Longines Legend Diver Bronze Watch Review
Thursday - 19 November 2020
Fully dressed in two of 2020’s most trendsetting colours, the new Longines Legend Diver Bronze watch is a faithful re-edition of a historic Longines watch from the 1960’s with a vintage-inspired bronze case and a stunning gradient dark-green dial.
Since 2001, the Longines Heritage collection has remained one of the Swiss watch brand’s most emblematic families, reliving the past with loyal re-edition vintage watches inspired by pieces from their archives. While many watchmakers have only just cottoned on to the power of vintage, Longines have already well-established themselves as connoisseurs in the field with their Legend Diver in particular owing a reputation for greatness. The first ‘modern’ Longines Legend Diver was launched back in 2007 inspired by the 1960s' reference 7042, often referred to as the “original LLD”. It’s distinctive rotating bezel, pronounced dial design, 42mm case size and uniquely engraved case back has been revived multiple times since its original release but always in stainless steel. This year, Longines are exploiting the increasingly popular material of bronze to vehicle the new Longines Legend Diver Bronze watch.
The same components that made the original 1960s' reference so popular remain evident in the new Longines Legend Diver Bronze watch, besides a couple of small contemporary improvements for modern wearing, including a new movement and a slightly larger crown which is now screw down. It’s familiar 42mm case size boasts the same crosshatched pattern on the crown and the famously long, narrow lugs fitted to an all-new bronze case. The entirely brushed surface is unique to any other watch material since it will develop its own oxidation patina over time. A solid case back is included rendered in titanium decorated in an embossed diver holding a spear, an image found across all Longines’ heritage divers. The screw down case back and screw down crown assist in a water resistant rating of 300 metres.
As well as the addition of a bronze case, the Longines Legend Diver Bronze watch celebrates another first with its dark green lacquered dial. Its gradient finish adds well to the overall vintage aesthetic with a discreet hint of dark green at its centre which fades out to black on the periphery. Unlike the stainless steel versions before it, the Longines Legend Diver Bronze has also replaced the date window at 3 o’clock with the corresponding Arabic numeral – a feature that returns the classic look of both the original 1960s' reference 7042 and the first 2007 re-edition. The dial continues to tribute its predecessor with an internal 60 minute scale rotating bezel motivated by the secondary crown at 2 o’clock. The internal bezel is housed beneath domed scratch resistant sapphire crystal and paired with sandblasted rose gold coloured hands decorated in Superluminova.
Hidden beneath the dial of the Longines Legend Diver Bronze watch is the L888 automatic winding calibre based on the ETA 2892 movement. Beating at a frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour, the Swiss made calibre provides central hands for hours, minutes and seconds and a power reserve of 64 hours. It also boasts a silicon balance spring for anti-magnetism. To complete the look of the Longines Legend Diver Bronze, it comes packaged with a choice of two straps, the first a cocoa brown leather strap and the second a green nylon NATO strap. Both are finished with a bronze pin buckle signed off by the Longines logo.
The Longines Legend Diver Bronze watch is available to order now on the Jura Watches website at a retail price of £2,300. Head over to our website or get in touch with our team of luxury watch specialists today for more information on this special piece and to discover the interest free finance and free delivery options available.
Specifications: Longines Legend Diver Bronze Watch (L3.774.1.50.2)
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Bronze
- Bezel: Internal rotating 60 minute
- Glass: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Screw down, titanium
- Water Resistance: 300 metres
- Movement: L888 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
- Power Reserve: 64 hours
- Jewels: 21
- Frequency: 25,200vph
- Dial: Dark green gradient
- Hands: Superluminova
- Strap: Brown leather and green NATO
- Buckle: Bronze pin
- RRP: £2,300
- Release Date: 28th December
