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For more than six decades, the Legend Diver has held a distinctive position within Longines’s history. Designed for underwater exploration, it was one of its most important diving watches and was immediately recognisable by its dual crowns and internal rotating bezel. Longines has continued its evolution with the new Legend Diver 59 – paying tribute to the original 1959 Legend Diver – carrying the distinct design characteristics of the original with modern mechanical performance.
The broader history of Longines diving watches dates back to the 1910s, when the brand first began producing water-resistant wristwatches. In 1937, Longines introduced its first chronograph watch with water-resistant pushers, followed in the 1940s by diving watches developed for the UK Hydrographic Institute and Royal Navy divers. As recreational diving became increasingly popular during the 1950s, Longines expanded its focus toward civilian diving instruments.
Also Read: The Man Who Learned to Wear Time Well
In 1958, the brand introduced the Nautilus Skin Diver with water resistance of up to 120 metres, followed a year later by the original Legend Diver (Ref. 7042) equipped with a Super-Compressor case and internal rotating bezel. That 1959 reference established the design language that would define the collection for decades. Subsequent generations improved water resistance and technical capability throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including models produced for the Royal Australian Navy.
The modern revival of the Legend Diver began in 2007 within Longines’s Heritage collection. Since then, the line has expanded through bronze editions, smaller 39 mm models, and increasingly advanced movements, culminating in the 2026 Legend Diver 59. This latest model maintains a direct visual connection to the original reference with refined construction and technical updates such as COSC chronometer certification, ISO 6425 diver’s watch compliance, and upgraded anti-magnetic limits.
The watch comes in a newly developed 42 mm stainless steel case that closely respects the proportions of the original 1959 model. Its internal rotating bezel – a Longines innovation first patented in 1936 – remains housed beneath the domed box-style sapphire crystal and is operated via the screw-in crown positioned at 2 o’clock. Unlike external bezels, this internal bezel remains protected from accidental impacts or unintended manipulation, improving reliability during diving. The bezel itself features a grained black finish with metallic indices and a luminescent triangle at the zero marker for underwater legibility.
The dial maintains the signature aesthetic of the Legend Diver collection with a grained black surface designed to maximise contrast and readability. Raised Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, along with the remaining indices, are coated in “Light Old Radium” Super-LumiNova to evoke the vintage appearance of aged lume while providing low-light visibility. The satinated arrow-shaped hands receive the same luminous treatment, also applied to the tip of the seconds hand, allowing the wearer to verify at a glance that the watch is running in underwater darkness.
The sapphire crystal protecting the dial has a black metallic coating and multi-layer anti-reflective treatment on both sides. The crystal preserves the vintage appearance of the original acrylic designs while offering scratch resistance and improved clarity. The closed caseback is embossed with a diver symbol, emphasising the dive watch utility.
Also Read: Longines upgrades the PrimaLuna collection with mechanical calibre
Powering the watch is the Longines calibre L888.6 automatic movement, operating at 25,200 vibrations per hour (3.5 Hz) with a power reserve of up to 72 hours. It incorporates a silicon balance spring and advanced anti-magnetic components that provide magnetic resistance up to ten times greater than the ISO 764 standard. The entire assembled watch is officially certified as a chronometer by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres). The watch is also fully compliant with ISO 6425 diver’s watch standards and water-resistant to 30 bar (300 metres), tested at 25% excess pressure beyond its rated specification.
A major addition to this version is a stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet. It incorporates a micro-adjustable double-folding safety clasp that allows precise sizing adjustments while balancing comfort and security. This is accompanied by an additional black rubber “tropic”-style strap.
The Longines Legend Diver 59 is marked at a price of INR 4,12,000.
Images: Courtesy Longines
For more than six decades, the Legend Diver has held a distinctive position within Longines’s history. Designed for underwater exploration, it was one of its most important diving watches and was immediately recognisable by its dual crowns and internal rotating bezel. Longines has continued its evolution with the new Legend Diver 59 – paying tribute to the original 1959 Legend Diver – carrying the distinct design characteristics of the original with modern mechanical performance.
The broader history of Longines diving watches dates back to the 1910s, when the brand first began producing water-resistant wristwatches. In 1937, Longines introduced its first chronograph watch with water-resistant pushers, followed in the 1940s by diving watches developed for the UK Hydrographic Institute and Royal Navy divers. As recreational diving became increasingly popular during the 1950s, Longines expanded its focus toward civilian diving instruments.
Also Read: The Man Who Learned to Wear Time Well
In 1958, the brand introduced the Nautilus Skin Diver with water resistance of up to 120 metres, followed a year later by the original Legend Diver (Ref. 7042) equipped with a Super-Compressor case and internal rotating bezel. That 1959 reference established the design language that would define the collection for decades. Subsequent generations improved water resistance and technical capability throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including models produced for the Royal Australian Navy.
The modern revival of the Legend Diver began in 2007 within Longines’s Heritage collection. Since then, the line has expanded through bronze editions, smaller 39 mm models, and increasingly advanced movements, culminating in the 2026 Legend Diver 59. This latest model maintains a direct visual connection to the original reference with refined construction and technical updates such as COSC chronometer certification, ISO 6425 diver’s watch compliance, and upgraded anti-magnetic limits.
The watch comes in a newly developed 42 mm stainless steel case that closely respects the proportions of the original 1959 model. Its internal rotating bezel – a Longines innovation first patented in 1936 – remains housed beneath the domed box-style sapphire crystal and is operated via the screw-in crown positioned at 2 o’clock. Unlike external bezels, this internal bezel remains protected from accidental impacts or unintended manipulation, improving reliability during diving. The bezel itself features a grained black finish with metallic indices and a luminescent triangle at the zero marker for underwater legibility.
The dial maintains the signature aesthetic of the Legend Diver collection with a grained black surface designed to maximise contrast and readability. Raised Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, along with the remaining indices, are coated in “Light Old Radium” Super-LumiNova to evoke the vintage appearance of aged lume while providing low-light visibility. The satinated arrow-shaped hands receive the same luminous treatment, also applied to the tip of the seconds hand, allowing the wearer to verify at a glance that the watch is running in underwater darkness.
The sapphire crystal protecting the dial has a black metallic coating and multi-layer anti-reflective treatment on both sides. The crystal preserves the vintage appearance of the original acrylic designs while offering scratch resistance and improved clarity. The closed caseback is embossed with a diver symbol, emphasising the dive watch utility.
Also Read: Longines upgrades the PrimaLuna collection with mechanical calibre
Powering the watch is the Longines calibre L888.6 automatic movement, operating at 25,200 vibrations per hour (3.5 Hz) with a power reserve of up to 72 hours. It incorporates a silicon balance spring and advanced anti-magnetic components that provide magnetic resistance up to ten times greater than the ISO 764 standard. The entire assembled watch is officially certified as a chronometer by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres). The watch is also fully compliant with ISO 6425 diver’s watch standards and water-resistant to 30 bar (300 metres), tested at 25% excess pressure beyond its rated specification.
A major addition to this version is a stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet. It incorporates a micro-adjustable double-folding safety clasp that allows precise sizing adjustments while balancing comfort and security. This is accompanied by an additional black rubber “tropic”-style strap.
The Longines Legend Diver 59 is marked at a price of INR 4,12,000.
Images: Courtesy Longines
