The Longines Legend Diver 39mm, now with a Crisp White Dial

The Longines Legend Diver, also known as the LLD, is a watch that doesn’t need much introduction anymore. A classic of the Heritage collection by the brand with the winged hourglass, the model has been, at least in its modern form, around since 2007, first as a coveted no-date watch, and then as a wide collection of 42mm date models. And, of course, this all was inspired by a vintage watch first made in the late 1950s. But recently, the Legend Diver took a new shape, with a reduced 39mm case, a no-date display again and refinements all around. Based on this recent evolution, the brand now introduces a fresh new version with a striking white dial, a watch that’ll be equally great during summer days, or possibly seen as the polar edition of the LLD. 

The original Legend Diver by Longines is a model dating back to 1959, under the reference 7042. Back then an oversized dive watch, measuring 42mm (imagine that in the late 1950s…), it was part of a series of compressor watches made using the Piquerez EPSA case construction, with a clever gasket-and-spring system that compresses as the water pressure builds, effectively upping the water resistance as you go down, as well as a dual crown architecture and an inner rotating bezel. When it came back in 2007 and ever since, the LLD is no more a proper compressor dive watch (there’s a traditional screwed back) but it has kept the overall intention alive, with the inner rotating bezel actuated by an additional crown at 2 o’clock. And yes, the design is deeply rooted in the past.

Well, things have changed a bit recently as Longines presented the Legend Diver 39mm in 2023. More compact, more wearable, refined all around, there were many improvements regarding the ergonomics. Not only was the diameter down 3mm, but the lug-to-lug was drastically shaved too, moving from a massive 52.4mm to a far more acceptable 47mm in the new collection – which also includes funky colours. This came with no compromise on specs, as the watch is still equipped with a cool box-shaped sapphire crystal, its two crowns and a screwed back offering 300m of water-resistance. And there are also brushed surfaces on the flanks now, for a sportier, more modern look.

At launch, the Longines Legend Diver 39mm was presented in classic black or blue glossy lacquered dials. A few months later came bolder editions with glossy lacquered dials in green, terracotta or anthracite grey. And now there’s a new version that not only has a clear-toned dial, but also has a matte surface. Meet the white edition of the Legend Diver for 2025. Besides the dramatic difference offered by this new colour, which opens up the dial much more and brings a sense of air, all elements of the dial have been rendered in black to offer an effective contrast. The inner bezel’s 60-minute scale is now black with a luminous triangle marking the zero and all printings on the dial are done in this same dark colour. In the same vein, the 3D raised Arabic numerals are also black and the hands detach clearly from the base dial as coated in the same dark tone. It’s fresh and yet very legible.

Inside the case, no evolutions. The LLD still relies on the automatic calibre L888.6, a Longines-exclusive evolution of the ETA 2892. This has an extended power reserve of 3 days, an anti-magnetic silicon hairspring, and it runs at a frequency of 25,200 vibrations/hour. Also, it is a certified chronometer, as tested by COSC.

This white dial Longines Legend Diver 39mm is, like the rest of the collection, worn on a 7-link beads-of-rice stainless steel bracelet, with brushed external links and polished mid-links. It is closed by a folding clasp with push-button release and a tool-free micro-adjustment with 4 positions – something that was not part of the initial launch in 2023.

Now available from the brand and its retailers, and part of the permanent collection, the white dial Longines Legend Diver 39mm retails for EUR 3,750. For more details, please visit longines.com.