The Swiss watchmaker Longines has announced the Longines Legend Diver 59, a faithful revival of the brand's iconic 1959 diver's watch. The new timepiece recreates the original model down to the finest details while incorporating contemporary watchmaking technology, including COSC chronometer certification and ISO 6425 diver's watch compliance.
The Longines Legend Diver 59 features a 42mm stainless steel case that reproduces the proportions of the 1959 original. Its two signature crowns and an inner rotating bezel — first introduced by Longines in 1936 — are housed inside the case and operated via the screw-down crown at the 2 o'clock position. The 60-minute graduated bezel with a luminous triangle marker reduces the risk of accidental rotation and provides protection from external impact.
Faithful Functional Design
The grained black dial maintains the collection's distinctive DNA while offering excellent contrast and legibility. White indexes, raised Arabic numerals, and satin-finished arrow-shaped hands are all coated with Super-LumiNova® in "Lume Old Radium" color, ensuring visibility in any environment. The tip of the seconds hand carries additional luminous coating, allowing divers to confirm that the watch is running correctly even in darkness. A domed sapphire crystal with black metallic coating and multi-layer anti-reflective treatment on both sides protects the vintage-style dial.
The watch is paired with a precision-crafted stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet offering excellent flexibility and fit. The bracelet features a double safety folding clasp with micro-adjustment. A black rubber strap in a tropic style along with a change tool are also included.
Technical Excellence
The Longines Legend Diver 59 meets ISO 6425 certification requirements for diver's watches and offers water resistance to 30 bar. Both the movement and the fully assembled watch carry COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) Official Chronometer certification, guaranteeing accuracy under all conditions. Powering the watch is the Longines proprietary Caliber L888.6, equipped with a silicon hairspring and advanced antimagnetic components. It exceeds the ISO 764 magnetic resistance standard and delivers approximately 72 hours of power reserve.
The History of Longines Diving Watches
Longines began manufacturing waterproof watches in the 1910s. In 1937, the brand introduced the first chronograph with a waterproof pusher, obtaining a patent the following year. In the 1940s, working with the British Hydrographic Institute, Longines designed the first wrist diving watch for British Navy divers.
As diving evolved from a military and scientific pursuit into a popular recreational activity, the need for reliable underwater timekeeping grew. In the 1950s, Longines began producing diver's watches in the tradition of instruments and timepieces long crafted for pioneers across sea, land, and air.
In 1958, Longines released the "Nautilus Skin Diver," featuring a 12-bar water-resistant case and a steel bracelet with a fine-adjustment system for wearing over a diving suit. The following year, in 1959, the company developed what would eventually be known as the "Legend Diver," designed specifically for underwater exploration with water resistance to 12 bar (120m). To protect the rotating bezel from external influences, Longines engineers positioned it inside the crystal — the inner rotating bezel, a feature Longines had originally invented in 1936. Operated by an additional crown at the 2 o'clock position and protected by the "Super Compressor" case, this design went on to influence many other watch manufacturers. Through the 1960s and 1970s, water resistance improved and new generations of the model appeared. In the 2000s, the iconic timepiece was revived within the brand's heritage collection.
The 1959 original model
Longines Legend Diver 59 — Specifications
Reference: L3.795.4.59.9 — ¥597,300
Caliber
Automatic mechanical movement — Longines Exclusive Caliber L888.6
Antimagnetic (ISO 764) — Silicon hairspring
11½ lignes — 21 jewels — 25,200 vph
COSC Official Chronometer certified (complete watch)
Power reserve: approximately 72 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds
Case
Diameter: 42mm — Thickness: 12.85mm
Round shape — Stainless steel
Domed sapphire crystal with black metallic coating and multi-layer anti-reflective treatment on both sides
Inner bidirectional rotating diving bezel
Two screw-down crowns
Screw-down case back with embossed diver symbol
Lug-to-lug distance: 50.10mm — Lug width: 22mm
Dial
Black grained finish — 4 Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, 8 indexes
Super-LumiNova® in Lume Old Radium color
Black grained flange
Hands
Sandblasted rhodium color — Super-LumiNova® in Lume Old Radium color
Water Resistance
Water resistant to 30 bar, tested under overpressure conditions of +25% (ISO 6425)
Bracelet / Strap
Stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet: push-piece opening system with micro-adjustment and double safety folding clasp
Black rubber strap with stainless steel diver's pin buckle
ISO 6425 Diver's Watch Certification
The ISO 6425 standard, established by the International Organization for Standardization, sets out the requirements for diver's watches and saturation diving watches. A certified diver's watch must withstand static water pressure equivalent to at least 10 bar/100m (with immersion tests conducted at 25% overpressure), offer resistance to shock, magnetic fields, condensation, corrosion, and temperature changes, provide a safe diving time display (such as a rotating bezel), and ensure optimal legibility in darkness through luminescent displays.
