I’ve at all times had a comfortable spot for the Longines Legend Diver collection. I’m an enormous fan of “tremendous compressor” fashion instances, and the complementary, bichromatic printing appeals to my fastidious tastes. The Legend Diver assortment has its roots in reference 7042, launched in 1960. The primary re-edition got here in 2007 and was adopted by an up to date date model in 2009, and a PVD-coated model final 12 months. All 4 releases had been 42mm-wide. The Longines Legend Diver 36mm is far more conservatively proportioned and actually opens up this mannequin as much as a wider viewers.
Trendy Classic Enchantment
I believe Longines goes to seek out that, regardless of pitching this watch as a woman-first different to the 42mm model, there will probably be an terrible lot of vintage-vaunting gents within the hunt for this new mannequin.
There may be an argument for staying true to the unique 7042 and retaining the 42mm case diameter, however the editions from 2007 onward sneakily bulked up the crowns, which, in my view, grew the watch considerably on the wrist and made it far much less snug to put on. As somebody who enjoys carrying tremendous compressor or compressor fashion instances as a result of they transfer the crowns right into a extra ergonomic place for flexing the wrist, this irritated me. It appears seemingly that the smaller sized 36mm model will circumnavigate this downside with its revised dimensions.
What’s a Tremendous Compressor?
The time period “tremendous compressor” is usually used (erroneously) to explain any watch with twin crowns. The primary watches to function this design had been fitted with particular know-how that meant the watches received extra waterproof because the exterior strain on them elevated (therefore the time period “compressor”). The know-how was a success, however largely pointless for all of the desk divers who simply favored the look (and luxury) of crowns at 2 and four o’clock. That stated, Longines elected to stay devoted to the unique through the use of tremendous compressors of their fashionable iterations of the 7042.
Tremendous compressor know-how was the brainchild of Ervin Piquerez SA (EPSA). It emerged within the 1950s and was well-liked till the quartz disaster actually hit within the ’70s. A brilliant compressor differs from a compressor by having a threaded or bayonet case again versus a snap-on. When the case again is “screwed” down, it stops earlier than it travels so far as it presumably might, on account of a spring pushing again towards the case center.
On the appropriate pressure, the caseback is miserable the o-ring gasket however not at its most capability. Because the exterior strain builds following submersion, the caseback spring will succumb and permit the case to additional depress the o-ring, theoretically growing water resistance. One secondary, oft-ignored good thing about a brilliant compressor case is the diminished strain (and thus, put on and tear) on a gasket above sea stage.
Conclusion
This launch sees not solely a diminished measurement but additionally an elevated coloration palette for the Longines Legend Diver watches. This mannequin is obtainable with black, purple fumé, burgundy fumé, tropical (brown fumé), and mom of pearl dials, and a number of coordinating straps and bracelets.
Remarkably, regardless of shrinking by 6mm, the Longines Legend Diver 36mm retains the three o’clock date operate added with the discharge of its 2009 forerunner. Despite this, the dial doesn’t seem cluttered in any method and stays one of the vital legible and enticing shows available on the market right this moment. The worth for these new releases begins at $2,150 and runs all the way in which as much as $2,400. To study extra concerning the Legend Diver assortment and Longines’ different choices, head over to longines.com.
