+ Nacho Valenti: You're quite right: the caseback is stunning. I think that a nice caseback is an underrated thing in this industry and complicating it isn't always the answer.
@@silverghost4206 what do you mean “my opinion”? Haute horology is a clear term with an objective definition. Haute is haute - we can find some understandable disagreement at the higher level brands, and we could play the game where everything is subjective, but at the end of the day in a hobby where watches can go up to tens of thousands and significantly more, and start being considered luxury (and entry-level at that!) at approximately the 5k mark, a 2k watch is most definitely not haute horology. Perhaps you mistakenly believe that there is no correlation between price and haute horology, but then you’d obviously be wrong: it would be naive to think that anyone producing a watch which has the makings of haute horology, usually selling at high prices (and making use of precious materials and fine craftsmanship which is just as costly) would then sell you the watch for less than a Rolex.
And especially not a brand like Longines with history and heritage! There are independent watch makers that sell pieces for extremely high prices... and Longines would sell a piece of haute horology for only 2k... why exactly?
I have to admit, I collect watches based on aesthetics, that’s what most important for me. Don’t get me wrong I appreciate a great movement but it’s not the be all and end all. With that in mind this watch was a no brainer, it’s absolutely beautiful and as our reviewer says, the quality is incredible at this price point. I do prefer the no date version but I’m not willing to pay over the odds for one. This has probably been my most worn watch for a while now, it a daily wear. There’s not many watches around that look so good on so many different straps. As far as it being a dive watch, mine has never been wet since I got it !
I just got mine 2 months ago and I love it. Wear it on nato daily and if I need to dress it up I put the milanese bracelet back on. It's running +1 seconds a day.
I got the 36mm version on the milanese. It’s incredible, so much so that I’ve sold nearly all my other watches (I can’t stand having watches that don’t get wrist time).
I bought this around 2010 without the date, and I still love it. The strap that came with it didn't last too long, but it looked better with a Nato strap anyway. The bezel is misaligned on mine as well.
I love this watch. If I hadn't already picked up a new Omega Seamaster this watch would have been high on my choice for a dive watch. Longines could well have been my one brand of choice for a 3 watch collection to the point where I almost regret going down the Omega route.
Debated on getting a Omega Seamaster as I had the Brosnan quartz one before but decided to get a 3 watch Longines collection instead, this LLD is on its way. That's also after looking at the Tudor 1926, even the newer brown or blue dialed LLD but decided on the this one, the Milanese bracelet seems so perfect for a 60's vintage vibe.
And now i am between omega seamaster or legend diver i think i am close to legend diver because i use it always underwater. But i would expect better lume on legend diver. But for me it feels better on wrist.
I own this I dare say for it price,,, I couldn't this of other timepiece can come close in term of it build, feel & finishing. Live the weight it wear or my wrist. I own rolex & omega I hv compared the finishing with them. Really is seriously as good. I so happy that I able to grab hold one & I truly live it!!!!! Awesome review.
Nice Alvin .Congrats on owning a sweet watch, and what sounds like a sweet collection. Longines Quality is def up there with Omega but Swatch keeps them at the price point they are at because they have Omega. The quality is better than its price point. Not that they are cheap but they are cheaper than Omega. If Omega wasnt there I think that Longines would be competing with Rolex
Great Video. The LLD was one of the first ones. I would argue that the Seiko SRP777 is a great reissue of a vintage diver (Seiko 6309). In my opinion the best modern version of a vintage diver is the Omega Seamaster 300 Master Coaxial. It modernizes the CK2918 and makes it a real dive watch with a usable bezel, lumed hands, interesting dial and a Master Coaxial movement.
+ Markus F: I couldn't agree more. The SRP777 is a lovely piece but what I like most is that it isn't trying too hard. It's just reusing a brilliant design rather than trying to make a 'vintage' point of it. The Seamaster is brilliant too and might just be the cleanest design from Omega in recent years. Even so, I reckon that the aged lume and lack of date made it less appealing to average buyers than to enthusiasts.
