Longines is a brand with unparalleled heritage in the watchmaking world. Aside from the beloved classics, they also keep the inventory fresh with beautiful new designs, such as the HydroConquest or the Spirit Zulu Time collection. In this article, we are taking a closer look at one of the revived classics, the Legend Diver. It undoubtedly has its place in the brand’s Heritage collection, and we love this reinterpretation of a 1960s diver watch. The Longines Legend Diver is a true classic with refreshing modern features.
Specs:
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: L888
- Power Reserve: 72 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug Width: 22 mm
- Price: Under $2,000
Longines: The Brand
In 1832, Auguste Agassiz (1809-1877) established a watchmaking workshop with fellow watchmakers in the Swiss village of Saint-Imier. During that period, watch components were manufactured in the homes of individual watchmakers and later assembled at the workshop.
In 1852, his nephew Ernest Francillon assumed control of the workshop. Being a visionary, Francillon made the decision to build a dedicated factory. His initiative involved gathering all the skilled artisans under one roof and implementing a mechanized production system to ensure impeccable quality and precision. The factory was built on a piece of land locally referred to as “Es Longines,” and Francillon opted to retain this name for the company, thus giving birth to the Longines brand.
In 1867, the Longines factory was inaugurated, and it has remained operational at the same location ever since.
Longines was a force of constant innovation throughout history. For example, they introduced the first chronograph with a flyback function, and the first truly waterproof chronograph in the ‘30s.
Longines Legend Diver: Overview
The Longines Legend Diver is an updated, modernized re-issued version of a super compressor dive watch from the ‘60s. It is a beautiful combination of a serious sports watch and an elegant design, therefore it can be easily dressed up or down. The overall dark dial is counterbalanced by the light stainless steel case and mesh bracelet.
The width of the Legend Diver is at 42 mm, and the height is 12.7 mm. The comfortable, middle of the road dimensions ensure the Longines Legend Diver is a good fit for most wrist sizes. Powered by the L888 caliber Swiss automatic movement, it has a reliable 72-hour power reserve. The Legend Diver is a modern timepiece with modern dimensions and materials, reviving the design of the ‘60s super compressor diver watch, and the end result is an attention grabbing statement piece.
Specs:
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: L888
- Power Reserve: 72 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug Width: 22 mm
- Price: Under $2,000
Dial
The black dial gives an unmistakable air of seriousness to the watch. Usually, we see a bright secondary color on watches with dark dials to provide a dramatic contrast, and to that end, the Longines Legend Diver comes with an unexpected twist: a subtle creamy accent color to mimic the look of aged lume. This technique is also called a faux patina (or fauxtina), and in our opinion, it’s a brilliant way to marry the old with the new, to juxtapose the modern with the traditional. It creates an intriguing character, representing the heritage of the design, while still retaining that crispy clean and elegant look.
The date window is at the 3 o’clock position, providing a symmetrical, balanced feel. While the minute hand is a relatively simple pencil hand, the hour hand is a wider arrow hand that takes up the space in the center of the dial, so the watch doesn’t look visually empty in the middle.
Bezel
Continuing the theme of exciting design choices, the Longines Legend Diver has an inner rotating bezel. The bi-directional bezel is found underneath the sapphire crystal. To turn the inner bezel, you’ll have to use the crown at 2 o’clock position. The count-up bezel as an inner rotating bezel was an innovation in the ‘60s, as it was an attempt to improve the water resistance of the watches. The technique itself is not relevant anymore, but the design remained popular, understandably so.
It is important to note that, as we do not have a bezel that’s separated from the dial, we get a lot more “dial” visually, and less stainless steel case around the face of the watch. This means that the 42 mm case width could actually look bigger on the wrist than most watches this size.
Case
The case has a 42 mm width which places this watch in the mid-size range, however, due to the inner rotating bezel, the watch can look pretty substantial on the wrist. The 12.7 mm case height somewhat counterbalances this appearance, as it’s a thinner case than the average sports watch.
There are two crowns on the watch, one at the 2 o’clock position, and the other at the 4 o’clock position. The crown at 2 o’clock is used to adjust the inner rotating bezel, while the other one (at 4 o’clock) is the crown you’d use to adjust the time and date. The waffle pattern on the edge of the bezel ensures the bezel is easy to grip and adjust, but more importantly, it gives a more sporty look to the watch, as the case itself is definitely on the subtle, elegant side. This creates a perfect visual balance and ensures the versatility of the design.
The distance between the lugs is 22 mm.
Movement
The Longines Legend Diver is equipped with the L888 automatic Swiss movement. This 21-jewel caliber is based on the ETA A31.L11, and it provides a 72-hour power reserve.
ETA movements are very reliable automatic movements, and the L888 is no exception.
Mesh Stainless Steel Bracelet
The Milanese mesh stainless steel bracelet is a very elegant choice. While it’s not the sportiest look, the dial itself feels like a sports watch, so having an elegant stainless steel bracelet makes the Legend Diver a great option for almost all occasions.
The lug width is 22 mm, not an odd size, so changing straps should be easy, as this watch can look really good with leather straps, or even with tropic rubber straps for actual activities in or around salt water.
Pros and Cons
Let’s take a look at the summary of pros and cons, in our humble opinion:
Pros
- Unique, vintage-inspired design.
- Very comfortable wear.
- Great price point for a recognized watch brand.
- One of the most popular designs from Longines, a legacy brand in the world of watchmaking.
Cons:
- The 42 mm case width is mid-size, however, we have a lot of dial visually, therefore it can look too big on smaller, more delicate wrists.
- The mesh stainless steel bracelet somewhat limits the versatility, and we definitely recommend getting additional strap options to maximize the potential.
Summary: Takeaway and Final Thoughts About Longines Legend Diver
With its distinctive character, the Longines Legend Diver is a statement piece that retains the timelessly elegant look. Its vintage-inspired diver watch design is using understated and dark colors for the dial that is counterbalanced by the polished stainless steel case and mesh bracelet. Boasting a 42 mm case and a 12.7 mm case height, this watch is a comfortable wear for wrists around 7 inches and above. The reliable L88 automatic Swiss movement should give you a solid 72-hour power reserve. Overall, the Longines Legend Diver is a modern timepiece with modern dimensions and materials, reviving the design of the ‘60s super compressor diver watch, and the end result is an attention grabbing statement piece that will remain a classy choice for decades to come.
Specs:
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: L888
- Power Reserve: 72 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug Width: 22 mm
- Price: Under $2,000
Other Watch Reviews
BALL Engineer Hydrocarbon Original Hands-On Review
The Engineer Hydrocarbon Original is the crown jewel of the BALL’s most characteristic collection, in terms of watchmaking technology and unique design features.
Sternglas Tachymeter Review
While the Sternglas Tachymeter displays some minimalist design elements, it is truly a sporty chronograph.
NORQAIN Freedom Chrono 60 Review
The NORQAIN Freedom Chrono 60 has a very elegant appearance that combines a refined look with a resilient characteristic.
NORQAIN Adventure Sport Review
The NORQAIN Adventure Sport is a very serious statement piece with an overall rugged look and design that remains classy and elegant.
Spinnaker Dumas Review
The Spinnaker Dumas is a statement piece with its sturdy octagonal case and overall rugged design. It is a practical, comfortable, and classy choice.
BENRUS Sea Lord Hands-On Review
With its distinctive personality, the BENRUS Sea Lord is a beautiful vintage-inspired dive watch drawing inspiration from its illustrious heritage.