Recognised by its distinctive dual crowns and an internal rotating bezel, the Longines Legend Diver pays homage to history while embracing modern enhancements. Already a mainstay of Longines’ reissue sports watches, the Legend Diver has undergone a transformation and now features a redesigned and smaller 39 mm case that faithfully echoes the original (while it predecessor was 41 mm).

Initial thoughts

The new Legend Diver carefully retains the vintage styling of its predecessor. Traditionalists will appreciate the absence of the date that was found on the prior version. The absent dial preserves the dial’s clean and uncluttered aesthetic.

But the new Legend Diver is not just a remake. Inside is the cal. 888.6, an upgraded ETA calibre that stands out with a 72-hour power reserve and magnetic resistance that exceeds the ISO 764 standard by ten times thanks to a silicon hairspring.

And the dial similarly retains the design of the vintage original, but is executed in a modern manner with two colours of Super-Luminova, green and blue. This not only adds a touch of excellence to the design but also enhances readability in low-light conditions.

On its face, the downsizing to 39 mm may not align with the conventions of a tool watch, especially one conceived for diving. However, this shift in size caters better to daily wear and better reproduces the original’s dimensions. Unfortunately, the reduction in diameter doesn’t go hand in hand with a decrease in thickness, so the case has somewhat unbalanced proportions with a height of 12.97 mm.

The facelift Legend Diver maintains of its predecessor as a tool watch, thanks to the enduring design. Like all watches, the price has crept up over time and this starts at US$3,200, but still aligns with Longines’ focus on value for money.

Historical innovation

In 1959, Longines made waves with the ref. 7042, a diver’s watch equipped with a “Super-Compressor” case incorporating two screw-down crowns and an internal bi-directional rotating bezel. Although several brands offered such dive watches at the time, Longines’ is one of the best known even today.

Fast forward to the present day and the modern-day Legend Diver retains the styling of the original but with modern updates. It’s a dive watch that meets the ISO 6424 standard for such watches and has water resistance of 300 meters. And that’s playing it safe: the ISO standard further requires water resistance testing to 25% over the stated rating.

Available in black or blue lacquer, the dial uses blue and green Super-Luminova to differentiate the markings on the dial. The baton markers, Arabic numerals, and hour hand glow green, while the rest of the dial elements glow blue. This thoughtful combination serves a practical purpose and adds an appealing detail to the dial.

The 39 mm steel case is finished with alternating polished and satin-brushed surfaces, and fitted with a domed sapphire crystal that adds a touch of vintage sophistication. Like the original, the case back features a stamped emblem of a skin diver. But the case back features a modern innovation: it always screws down with perfect alignment as it is a bayonet-lock type screw mechanism.

Inside is the cal. L888.6, a heavily upgraded take on the EAT 2892, the Legend Diver has a commendable 72-hour power reserve. A silicon balance spring ensures enhanced magnetic resistance.

Key facts and price

Longines Legend Diver
Ref. L3.764.4.50.0 (black dial, leather strap)
Ref. L3.764.4.50.6 (black dial, bracelet)
Ref. L3.764.4.90.2 (blue dial, NATO strap)
Ref. L3.764.4.90.6 (blue dial, bracelet)

Diameter: 39 mm
Height: 12.97 mm
Material: Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 300 m

Movement: Cal. L888.6
Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 25,200 beats per hour (3.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours

Strap: Matching bracelet with folding clasp or strap with tongue buckle

Limited edition: No
Availability: At Longines boutiques, retailers and Longines.com
Price:

Black dial: US$3,200 or 4,820 Singapore dollars (strap or bracelet)
Blue dial: US$3,000 or 4,490 Singapore dollars (strap); US$ 3,200 or 4,820 Singapore dollars (bracelet)

For more information, visit Longines.com.