The SRP777 is a bit of a botch IMHO. The dial is too loud, modern and really clashes with the aesthetics of the "Captain Willard", and doesn't look or feel like a vintage diver at all IMHO. The Limited edition (SLA033) and "unlimited" Prospex Reissues of the Willard are much nicer. The Prospex version is also incredibly overpriced for a 6R Seiko movement watch - especially when you consider all of the microbrand "Homages" to the Willard with Seiko movements. The SLA033 is much more expensive, but justifies its price given that it is built to "marinemaster" specs and comes with the 8L movement (which is a less decorated grand seiko movement) and marinemaster level of build quality. Shame its as rare as hens teeth.
There is a clear misalignment of the dial markers with the bezel markers. The green triangle is clearly centered 6:24 I have this watch in the 36mm variation and it has the same problem. And in case anyone thinks its the glass distortion, its not. The misalignment is unfortunately still there when I'm looking straight down onto the dial. Then there's the crowns that are not quite at the 2 and 4 o'clock positions. Sloppy work for a watch at this price point 😪 I still love it though 😅
As an owner of the 36mm Oris Divers Sixty Five, you make a convincing case for the Longines as a superior heritage model. Proportionally speaking, I still prefer the Oris as its secret weapon, the svelt taper to the 17mm bracelet, proves it's the bolder and more courageous design than the Longines. Again, just an opinion. Really, I wish both the Oris and Longines had white colored lume as the heritage designs are beautiful enough and don't need the faux-tina to hold its value.
I was given the original Longines 7150-1 (Super Compressor) by my grandma. It’s been in my family for years (belonged to my great uncle). It’s beautiful, never polished. But it’s too much for a daily wear. I was looking to buy this LLD as a daily driver, but my oh my, have they messed it up real good with the date window...it was totally unnecessary. Superb video and nice shots :)
Longines by far is my favorite watch brand. Because they are more affordable than other brands, I am able to afford several different Longines watch styles. I am a Scuba Diver and have the Longines HydroConquest watch in my collection. I do like the style of the Longines Legend Diver watch, but as an environmental diver, I have a problem with the design of the Diver image on the caseback of the watch. I have submitted my suggestion for change to Longines management (have not heard back). I would like to see the harpoon removed from the diver image or possibly the redesign of the diver. I think with the concerns today of the destruction of our ocean's reefs, by in part due to the overfishing and killing of marine life, that the image of the diver on the watch should be one of a diver not coming to enter the underwater world as a warrior or hunter, but as an explorer to enjoy the beauty of the underwater world and to be peaceful and in harmony with all the marine life. I think this would be appealing to many environmentally-conscious Scuba and Skin Divers. Also, I noticed that Longines is doing a lot of marketing and promotion of this watch to women. I think a more peaceful looking diver image (it is nice that the diver image could be either a male or female, and also the diver is wearing a Longines dive watch) would also make the Legend Diver watch more feminine to a woman's wrist, compared to a hunting diver, ready to hunt and kill fish.
Thanks for the video! This is a beautiful piece but I think the Alpina Seastrong Heritage Diver outshines this watch. I just purchased the Alpina recently and it’s fit and finish is superb, at least on the same level as the Longines. I’d love to see someone do a comparison video of these two watches side by side!
I agree, was about the write this. The presentation box and the additional bracelet are also much better than the Longines at 1/2 the price. Swiss made with movements based on a Stelita SW200 (an updated ETA 2824), similar retro domed AR coated crystal and solid casebacks. Bezel is not misaligned on the Alpina - they have been making watches since 1883 and invented the concept of "sports watch" in 1938.
I am very fortunate to own both. They're both cracking watches. I also own the 1967 Longines diver. These holy trio are likely to stay forever in my collection.
The lume is very authentic to the most successful LLD from the 60s. If you look at chrono24 offerings there are plenty of them and all of them have the same lume style. The one you are reffering to, although I think it is the first LLD is not the only one from those times.
"possibly the most beautiful boxed domed sapphire crystal in existence." Take a look at the amazing curved boxed domed sapphire crystal on the Bulova Precisionist Grammy Award watch. The stock photos don't capture the curvature of the crystal that results in distortions (but good) of the dial when viewed edge on.
@@apangurra2775 Yeah it looks great! I like bronze watches, but for this I really want the steel version. The fact that they did the bronze with no date is what made me wonder if they might reissue the steel no-date version again.
