Longines has released a host of historically inspired pieces from its Heritage Collection over the past few years (I’m wearing the Avigation Type A-7 1935 for an upcoming wrist review as I type this), but the most recent, unveiled to the press at Baselworld 2018, has a decidedly modern twist: a black-PVD-coated version of the Swiss brand’s popular Legend Diver watch.
The Longines Legend Diver in black PVD (Ref. L3.774.2.50.9)
Like its steel-cased predecessors, the first of which launched in 2007, the new Longines Legend Diver is a contemporary version of a dive watch that Longines first produced in 1960. In this execution, however, the watch’s 42-mm stainless steel case, which faithfully reproduces the sporty silhouette of the original, is coated with a black PVD coating for a sleek, modern look. The watch’s rubber strap replicates the steel bracelet on its predecessor.
Also aping the 1960s model, this watch has two crowns ? one for winding the watch, the other for operating the internal rotating divers? bezel, a feature that evokes the technical limitations of the original’s era. Both the crowns and the caseback are screwed, helping to ensure a professional-grade water resistance level of 300 meters. The inner rotating bezel, which serves as the flange of the watch, can also be locked in place by its dedicated crown, ensuring that a diver wearing it knows exactly how long he has been underwater. The black lacquered dial is punctuated by indice...