Thanks for the review of a fantastic watch!

Apr 14, 2009,22:48 PM
 

Nicolas, your pictures are great!  As usual, you provide added context and historical perspective by comparing the vintage and re-edition side-by-side pictorially and in your review.  When it comes to the Legend Diver reissue I am a believer.  IMO it is one of the best watch bargains out there.  I've had mine since early February and on the wrist it is solid, comfortable and quiet.  While I agree that the plexi on the vintage is highly desirable I rather like the proportions of the modern Legend.  The lacquered dial has a liquid sheen that catches the light "just so" and the choice of color for the indices is perfect and ties the modern Legend to its precursor nicely.  

IMO any collector would be hard-pressed to find a watch that gives you more bang for your buck.  The Legend re-edition is an all-around good-looking, robust, yet elegant timepiece.

Thanks for the photos and the article, Nicolas!  Here are photos of my Legend Diver below.  The lighting is not great...sorry!

Cheers,

Daos







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A Review on the Re Edition of the Longines Diver.

 
 By: amanico : April 14th, 2009-13:28
Call me naive if you want, but the Longines Legend Diver is a great re redition, and a very appealing watch! Thanks to a Purist Friend who found for me this rare bird ( very difficult to get in France ), I'm now the happy owner of this great watch. I spen...  

Tears in my eyes ...

 
 By: bimbeano : April 14th, 2009-13:59
what a nice tribute to this (already) legendary watch, i will add some pics i took on my holidays. It is such a nice looking dial and though they made a different crystal (no plexi), the sapphire is beautifully shaped to give the watch a special look. I c...  

Bibeano, cool pics! [nt]

 
 By: DRMW : April 14th, 2009-14:07
No message body

Yeah ... and ...

 
 By: bimbeano : April 14th, 2009-14:09
... i have some extreme ones for the friday WS .... Nicolas will be soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo jealous .... LOLOLOL ... Filip

LOL!

 
 By: DRMW : April 14th, 2009-14:28

Poor men´s watch???, NO, hermano... Lucky men´s watch!

 
 By: E.J. : April 14th, 2009-15:20
Cool pics Bimbo!. Best emilio

Oh so true ..

 
 By: bimbeano : April 14th, 2009-15:37
just sold mine for 5000 euros ..... just kidding ... i wouldn't sell it for a million .... errr ... i think ....

Can understand your love for this Longines, Filip.

 
 By: amanico : April 14th, 2009-22:20
As I share it! I'm totally stunned by it. And when I show it to some Vintage Collectors, they are all amazed by the work made on this watch, and by the great similarity with the Vintage model. If you saw the pics I posted with a quite NOS Vintage Longines... 

Only regret is

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : April 14th, 2009-14:38
that I couldn't download 2 pictures that comes with your heartwarming post/review Yes one of greatest re-editions around in line with Cali & FF but for much much less dinero .... so as you said when looking at value over coolness ratio this is THE best bu... 

This Longines is indeed a real deal, Damian

 
 By: amanico : April 14th, 2009-22:30
You have a point! You can even add another re edition of a legendary Diving watch with the Omega Plo Prof, this year, even if this last one is maybe the weaker one, compared to the 3 others you mentionned. The Cali and the Polaris are indeed in another le... 

Nice!...

 
 By: E.J. : April 14th, 2009-14:49
Long time waiting this post. Long time waiting see side by side these two marvels. Happy reading your great job made mon ami, happy admiring the extreme soul of your vintage Longines and admiring the superb re-edition made by Longines. You now that this w... 

Not really sure that the Modern can beat the Vintage, even in this case, Emilio

 
 By: amanico : April 14th, 2009-22:36
Because, as with the Polaris and the Cali, the Vintage models have something more, which is called Soul . The soul of the patina, of a real Life. But a great, powerful and very charming watch, indeed. I feel you regret yours, Emilio. Am I right? Best, Nic... 

You´re in true, mon ami...

 
 By: E.J. : April 14th, 2009-22:53
First because the new can´t beat with the vintage... vintage has live, has SOUL, indeed. But, certanly, a very closed re-edition. And second, because it´s in my mind and in my hearth... i regret it, you can be sure. But no problem, it´ll be again in house... 

It would make a great trio, Emilio

 
 By: amanico : April 14th, 2009-22:56
This Longines would deserve a good place, and what better place than being in the Company of a FF and a 5513 Maxi Dial? Best, Nicolas

WOW

 
 By: Stopseconde : April 14th, 2009-19:47
Congratulations, great review !!! I just bought my in Buenos Aires, Argentina last month, Do you guys know if it is a limited edition ?, Some people say Longines made only 1000 pieces.

