Notched Strap for a 1988 Longines Conquest
This order from Illinois came with an unusually clear brief: a 1988 Longines Conquest, a case that a flat strap cannot seat against, and a note that the watch needed a new buckle as well. The answer was a notched strap for a vintage Longines Conquest — corner-notched navy Epsom, cut to A16.5/B6/C2 mm.
The build
| Watch | 1988 Longines Conquest |
|---|---|
| Notch pattern | Corner-notched — A 16.5mm / B 6mm / C 2mm |
| Length | 75/125mm |
| Leather | Navy Epsom |
| Profile | Full width to the buckle, tapered tip (per the order) |
Why these choices
Corner-notching cuts the strap's shoulders back so a narrower tongue drops into the case opening — the fix for vintage dress cases and integrated designs that were never meant for an off-the-shelf band. The numbers here are compact: a 16.5mm mouth with 6mm shoulders and a 2mm step, which tells you how small late-eighties dress sizing runs compared with anything current. At these dimensions there is no standard strap to modify; the notch has to be cut into the pattern from the start.
The customer's order notes settled the profile: the strap holds its width from the case all the way to the buckle, with only the tip tapered. And because the order asked plainly for a new buckle, this strap shipped with fresh hardware rather than expecting the original to carry on.
Navy Epsom is a stamped-grain calfskin, light and scratch-resistant, and navy on a vintage dress watch stays quiet without defaulting to black. More Longines-fit builds live in our Longines watch straps collection.
★★★★★
“Very well made. I’d go so far as to say better than the original Alligator strap provided by Longines and massively less expensive.”
Lee G. · Verified purchase · Crocodile strap
Frequently asked questions
Do you make a notched strap for a vintage Longines Conquest?
Yes — this post shows a 1988 Conquest build at A16.5/B6/C2. Vintage Conquest cases vary by year, so measure your own opening rather than copying these numbers; the A/B/C fields on the order page take whatever your case needs.
What if I do not know my notch measurements?
Have a jeweler measure the case opening with calipers. A is the full width at the case, B the shoulder cut-back, C the width step — there is a diagram on the product page for each.
Every strap is made to order — allow 2–3 weeks to delivery. Start from the corner-notched strap page, or browse the custom notched straps collection.