Join us on a journey beneath the waves, where time takes on new meaning. The Longines Legend Diver isn’t just a watch—it’s your gateway to the mesmerizing world hidden beneath the ocean’s surface. This piece doesn’t just tell the time, it whispers the vibrant hues of the deep straight to your soul.
A Legacy that Began with the First Diving Watches
Picture a timeless tale passed down through the ages—one that carries fragments of our dreams and stirs our imaginations with its vivid imagery. That’s the magic Longines has been weaving for over 190 years, taking us on an unforgettable voyage through the infinite blues of the ocean.
While the name Longines might instantly bring to mind elegant models like the Dolce Vita, Master Collection, or the diamond-encrusted Spirit series, there’s a rich heritage in diving watches that’s equally captivating. For those who appreciate history as much as horology, you may even recall the brand’s connections to the Ottoman Empire. But Longines’ deep-sea legacy tells a story all its own.
When we think of oceans, we often envision endless blue expanses. Yet, beneath those waters lies a kaleidoscope of vibrant life—from coral reefs to exotic creatures. It’s this colorful, mysterious world that Longines’ Legend Diver captures, with striking dials in shades of orange, green, and anthracite gray that echo the beauty of the underwater world. The journey began in the late 1950s with the Nautilus Skin Diver, a 40mm watch water-resistant up to 150 meters. Featuring a bold engraving of a harpoon-wielding diver on the case back, this model was Longines’ first step into the vast world beneath the waves.
“In 1937, Longines made waves with the debut of the first chronograph featuring water-resistant push buttons. A year later, in 1938, they secured a patent for the chronograph itself, setting the stage for future innovations.”
By 1959, the Super Compressor—a precursor to today’s Legend Diver models—made its grand entrance. With a 42mm diameter and water resistance up to 120 meters, this diving watch (reference 7042) introduced the revolutionary “compressor” system, patented by Ervin Piquerez (EPSA). This ingenious system not only enhanced the case’s ability to withstand underwater pressure but also housed a rotating bezel safely under the crystal, protecting it from external forces. Thanks to this innovation, originally crafted by Longines engineers in 1936, the Legend Diver became the first diving watch to feature such a design, blazing a trail for many other brands. Powered by the automatic caliber 19AS and featuring a dual-crown setup, the Super Compressor was as refined as it was functional. Its glossy black dial offered a level of elegance that set it apart from other diving watches of the era.
A few years later, in 1967, Longines introduced another groundbreaking piece: the Ultra-Chron Diver (Ref. 7970). This watch was a game-changer, as the first diving watch equipped with a high-frequency caliber operating at an impressive 36,000 vibrations per hour (VpH). With a 42mm case and water resistance up to 200 meters, it was built for serious underwater adventures. Just a year later, Longines once again played with bold colors, releasing the Diving Chronograph (Ref. 8224), featuring a dial awash with vibrant hues and a cushion-shaped case developed in collaboration with Piquerez.
Fast forward to 1970, and Longines was making waves again with the dynamic Ultronic Diver (Ref. 8484). Reflecting the bold design codes of the ’70s, this 41mm stainless steel watch boasted yellow accents on the bezel and an orange minute hand, embracing the era’s flair for color and style. Then in 1974, Longines crafted another standout—a Super Compressor model designed for the divers of the Royal Australian Navy. This timepiece, with its day and month display, could withstand depths of up to 300 meters, offering both rugged durability and sleek design.
Rebirth of a Legend: The Longines Legend Diver
Longines has a remarkable talent for blending modern design with its rich heritage, and in 2007, the brand revived an icon with the launch of the Legend Diver collection. Inspired by the original Super Compressor, the new model featured a 42mm stainless steel case with the distinctive twin-crown design. From the bidirectional internal bezel to the classic dial, the Legend Diver family pays homage to its predecessor while continuing to evolve with new additions.
In 2009, a version of the Legend Diver was introduced with a date window at 3 o’clock, offering a modern twist. While no other models with a date window followed, this edition has earned its place as a standout in the collection. Fast forward to 2020, and the family grew again with a striking green-dial version featuring a touch of bronze, followed by a sleeker 39mm model in 2023—proof that the Legend Diver continues to chart a course for the future while honoring its iconic past.
A Splash of Color to Legend Diver
This summer, the iconic Longines Legend Diver makes a vibrant return with colorful new dials. Available in striking shades of green, Terracotta, and anthracite gray, these fresh designs are set beneath a retro-inspired curved crystal. The Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock are coated with Super-LumiNova, along with polished rhodium-plated hands, ensuring exceptional legibility even in low-light conditions. The glow-in-the-dark minute hand adds an extra layer of safety for divers, confirming the watch’s reliability even in the darkest depths. True to its roots, the dial features a classic 60-minute rotating internal bezel and maintains the Legend Diver’s signature absence of a date window.
Housed in a sleek 39mm stainless steel case, these timepieces boast water resistance up to 300 meters. With the introduction of last year’s blue and black dial models, the collection now includes five Legend Diver designs in the 39mm size. Powered by the automatic caliber L888.6, the watch beats at 25,200 vibrations per hour and offers a robust 72-hour power reserve. Featuring a silicon balance spring, the movement is ten times more resistant to magnetism than ISO 764 standards and is fully chronometer-certified by COSC, ensuring top-tier precision.
The Iconic Bezel
One of the defining features of the Legend Diver collection is its signature bidirectional rotating internal bezel, which tracks dive time on a 60-minute scale. Positioned inside the case, it’s designed to prevent accidental adjustments, offering both safety and precision. Another timeless detail? The diver figure engraved on the case back—a nod to the harpoon-wielding diver featured on Longines’ first diving watch, the Nautilus Skin Diver.
After the splash of success from last year’s 39mm Legend Diver models, Longines is closing out this summer with a burst of color, thanks to the new vibrant dials in the collection. Gazing through the iconic dials, catching a glimpse of the engraved diver on the case back, and feeling the weight of over a century of tradition—all these elements combine to make wearing a Legend Diver an experience in itself.
For more information on the latest Legend Diver models, visit the brand’s website.
Coming up next: In the Air, on Land, at Sea – Exploring Longines Pilot’s Watches.
