury-focused brand, operating around the $1000 – $1500 mark. The brand is steeped in similar history, dating back to 1832, and is now also part of the Swatch group.

Most Longines watches have strong heritage themes running through them, with the brand dedicating itself to creating modern watches with traditional styles. For many people, Longines sits alongside brands such as Tag Heuer as a gateway to the luxury watch world. 

Before jumping into the watches themselves, it’s worth clarifying the models, as both the Gentleman and the Conquest have large, diverse ranges. Today, we’ll be comparing the Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 (T127.407.11.041.00) with the 43mm Longines Conquest (L3.778.4.96.6).

Gentleman vs. Conquest: the design

When you see these watches side-by-side, it’s easy to understand why so many watch fans get caught between the two. 

The general designs are pretty similar. Both watches are sports watches, both watches have stainless steel cases, and both watches feature a deep blue dial with silver accents. It’s when you get into the details of these designs that you see the differences.

Firstly, the markings. The biggest difference is that the Longines goes for large 12 and 6 dial numbers instead of sticking with rectangular markers like the Tissot. This pulls the Conquest towards a sportier feel, while the Gentleman lives up to its name by staying a little more towards a smarter, dress-watch type sports watch. 

There are some subtle differences on the hands, too, with the Tissot featuring some two-tone lume work while the Longines goes for a consistent hand styling. The Tissot also features more detail around the chapter ring and goes for a larger date window at 3 o’clock. 

As always with watches, it will come down to personal preference on the look and feel that appeals to you most. The Longines definitely has the ‘cleaner’ dial, but the Tissot is probably a bit ‘smarter’ as it doesn’t feature the large numbering. 

Gentleman vs. Conquest: case & bracelet

The case is one of the key areas of difference between these two watches. Those that like smaller watches will favor the Tissot’s 40mm size, whereas those with larger wrists may prefer the bulk of the 43mm Longines. 

Both watches come in around 11.5mm in thickness, although the Tissot is a fair bit lighter at 164g compared to the Longines’ 205g. Tissot’s lug distance sits at 21mm, with the Longines at 22mm. Both of these are expected given the case size difference between the two. 

From here on out, it’s all pretty similar. Both watches feature a sapphire crystal, and both deploy stainless steel bracelets with button-operated clasps. 

In this category, it’s all going to come down to size and weight. If you like a smaller watch, you’ll go for the Tissot. Want something bigger? It’ll be the Longines. 

Tissot Gentleman vs. Longines Conquest – The Movement

With two different watches coming from two different brands, the movements inside the case are very different. Despite both brands now part of the Swatch group, it’s great to see they’re produced in-house by Tissot and Longines respectively. 

Here’s how the movements line up: 

	Tissot Gentleman	Longines Conquest
Reference	Powermatic 80	L888
Functions	Hours, minutes, seconds, and date	Hours, minutes, seconds, and date
Size (mm)	25.6	30
Jewels	23	21
Vibrations Per Hour	21,600	25,200
Frequency (Hz)	3	3.5
Power Reserve (Hours)	80	72

Really it’s all about two factors here, frequency and power reserve. The Longines is the more accurate movement thanks to the increased frequency and more expensive built quality. But, the Tissot has the upper hand on the power reserve, lasting an impressive 80 hours. 

Source

So the decision comes down to accuracy vs. power. In reality, you’re unlikely to actually need 80 hours of power reserve, so the Longines objectively wins this one in a straight shoot out – but it’s worth noting that the Powermatic from the Tissot is consistently rated as a top movement by real owners, so it’s no slouch by any means. 

Side-by-side specs

Here are some of those specs side-by-side to help you easily compare the Tissot Gentleman and the Longines Conquest.

	Tissot Gentleman	Longines Conquest
Size (mm)	40	43
Thickness (mm)	11.5	11.5
Crown Type	Screw-In	Screw-In
Water Resistance (m)	100	300
Movement Type	Automatic, Self-Winding	Automatic, Self-Winding
Movement Name	Powermatic 80	L888
Power Reserve (Hours)	80	72
Frequency (Hz)	3	3.5
Strap	Steel Bracelet	Steel Bracelet
Complications	Date	Date
Hacking Movement	Yes	Yes
Crystal	Sapphire with AR Coating	Sapphire with AR Coating

Price difference between Tissot Gentleman & Longines Conquest

And of course, no watch comparison is complete without talking about the $$$. As we discussed when we reviewed the brand, Longines is typically a little more expensive than the Tissot, and that follows with these two watches. 

The Tissot Gentleman is a great all-around sports watch package coming in at $775. For that price, you’re getting a very smart automatic watch from a reputable Swiss manufacturer. 

The Longines Conquest comes in a little more expensive at $1,250. This really comes down to two things; the higher-quality movement and the slightly bigger size. You’re also paying a little bit more for the Longines brand, and the slightly higher build quality and prestige that comes with it! 

Summary 

Like many watch comparisons, when comparing the Tissot Gentleman vs. Longines Conquest it’s the fine details that make all the difference. While the two watches look very similar, the differences in size, movement spec, and design will lead you to pick a favorite between the two. 

Just be aware that you’ll pay around $475 more for the Longines than the Tissot. For many watch fans, that’ll be worth it to get a more luxurious and prestigious brand on the wrist. That’s not to take away from Tissot, though, with the Gentleman an awesome sports watch pick that combines style, great specs, and a powerful movement for well under $1,000