If we were being particularly cruel, yet topical, we would say something like, “the new Longines watches are perfect for the likes of Uruguay striker Luis Suarez or Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo – they’re divers’ watches you see, geddit? No? Fair enough.
Bad jokes aside, the brand certainly has some experience in the field, and in the 1950s supplied measuring instruments for the bathyscaphe Trieste, which set a diving record in 1953. In addition to technical equipment, the brand also produced robust and reliable watches intended for use by keen amateur divers. Dating from the 1970s, two such models have been taken as inspiration for the new The Longines Heritage Diver watch.
Available in two versions, one with three hands and the other a chronograph, these new models boast a black, satin-finish dial that smartly combines red highlights with details coated with Super-LumiNova. The case back, crown and bezel are screwed in, thus ensuring water-resistance to 30 bar (300 metres). The cushion-shaped steel case has a brushed sunburst decoration on the upper surface and is polished around the sides. The case back is engraved with the figure of a diver, recalling the first diving watches produced by Longines.
The model with three hands differs from the other with a mix of colours set off by the black dial, namely one red hand and red minute zones, touches of Super-LumiNova coating and grey rhodium plating. The graduated scale from 0-60 enables the diver to calculate how long you’ve been underwater by synchronising the 12 o’clock hour symbol with the minute hand. The inner flange is activated using the crown at 2 o’clock. The chronograph version has the same colour scheme, but in contrast the graduated scale on the flange goes from 60 down to 0. This enables the diver to calculate the remaining time to allow for decompression when returning to the surface, by synchronising a given point with the minute hand.
The Heritage Diver is another retro-styled timepiece from Longines, but we’re more than OK with that, and when it comes with such an impressive background of underwater activity we can’t help but think it’s a watch that will very probably sink and swim.
Price on request, longines.com