Hi, Bruno.

 
 By: amanico : April 14th, 2009-22:43
Welcome here, firstly. Happy to see that this watch gave you a good reason to put your first post on line! To answer to your question, I seriously doubt that it is a limited edition. I'd rather say that it is a Limited Production. I heard that Longines st... 

Love it!

 
 By: CaliforniaJed : April 14th, 2009-20:53
Nicolas, wonderful review, fantastic pics of a super-cool watch. Several weeks ago I posted in the HoMe forum seeking advice for a friend's purchase of a watch as a 50th birthday present for her siginificant other. home.watchprosite.com / I'm happy to rep... 

Good choice and decision, Jed

 
 By: amanico : April 14th, 2009-22:47
I'm sure that he will enjoy it a lot. This is such a lovely watch. Best, and thanks for your nice words, Jed. Nicolas

Thanks for the review of a fantastic watch!

 
 By: dxboon : April 14th, 2009-22:48
Nicolas, your pictures are great!  As usual, you provide added context and historical perspective by comparing the vintage and re-edition side-by-side pictorially and in your review.  When it comes to the Legend Diver reissue I am a believer.  IMO it is o...  

i think its probably the best Longines for about 20 years or more

 
 By: G99 : April 15th, 2009-03:24
why havent i bought one i ask myself, especially as i've seen several on other forums at greatly reduced prices even though its a very reasonably priced watch to start with. the answer to my own question is, i dont really know, perhaps i'm holding out for... 

Why not getting both of them, Graham?

 
 By: amanico : April 15th, 2009-04:54
The Vintage one is a bit more expensive than the Re Edition, but both are so great that the temptation of getting them is very ...;Tempting! And as you said, the chances to get one from this bloody special year of ours is not impossible at all... Eeeh, Gr... 

you are evil mon ami...

 
 By: G99 : April 15th, 2009-07:50
you are evil mon ami :) i think we should swap for a month or 2. you can wear a funky spaceship and i'll wear a vintage diver. best Graham

you know i know your...

 
 By: G99 : April 15th, 2009-09:07
you know i know your right :), but i have to be aware of my collecting themes. the re edition doesnt fit into it which is a shame as i know where there's one going at a good price. i've got 2 sides to my collection. the 64 theme and the unusual display th... 

I try to do my best, Sister.

 
 By: amanico : April 15th, 2009-04:50
As this watch deserves a minimum of efforts, IMO. The Longines Legend Diver has an unbelievable sum of qualities, indeed, and you described them very nicely. Are you now on the hunt for a Vintage model, to make the pair? The only problem with this watch i... 

There is a vintage version...

 
 By: dxboon : April 16th, 2009-00:44
...in seemingly good condition available locally, but at the suggested price point I'd rather chase something else.  If funds were unlimited though, all bets are off!  ;-) Sending you my best, Nicolas! Cheers, Daos

Awsome !

 
 By: Spiff : April 15th, 2009-03:32
Bonjour cher Nicolas, Once again an awsome review. I can't agree more with your views on this watch, I got one very recently too ;-) One of the drawbacks you point out is the sapphire instead of the plexy. I backup that too, with a plexy it would have bee...  

I see what you mean, Sebastien

 
 By: amanico : April 15th, 2009-05:16
Yep, you're right about the Minute Hands... But this is a detail, when you pay attention to the whole watch, and when you fall under its enormous charm. Congrats on yours, my friend! Best, Nicolas

I agree with you,

 
 By: Spiff : April 15th, 2009-05:48
this is a detail. It definitely didn't stop me from buying it. But it annoyed me. Even more because the hands on the picture on the Longines catalogue, the website and the press kit where identical to the one on old watch... So I was a little disapointed ...  

very nice watch, and as usual .. a GREAT review !

 
 By: Bruno.M1 : April 15th, 2009-08:48
Thanks Was this a LE or is it still in production ?

Thanks, Bruno

 
 By: amanico : April 15th, 2009-10:51
Neither of these 2 were made in LE... A watch for you, my friend, with its 42 mm diameter case... Best, Nicolas

yep

 
 By: Bruno.M1 : April 15th, 2009-11:38
I know , great watch, great size ... and for such a piece pretty cheap But my watchbudget is completely gone even for such a 'cheaper' piece

Thanks for this great review!

 
 By: AlexSunrise : April 15th, 2009-10:01
Nicolas, Thanks for bringing this great watch back to our attention. It certainly is one to look very closely at, and seriously consider to be part of any collection. I will have to call my AD.... See you soon, Alex

Do you imagine, Alex, the Duo it would be?