@@apangurra2775 I didn't catch the watch bug until maybe 2015 or so, so I missed out too. I think it's a good sign that they did the bronze as a no date, but can't get my hopes up too much.
+ snoworder: It's an interesting point, I think. The 36mm version is clearly aimed at an enthusiast's market based upon recent trends. For this reason, I have my doubts as to whether it will stay in the range for long due to far more demand for the full-size variant. In any case, it's a real rarity on the market.
I love this watch since you reviewed it in one of your previous reviews. It seems like a strap monster. I only wish the hand set was angular as it feels more premium to me. Wish the price was in the 1k range, I would love to own my first Longines.
Digressing, but are there any brands which DO NOT source components, movements and systems from China with the following attributes? 1. Between 36-39 mm case diameter 2. Leather strap 3. Mechanical movement - in-house preferred but intensely tested ETA/Sellita will do as well 4. Sapphire case, anti-reflective coating 5. Stainless steel 6. Waterproof to 100 m 7. Priced between $1000-2000 Thank you.
janjacdr1 I’ve a Oris diver 65 36mm too. Nut I feel it looks really small, with its dial’s diameter 28-29mm excluding the bezel. This 28-29 is about the same as my vintage Omega seasmaster 33-34mm which looks larger than diver 65 looks. It’s seems that the LLD 36mm looks larger than the Diver 65.
I have had that EXACT same thought about the inner timing bezel on my Rado Capt Cook Mk2. What is the point of a timing bezel on a dive watch that can't be used under water? Of course, I only use mine for desk diving (and lately only for hiding inside my house Coronavirus confinement diving).
I have a Legend Diver (purchased 2017) and I love this watch. However, recently it simply stopped working (normal when don´t wear it for a few days) and won´t work even after I wind it and wind it and wind it (not normal at all)!! Unfortunately it´s past the 2-year guaranty both from the shop and from Longines. I am afraid of getting a bill costing me another watch. Has this ever happened to any of you guys, and is there anything you can suggest? Thanks!
It’s a great watch, but a date window at 3 is always a deal killer for me and I’m simply not a fan of the arrow-like hour hand. I much prefer the Oris 65 - the one with the Arabic numerals that they weirdly discontinued in favor of those awful dot indices (I know I’m in the minority there).
Selita movements are reliable with reasonable service costs. For the most part I’m only willing to pay for an in-house movement if that movement adds to the watch. No Etta or Selita is going to fit in the ultra thin Octo Finissmo. That movement helps make the watch spectacular.
+verykeen2please: Thank you for your comment and I can definitely understand the sentiment. Personally, I love having a date and I like the care taken with this one. Even so, it would be nice to see Longines offer both variants.
I think it would have looked better without a date but in most daily applications its useful. However, since its a vintage inspired watch it should have been kept off to give it a more tool watch look. Either way this is my favorite watch from Longines.
@@WatchUnwind i know but its like the rado captain cook, they suddenly get all the vids, just makes me wonder how a certain few become the chosen ones, when there is so many great watches that dont get a mention.
@@1977JohnBoy thats a good point , I have no idea. Maybe one starts it off then other imitate, or like you said their could be paid, or the company could reach out to lend the watch without paying. Im not sure, I just made my own channel though so if I ever get to that point I can give you the real inside scoop
It has been hyped since 2007, at that time once per year Longines made a reissue and then they discontinued. The LLD was meant to be produced for just one year.
Beauty, I'd be loathed to dive with it tho. And those crowns look vulnerable to damage let alone the other faults. Let's face it, it's a fashion piece and nothing wrong with that
Haha, I’m getting another diver just because of this reason. Yeah, it’s too good and too “fragile” to be a real tool watch. Not to mention that many had an issue with the case not being airtight and letting dust in...
Yeah there is a clear misalignment of the dial markers with the bezel markers. The green triangle is clearly centered. I have this watch in the 36mm variation and it has the same problem. And in case anyone thinks its the glass distortion, its not. The misalignment is unfortunately still there when I'm looking straight down onto the dial. Then there's the crowns that are not quite at the 2 and 4 o'clock positions. Sloppy work for a watch at this price point 😪
