Table of Contents
Introduction
The new Longines Legend Diver is as beautiful as unexpected since we’re close to the end of 2023. No one could imagine Longines taking the curtain off a new edition of its long-established diving watch during the winter, despite the Legend Diver being an all-rounder and not exclusively a diver’s watch.
The product’s timeline, in brief
Sixty-four years have gone since Longines introduced the original model. It first appeared in 1959, and over fifty years in the making, the watch’s design has preserved its design like no other in the industry.
The timepiece must have turned from a tool watch, often supplied to military corps (e.g., the Royal Australian Navy), to a luxury product, but its look and feel have never changed.
The first contemporary re-edition dates back to 2007, and a second, consistent upgrade took place in 2017 following a relevant product development plan, whose primary outcome is the 2023 collection so far.
The new Longines Legend Diver
The upgrade focused on the following areas: a meticulous design upgrade turned the timepiece into a now-trending 39 mm model, as is happening with most watch manufacturers.
The dial is flat with no date window, thus ensuring a clean look you can hardly find on modern editions.
Please bear in mind that the 2007 re-edition also came as a no-date model for a short time and was a huge market success. We, therefore, welcome the new design.
The new bracelet is a welcome addition, too. It offers all the build quality and functionality of the latest Longines watches, including stand-out comfort once on your wrist. Finally, the technical package has made the most impressive advancement in decades.
The Longines Legend Diver is an ISO 6425-certified watch.
The Legend Diver is an excellent example of current product development at Longines. While it confirms the 300-meter waterproofness, it becomes an officially certified ISO 6425 watch.
It’s a Certified Chronometer, too; it houses the latest-gen L888.6 calibre, adopting a silicon hairspring and ensuring magnetic resistance up to ten times as much as the ISO 764 standard requires.
First thoughts
Aesthetics and vintage touches combine with a remarkable technical package. We expect the brand to unveil retail prices per option; the new Legend Diver also comes with a bracelet or a strap and a NATO replacement.
We have yet to see them in the flesh; yet, the new Legend Divers will expectedly extend the collection’s success and broaden the target audience, too, considering how upgraded are the latest models compared to the outgoing ones.
(Photo credit: Longines)
Giovanni Di Biase @Horbiter®