 
 By: amanico : April 15th, 2009-10:56
Let me " help " you a bit... Best, Hermano. Nicolas...  

Nicolas, i've seen a few...

 
 By: G99 : April 15th, 2009-11:31
Nicolas, i've seen a few other super compressor watches from obscure brands. i've been sending them to you by pm, but i think we had a pm'ing problem for a couple of weeks. there's a Camy seven seas 300m, a Bucherer to name but 2. they all have the EPSA l... 

There are so many, Graham

 
 By: amanico : April 15th, 2009-11:49
I found at least 15 Super Compressor Cases!!! I'm preparing a topic about another Compressor Case Watch... As for our PM problems, yes, we certainly have, as I don't systemically receive yours... Best, Nicolas

Nicolas, are you making it...

 
 By: G99 : April 16th, 2009-00:23
Nicolas, are you making it a personal crusade to buy them all or only the ones from the better brands? i've noticed that some can be had for pennies, but thats probably all the internals are worth. it interests me that the Longines legend original was 200... 

First of all, you are going to need a wider lens for you camera,

 
 By: AlexSunrise : April 15th, 2009-11:40
to be able to fit all those watches into one frame, and the rest of us are going to need a defibrilator to help us come back to life after the "shock" of seeing such a gathering of legendary watches! Gracias por la foto! Abrazo, Alejandro

Tengo que reactualizarla un poco, Alex

 
 By: amanico : April 15th, 2009-11:51
Tienes razon..I need a wider lense... Best, nicolas

Chocolate dial...:-)

 
 By: kbc.2222 : April 15th, 2009-15:35
U new edition was very attractive when have a photo with u collections... Congrats...Very nice watch... Best Chung

Thanks, Chung

 
 By: amanico : April 15th, 2009-20:50
This modern among the Vintage doesn't shock at all, I agree. Best, Nicolas

Thanks, FX. You're welcome.

 
 By: amanico : April 15th, 2009-13:19
Take care! Best, Nicolas

Fantastic post of a fantastic watch.....

 
 By: Miranda : April 15th, 2009-17:13
The new date version ( which I prefer to be honest, so much so I have ordered one, and have to wait at least 3 months for delivery), is available in steel and in a new pprecious metal version. The non date will also continue. Both versions are the most sp...  

I heard they will stop the production for some months, Imram

 
 By: amanico : April 15th, 2009-20:42
The production of this one, the one without date, to favorize the introduction of the model with the date. True? Absolutely agree, Imran: A watch which is 3 times less exepnisive than a Panerai Sub ( Pam 24 ), but which gives the same pleasure, to me. Bes... 

Bravo

 
 By: Moses. : April 15th, 2009-18:46
Great review and photos. Longines really seems to be coming back strong - my first nice watch was a Longines, so I have a real affection for them. Hopefully the powers-that-be will let them reach their full potential.

Agree, my friend. Thanks. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : April 16th, 2009-23:55
No message body

Nice watch indeed !

 
 By: DrStrong : April 16th, 2009-12:40
and thanks a lot for this great review, the comparison with the vintage pieces is very informative. Cheers Jeff

Thanks, Jeff

 
 By: amanico : April 16th, 2009-23:57
I didn't find a better approach than comparing the Vintage and the modern together, to fully appreciate the modern... Best, my friend. Nicolas

Great watches, pics & review!

 
 By: Peter  : April 16th, 2009-17:51
Thks for sharing

Thanks, Peter! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : April 16th, 2009-23:57
No message body

An awsome review Nicolas ...

 
 By: Nork : April 17th, 2009-04:34
Etienne....  

Thanks for your input and deligthful pics, Etienne.

 
 By: amanico : April 17th, 2009-12:28
I specially lve the last one, with the " Trieste " on the background. Best, my friend, and thanks for your nice words. Nicolas

A great Diver to remember ... ...

 
 By: kermit e froggy : April 17th, 2009-19:45
I enjoy your longines review and the pics are nicely taken. This is a very well made Longines Diver to remember ! Thank you

Thank you, Kermit

 
 By: amanico : April 19th, 2009-06:11
And welcome here, by the way! Looking forward to hear more from you, Best, Nicolas

Fantastic write-up Nicolas and I agree with you 100%

 
 By: nekok : April 21st, 2009-10:18
This watch is FANTASTIC value for money. Very nicely made and true to the original.

A watch to wear, to feel, to live with, Nicky

 
 By: amanico : April 21st, 2009-12:10
Well, there are quite a lot of epople here owning this Beauty, and I never heard something negative about it. A real bargain, and some past sensations to remember from a not so far era... Best, my friend. Nicolas