The Longines Legend Diver was reintroduced by Longines in 2007 as part of their Heritage series and then in 2009 with a date version. Both of these watches were reissues of the original 1960s compressor style dive watch that had been updated and modernized for a contemporary wearer. This year, at Baselworld 2018 Longines has again updated the Legend Diver line with the Longines Legend Diver watch in black PVD. This is the same compressor style case with an internally rotating dive bezel and date window at 3 that we’ve come to love, except this time coated in PVD and featuring the L888.2 ETA-based movement.

Specifications

Brand: Longines
Model: Legend Diver in black PVD
Dimensions: 42mm
Water Resistance: 300m
Case Material: Stainless steel case with black PVD coating
Crystal/Lens: Domed sapphire crystal
Movement: L888.2 (based on the ETA 2892.2)
Frequency: 25,200vhp
Power Reserve: 64 hours
Strap/Bracelet: Black rubber, Milanese style strap with a PVD treated titanium clasp
Price & Availability: TBD

Analysis

I feel like this release is pretty straightforward for Longines. They took one of their successful heritage models and offered it now in black. PVD watches have a polarizing effect on people. They are either loved or disregarded entirely, and poorly done PVD, in my opinion, can really cheapen the overall appeal of a watch. This does not seem to be the case here, but it’s hard to tell from the press release. I do think that the apparent movement upgrade from the L633 in previous versions of the Legend Diver to the L888.2 seems like an added value. It bumps the power reserve from 38 hours to an impressive 64. However, I am unsure of what I think about the rubber strap with a Milanese twist. That’ll be something I’d need to see in person before I can levy a judgment.

Summary

I think the Longines Legend Diver in Black PVD seems like a pretty safe move for the brand. It gives customers another flavor to choose from when they are making their decision. The Legend Diver has been a very successful model for the brand (literally for decades) and I do think that the value added in the movement upgrade will offer reason enough to consider the PVD version over the regular stainless steel model. Stay tuned for pricing and availability once we confirm with the brand. longines.com