Longines launch new legends with the latest Legend Diver watches
Longines' Legend Divers were originally designed for underwater exploration, but now they’re just as capable on dry land
By Cayle Reid
NOT TOO MANY watches can lay a claim to legendary status. Earning that right requires more than a few fancy complications and aesthetically pleasing colour schemes. For a watch to call itself a legend with any conviction, it needs antecedents – a history of craftsmanship, prestige and watchmaking brilliance that hasn’t just been left in the past, but carried on to this day. Like we said, few watches meet this criteria, but Longines’ Legend Diver is an exception.
The Longines Legend Diver ticks all the boxes for legendary status. It can trace its roots to the early 20th century, back when Longines first started producing water-resistant watches. Although, it wasn’t until 1959 that the watch that has come to be known as the first Legend Diver was launched. A timepiece that was as functional as it was pleasing to look at, the Legend Diver raised the bar in the diving watch space. Now, in celebration of the 65th anniversary of the first Legend Diver, Longines is expanding the collection with three new models that pay homage to their predecessors.
The first Legend Diver was a product of Longines’ recognition of the increasing demand for deep-sea dive watches. Despite the growing interest in the watches, there was a lack of existing options that could both withstand the rigours of underwater environments and hold up above sea level. To fill this gap, Longines released the original Legend Diver.
The first Legend Diver had a Super-Compressor case, a revolutionary advancement in watchmaking that allowed the watch to survive immense pressure at great depths. This feature reached previously unfathomable heights (or should we say depths) in 1974, when a Longines dive watch designed for divers in the Royal Australian Navy upped water resistance to 30 bar, or 300 metres in depth.
The 1959 Legend Diver also boasted an internal rotating bezel, a feature that has since become a hallmark of the Legend Diver collection. The concept of the internal rotating bezel was theorised by Longines in 1936 and involves moving the bezel under the watch’s glass to protect it from accidental manipulation – which was crucial amongst the hazardous environments in which it was used.
Over the years, the Legend Diver has undergone several evolutions to keep up with the latest technological advancements in watchmaking, but the Super-Compressor case, internal rotating bezel and true-to-its-name functionality have all remained. Which brings us to today.
As the Longines Legend Diver marks its 65th anniversary in 2024, the collection is receiving a few newcomers – three, to be precise. The new models have dials in green, terracotta and anthracite grey with 39mm stainless steel cases. While the new Legend Divers have been revamped, they remain faithful to their heritage. As you would expect from any true dive watch, functionality has remained in focus, with water-resistance up to 300 metres. So yes, if you’re a diver, these watches will hold up underwater. But they’ll serve you just as well on land.
The polished, lacquered dials are one of the new Legend Divers’ standout features, with a domed sapphire crystal and black metallic treatment. Elongated indexes and raised Arabic numerals also appear on the dial, and they’re coated with Super-LumiNova for optimal visibility in all conditions. The polished arrow hands are rhodium-plated, while the luminescent tip on the seconds hand allows divers to easily see if the watch is still running, even in challenging circumstances.
The 2024 Legend Diver models are powered by the Longines calibre L888.6, a self-winding mechanical movement that boasts a power reserve of up to 72 hours. This movement is equipped with a silicon balance-spring and has magnetic resistance ten times greater than the ISO 764 reference standard.
As it has in previous models, the bidirectional internal bezel sits inside the case to protect it from accidental manipulation. From there, it can measure dive time uninterrupted once activated by the screw-in crown at 2 o’clock. On the caseback, you’ll find the symbol of the collection, an actual diver.
The new Legend Divers are testaments to the Longines spirit. The watchmaker channels the wisdom of the past to move into the future, with the Legend Diver remaining true to its roots while embracing the advancements of modern technology. The 2024 collection is a fitting tribute to this legendary watch’s 65-year legacy.
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