TAG Heuer vs Longines: which is better? An honest comparison (2026)
TAG Heuer or Longines? Both are Swiss, both give a 5-year guarantee on their automatics, and they cost similar money, but they're very different brands. We've compared them model for model, with their real UK prices, so you can choose.
We don't sell watches. Links to retailers are affiliate links: if you buy after following one, the retailer may pay us a commission. You pay the same price, and no brand or retailer pays to appear. How this works
Our top picks
- Best TAG HeuerTAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date£3,650A 300-metre diver with a COSC-certified, 80-hour movement and a 5-year guarantee.
- Best LonginesLongines HydroConquest£1,925A 300-metre diver with a silicon balance spring and up to 72 hours of power reserve, for much less.
- Best everyday TAG HeuerTAG Heuer Carrera Three - Hand Automatic£3,050The Carrera, born on the racetracks in 1963, as a 39mm automatic.
- Best everyday LonginesLongines Conquest£1,900A 41mm automatic with a 72-hour power reserve and 100 metres of water resistance.
In this guide
TAG Heuer vs Longines, the short answer: Longines gives you more watch for the money: 72-hour automatics with a 5-year guarantee for under £2,000. TAG Heuer is sportier, better known for chronographs and divers, and usually costs more. If you want a classic, elegant Swiss watch and the best value, buy the Longines. If you want a sporty icon like the Aquaracer or Carrera, buy the TAG Heuer.
Every watch here is sold new by Goldsmiths, a UK authorised retailer for both brands. Prices are Goldsmiths' own on the date shown, and the facts come from Goldsmiths' and the brands' own descriptions. We earn a commission on both, so we've no reason to favour either.
TAG Heuer vs Longines, model for model
| Type | TAG Heuer | Price | Longines | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dive watch | Aquaracer Professional 300 | £3,650 | HydroConquest 39mm | £1,925 |
| Everyday | Carrera 39mm | £3,050 | Conquest 41mm | £1,900 |
| Chronograph | Carrera Chronograph | £6,100 | Spirit Flyback | £4,250 |
| Entry (quartz) | Formula 1 | £1,550 | HydroConquest Quartz | £1,550 |
Dive watches: Aquaracer Professional 300 vs HydroConquest
| Watch | Price | Case | Thickness | Movement | Water resistance | Crystal | Power reserve | Strap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date | £3,650 | 42mm stainless steel | — | Automatic | 300 m | — | 80 hours | Rubber |
| Longines HydroConquest | £1,925 | 39mm stainless steel | 11.7mm | Automatic | 300 m | Sapphire | Up to 72 hours | Stainless steel |
Prices at Goldsmiths on 28 October 2026. Specifications from Goldsmiths' product pages and the brands' own pages; where they differ, we use the brand's figure.
Both are water resistant to 300 metres. The Aquaracer Professional 300 has TAG Heuer's calibre TH31-00, which Goldsmiths describes as COSC-certified with an 80-hour power reserve. The HydroConquest has a silicon balance spring and up to 72 hours of power reserve, at 39mm, a size that suits most wrists. Both have a 5-year guarantee.
Our pick: the HydroConquest. It does almost everything the TAG Heuer does for a lot less. Buy the Aquaracer if you want the extra power reserve and the chronometer certificate.
Everyday watches: Carrera vs Conquest
| Watch | Price | Case | Lug to lug | Thickness | Movement | Water resistance | Crystal | Power reserve | Strap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG Heuer Carrera Three - Hand Automatic | £3,050 | 39mm stainless steel | — | — | Automatic | 100 m | — | 38 hours | Alligator |
| Longines Conquest | £1,900 | 41mm stainless steel | 49.1mm | 10.9mm | Automatic | 100 metres (10 bar) | — | Up to 72 hours | Stainless steel |
Prices at Goldsmiths on 28 October 2026. Specifications from Goldsmiths' product pages and the brands' own pages; where they differ, we use the brand's figure.
The Carrera is TAG Heuer's classic, born on the racetracks in 1963, according to Goldsmiths: this 39mm three-hand model has the calibre 5 and 100 metres of water resistance. The Conquest has Longines' L888 calibre with a 72-hour power reserve, also with 100 metres of water resistance, and Goldsmiths says the Conquest name was protected in 1954.
Our pick: the Conquest for value and power reserve; the Carrera for its racing heritage and name.
