Longines Legend Diver

The Longines Legend Diver can be described as a premium diving watch collection at affordable prices. It's fair to assume that when Longines introduced the first stainless steel version with a black dial in 2007, they were unaware of the monumental trend they were about to start. Inspired by the commercial success of this model, countless other watchmaking brands have thrown their own vintage-inspired timepieces into the ring. Fans of trail-blazing watch designs are sure to enjoy the Longines Legend Diver, which skillfully combines the charm of the 1960s with the qualities of a modern, everyday watch.

Defining features of the Legend Diver are the "super compressor" case and inner bezel, which is operated via the extra crown on the right-hand side of the watch. These details are a nod to the diving watch ref. 7042 that Longines brought to market back in the 1960s. However, while the original model and first release in 2007 didn't feature a date display, all other modern editions bar one reference have this complication.

In addition to the classic version with the black dial, Longines also produces stainless steel watches with blue or brown dials, a bronze model with a green dial, and all-black models. The bronze version does not have a date window. All models intended primarily as men's watches measure 42 mm in diameter.

However, there are options for more slender wrists, such as the 36-mm edition of the Legend Diver. In addition to timepieces with a conventional black dial, which make for fantastic unisex watches, there are also models boasting a white mother-of-pearl dial for those looking for something more opulent.

All Legend Divers are powered by automatic movements and offer water resistance to 300 m (30 bar, 984 ft). The 42-mm watches use the L888 caliber, while the more compact versions are outfitted with the L592. Both calibers are produced by movement manufacturer ETA exclusively for Longines.

At around 1,800 USD apiece, the models in the women's series are the most affordable entry point into the Legend Diver collection. This amount will get you the ref. L3.374.4.80.0 with a mother-of-pearl dial on a white leather strap. For 100 USD more, you can buy the classic men's model, sporting a black dial and mounted on a rubber strap. The stainless steel edition (ref. L3.774.2.50.9) coated in black costs around the 2,000 USD mark. If you're taken with the bronze version, i.e., the ref. L3.774.1.50.2, you can expect prices to come in at around 2,300 USD.

The ref. L3.774.4.50.9 has the closest resemblance to the original Legend Diver released in 2007, with the exception of its date display at 3 o'clock. The dial features printed bar indices that make way for Arabic numerals at 6, 9, and 12 o'clock. Longines uses Super-LumiNova sparingly but effectively in the form of small dots and dashes between or next to the hour markers and for the inverted triangle on the bezel to illuminate the dial. The bezel surrounds the dial and sits inside the case. Thanks to its lower balance frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour (A/h), the automatic caliber L888 offers a power reserve of 72 hours.

You can pair this watch with a stainless steel Milanese bracelet, rubber strap, or leather strap. All options cost around 2,000 USD new.

New Colors for the Legend Diver

If you're looking for a more colorful timepiece, check out the ref. L3.774.4.90.2, which has a blue dial, and the ref. L3.774.4.60.2, which sports a brown dial. These two references are mounted on a leather strap that matches their dial color and have a stainless steel pin buckle. Both versions change hands for around 1,900 USD in mint condition.

Fans of bronze watches will enjoy the Legend Diver ref. L3.774.1.50.2. This timepiece has a green dial with bronze-colored hands and hour markers. It is paired with a brown leather strap and costs around 2,300 USD new.

The ref. L3.774.2.50.9 is entirely black, and even comes on a black Milanese bracelet. You can expect prices for new models to be around 2,000 USD.

The 36-mm Legend Diver is a great option for those with more slender wrists. This timepiece features a white mother-of-pearl dial with black indices and comes on your choice of band, namely a stainless steel Milanese bracelet or white leather strap. At 28,800 vibrations per hour, the L529 caliber ticks faster than the L888 working away inside the larger models. This does affect the power reserve, however, meaning the movement only offers 45 hours compared to the 72 provided by the L888. The version on the Milanese bracelet can be found under the ref. L3.374.4.80.6 and costs around 2,000 USD new. The ref. L3.374.4.80.0 comes on a leather strap and costs slightly less at roughly 1,700 USD.

The ref. L3.374.4.50.6 and L3.374.4.50.0 have a black dial and can generally be considered more compact versions of the larger models. As with the watches with mother-of-pearl dials, the only difference between the two references is the band. While the former reference is mounted on a Milanese bracelet, the latter is paired with a black leather strap. Prices come in at around 2,000 and 1,700 USD, respectively.