Longines Diver Vintage: A 1960s Two-Crown Icon

At the Beginning of the 60ies, or at the end of the 50ies, some manufactures released very nice Diving Watches, like Vulcain with its Nautical, JLC with the Deep Sea Alarm, Enicar with the Super Divette, the Sherpa, etc, with this specificity that there were 2 crowns watches, with an inside bezel.

Of course, I'm not saying that the diving watches appeared only in the beginning of the Sixties, as Panerai launched in 1936 the Cali, and some famous brands were competiting on this thema since 1953, like Blancpain, and Rolex, but these watches only came with one crown, not two, and an external bezel ( with the exception of the Cali which didn't have bezel)...

So, in 1960, among all these watches, came the Longines Diver...



The case is oversized, for this era, as it's 42mm big, and quite thick, due to the  domed plexy.

The balance is perfect, a blend of power, elegance and functionnality...





On these 2 last pics you can see the "air de famille" with some other 2 crowns Diving watches, not only because of these 2 crowns, but also because of the philosophy of the watches...Like the shpae of the case and of the plexy, for example.

Did you notive the grid work design of the top of the crowns, like some other famous Diving watches???

Even the case back has something of " déjà vu" on another watch I will make a review...The JLC Deep Sea Alarm...which has a Diver engraved...



Nice, isn't it?

The Caliber is a reliable one, accurate, the Longines Automatic 290, whoth 24 jewels, and a Power Reserve of + / - 48 hours.( Pic Taken from the previous owner..Thanks, Andrea! )



The main particularity of this watch is its dial, which became brown with the time, and which gives it a very nice allure, and strengh...

The watch is very legible, with the 2 specific luminous hands, and this quite mandatory 3/6/9/12 index hours...







As the particularity of this Longines is its dial, let's have a closer look on it...





The patina is just unbelievable!

A laquered dial which turned to an amazing nice and complex brown caramel color...A true Masterpiece!







Under certain angles, you quite have the impression that the dial is wooden made!

Absolutely fascinating!

Longines released the last year a re edition of this model, which is a very good thing, as the re interpretation of this watch is respectful, and well done....

But when you compare the old and the new Diver, there is immediately one thing which jumps to the eyes...The re edition is very clean, maybe too clean, compared to this old lady...

The soul is maybe missing a bit...





Putting it on the wrist is a pure pleasure, my friends:



Defintely a great watch to own in a Diving Thema collection....

Best to All!

Nicolas, very happy!
This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-07-18 03:57:15 This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-07-18 13:42:27 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2008-07-19 11:13:18