Chronographs: Carrera Chronograph vs Spirit Flyback
| Watch | Price | Case | Movement | Water resistance | Crystal | Power reserve | Strap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph | £6,100 | 44mm stainless steel | Automatic | 100 m | Sapphire | 80 hours | Leather |
| Longines Spirit Flyback | £4,250 | 42mm stainless steel | Automatic | 100 m | — | 68 hours | Fabric |
Prices at Goldsmiths on 28 October 2026. Specifications from Goldsmiths' product pages and the brands' own pages; where they differ, we use the brand's figure.
The Carrera Chronograph has the Heuer 02 automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve. The Spirit Flyback is, according to Goldsmiths, a COSC-certified chronometer with the L791 calibre and a 68-hour power reserve; "flyback" means you can reset and restart the timer with one press.
Our pick: the Carrera if chronographs are your thing; TAG Heuer is known for them. The Spirit Flyback if you'd like a pilot's chronograph for less.
Entry watches: Formula 1 vs HydroConquest Quartz
The least expensive way into either brand is a quartz watch. TAG Heuer's Formula 1 is sporty, 41mm and water resistant to 200 metres, with a 5-year guarantee. Longines' HydroConquest Quartz is 42mm and water resistant to 300 metres, with a 2-year guarantee.
-
TAG HeuerFormula 1 Quartz
41mm · Quartz
£1,550Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026
See it at Goldsmiths
-
LonginesHydroConquest Quartz
42mm · Quartz
£1,550Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026
See it at Goldsmiths
-
TAG HeuerFormula 1 Solargraph
38mm · Solar
£1,750Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026
See it at Goldsmiths
Our verdict
For most people, Longines is the better buy: the HydroConquest and Conquest give you 72-hour Swiss automatics with a 5-year guarantee for under £2,000. Choose TAG Heuer if you love sports watches and chronographs and want a brand with real motor-racing heritage. For every model, see our best Longines watches and best TAG Heuer watches.
Discover
Longines
287 watches at Goldsmiths, £1,050 to £22,850.
Discover all 287
Questions people ask
TAG Heuer vs Longines: which is better?
TAG Heuer vs Longines: which is more luxury?
TAG Heuer vs Longines: which has the better guarantee?
TAG Heuer vs Longines: which holds its value better?
TAG Heuer vs Longines vs Omega?
TAG Heuer vs Longines vs Tissot?
Related guides
The best TAG Heuer watches to buy in the UK (2026)Formula 1, Aquaracer, Carrera, Monaco: TAG Heuer's four big collections do very different jobs. This is which TAG Heuer to buy and why, starting with the least expensive and working up to the Monaco, with the best for men and for women.
The best Longines watches to buy in the UK (2026)Longines is the best-value Swiss luxury brand there is: 72-hour automatics with a 5-year guarantee for under £2,000. This is which Longines to buy, from the least expensive up, with the best Longines for men and for women.
Omega vs TAG Heuer: which is better? An honest comparison (2026)Omega or TAG Heuer? Both are Swiss, both give a 5-year guarantee, and both make famous divers and chronographs, but Omega usually costs more. We've compared them model for model, with their real UK prices, so you can see exactly what the extra money buys.
The best watches under £2,000 in the UK (2026)Under £2,000 is where Swiss luxury really starts: 72-hour movements, 5-year guarantees and names like Longines, NOMOS and TAG Heuer. These are the best watches you can buy new in the UK for under £2,000, and what you get for the money.
The best watches under £5,000 in the UK (2026)Under £5,000 buys a serious Swiss watch: an Omega Master Chronometer, an IWC with five days of power reserve, or a 300-metre TAG Heuer with an 80-hour movement. These are the best watches you can buy new in the UK for under £5,000, and how to choose between them.
The best first luxury watch for men in 2026 (£1,300 to £4,500)Buying your first luxury watch? These are the ones we'd shortlist from Longines, Oris, TAG Heuer, Breitling and Omega, from £1,300 to £4,500, with what you get at each price and the honest catches.
How we write these guides: every watch is one you can buy new from a UK authorised retailer. Prices and specifications come from the retailer's own product page, and anything extra comes from the brand's website. We check prices and stock every morning, but they can change, so the retailer's page always has the final word. No brand or retailer pays to appear. Read how we choose watches and jewellery and our editorial policy; spotted a mistake? Email contact@sterlingguild.co.uk.