A good dive watch should do its job without asking for much, and the Longines HydroConquest L3.769.4.96.6 does exactly that. It pairs a blue sandblasted dial with a 42mm steel case, a unidirectional bezel and 300 meters of water resistance, all powered by a Swiss quartz movement you can set and forget.

The HydroConquest has been Longines’ dive collection since 2007, and this quartz model gives the same toolkit as its automatic siblings: a screw-in crown, screw-down caseback and a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides. Swiss Super-LumiNova on the hands and indexes keeps it readable underwater or in the dark. The L157.3 quartz caliber shows the date and has an end-of-life indicator that warns you when the battery needs replacing.

The sandblasted dial has a soft matte texture that reduces glare and looks more refined than a glossy finish. At 11.3mm thick with 21mm lugs, it wears neatly, and the steel bracelet closes with a double-safety folding clasp.

HydroConquest quartz 42mm, blue dial (L3.769.4.96.6)

• Case: 42mm stainless steel, 11.3mm thick, 21mm lugs
• Bezel: unidirectional rotating diver’s bezel
• Dial: blue sandblasted, applied indexes, Super-LumiNova, date
• Movement: Longines L157.3 Swiss quartz with end-of-life indicator
• Crystal: sapphire, anti-reflective on both sides
• Water resistance: 300 meters, screw-in crown, screw-down back
• Bracelet: stainless steel, double-safety folding clasp

A genuine Swiss diver that you can simply put on and wear. It is great value for your first serious watch.