Just a small correction: The new 39mm Legend Divers, in all colors, now come with the same clasp that the Hydroconquest GMT does. You can see it in the press photos of the new LLD colors and Teddy Baldassarre's recent video covering the new colors has a pinned comment confirming that this is the case (for all colorways).
You're absolutely right! I recorded this a couple weeks ago and I didn't realize that they updated the clasp here. Thanks for pointing it out! That said, I still think the pricing is a bit off. An extra 250 over the spirit Zulu time seems like bit but the new clasp helps the overall value proposition. Glad Longines finally made the change so hopefully it means good news for an updated SZT with the same clasp!
Owned this a few years ago. Brilliant watch, I had the mesh bracelet which imho elevates the look and feel to the next level. In the summer sun it was very blingy. One of the few watches I've been tempted to rebuy (sold it to finance my Tudor BBB 43mm).
Literally all watches besides Rolex and the trinity sell below retail on the gray market. That should not somehow be a knock against this watch. And to compare it to an older version thats not on a bracelet is utterly ridiculous
Thank you! Agree! Not to mention the bracelet is by far the most comfortable of the 3. Not to mention I would imagine a compressor style watch has its own difficulties to manufacture.
Price is not the only measure of value. The 39 has better lume and bracelet BY FAR and has a better movement. Do i wish it was lower price? I could say that about all swiss watches
Extra points: you bought yours on that strap. Adding the bracelet (and new clasp) alone account for a good 300+ in value. That means the extra 700 at most accounts for the better lume, better wearable size, and better movement. Sounds about right.
I have had the 42mm for several years and was interested in the new 39mm, but the dial just doesn't look right to me. Yes I would like the 42 to have better lume but you mainly see it in the light anyway and think it's a better-looking watch !
The 42 Legend is one of my best watches. It sits great on my wrist and doesn’t look too big. Admittedly, I have big hands. This and the IWC 3706 are neck and neck for my favorite daily wearer. The crystal and the buckle are super cool. I prefer the strap to the bracelet. That’s just me.
The 39mm came out 5 years too late for me. I wanted the no date Legend Diver for years since they only made the no date 42mm for a short time and they were kinda pricey on the used market. But now, my BB58 navy blue just kills any desire to buy the blue 39mm LD even though it looks like a beautiful watch. I still want to see the 39mm models in the metal.
All good observations TWI. I'm quite a fan of Longines and the super compressor diver has been on my 'watch' list for years but thus far has never made it to the top. As a watch I prefer the 39 without the date but as you mention when comparing it to the current Legend Diver it is expensive. I'm unlikely to make a purchase at retail for the 39. For now I'll be hanging around considering what I can justify and that may take a while following last weekends spend.
the 39 is better in pretty much every aspect, from design, to wearability, to movement. Not to count the fantastic bracelet. It is an expensive watch! So is a seamaster 300m, that has a poorly executed window date and a terrible bracelet. So are many other watches. Personally, I've waited and I just bought a used one for 2.100 eu in mint conditions: there will always be the person who is selling everything to get a Rolex and is in a rush to capitalize, it's just a matter of waiting. With 5y of non-nominal warranty, buying the more expensive watches used is a very good idea.
This watch was for a longer time my favourite but then I decided to buy a Ball Engineer Master Diver II. The price for this watch was too attractive....
The watch has an extremely vintage 1930’s pilots watch feel to me, maybe I’m wrong. 🤷🏻 That bezel crown feature is awesome too . Also reminds me a bit of Breitling too… 👍🏻
Great video. Agree that there is such good value within Longines as a brand that the pricing of the 39mm LD is incomprehensible. The only thing I can think is that Tudor doesn’t have a super compressor so maybe they are trying to put the 39 against the BB58?
If price is an issue for you, buy one preowned for 2,500. But when you look at quality, its nearly as good as tudor. I own both the legend diver and black bay 54. The clasp and finishing on the lugs is probably where tudor is better.
42 is the ORIGINAL size of the watch it references in Longines’ archive. I always saw LLDs as Panerai style watches where you just have to have the wrist meat to rock it properly.
Dear Host, you speak out the comment in my heart for two years. The old version of dated Legend Diver is much better then the no date version. 1. It is larger. 2. It has a date. 3. Cheaper. 4. No the 13 and 91 issue as complained by the crowd. Thank you.
I'm glad we're on the same page about the 42mm version being awesome! The price difference while getting so much quality really makes it hard to choose the 39mm version despite my preference for that size in general. Plus the original from the 60s was 42mm so one more reason to get the 42!
Great review. Yes i discovered the value discrepancy like you. I tried both the 39 and 42. Both wore well on my 7.2 inch wrist. I think i will go for the 42 on the mesh bracelet.😊
Yeah the pricing is just bizarre especially when considering the gray pricing of their own watches. No idea how they came up with the price. I'm sure it's easy to get the 39 for less but still bizarre. I'm just glad that they kept the 42mm version in production!
The price comparisons made with the hydro conquest gmt and the spirit zulu time were really telling. The 39mm legend diver does seem overpriced! Weird choice from longines I wonder how they came up with that number
Yeah i would have loved to have been a fly in the wall when they were discussing pricing! I think this should have been perhaps 2800 or 2900 meaning a bump in price for the cosc movement and bracelet over the older legends diver. But here we are at a $1000 premium!
39mm Hydroconquest ceramic bezel is the best deal of all. Great specs, distinctive dial, and $1750 retail that can be had with AD discount…or even better gray market discount
@@drkesrf As an owner…bracelet is fine…clasp isn’t terrible (functional)…but certainly no match for the quality of watch itself….belongs on a Seiko…not a Longines
Better than a 100k overpriced watch: we just wanted to quickly introduce ourselves: we are Harris watches from Germany. We have just started... our watches are probably unlike anything you might have ever heard of or seen before. If you share our kind of humor, that is! We are into music and are openly sarcastic. Regards!
The 42 looks way better. The 39 is stubby and ugly with those short lugs. Some watches just have long lugs since it looks better. Patek, Nomos, Longines...
Just a small correction: The new 39mm Legend Divers, in all colors, now come with the same clasp that the Hydroconquest GMT does. You can see it in the press photos of the new LLD colors and Teddy Baldassarre's recent video covering the new colors has a pinned comment confirming that this is the case (for all colorways).
You're absolutely right! I recorded this a couple weeks ago and I didn't realize that they updated the clasp here. Thanks for pointing it out!
That said, I still think the pricing is a bit off. An extra 250 over the spirit Zulu time seems like bit but the new clasp helps the overall value proposition. Glad Longines finally made the change so hopefully it means good news for an updated SZT with the same clasp!
The lug to lug on the 42 kills the watch completely. I will gladly pay extra to correct this.
Owned this a few years ago. Brilliant watch, I had the mesh bracelet which imho elevates the look and feel to the next level. In the summer sun it was very blingy. One of the few watches I've been tempted to rebuy (sold it to finance my Tudor BBB 43mm).
I keep seeing the 39 around $2.4-2.5k from grey market dealers. At that price, the better size, lume, and bracelet are worth the money, IMO
Well you can also buy the 42mm ok gray market dealers and around 1,600 dollars so that’s almost 1,000 less still
I came here to say this. The 39 offers so much more around $2500 because it does what the 42 could never: compete in top 5 divers under $5k
Literally all watches besides Rolex and the trinity sell below retail on the gray market. That should not somehow be a knock against this watch. And to compare it to an older version thats not on a bracelet is utterly ridiculous
Hydro GMT movement not COSC, Zulu time bracelet doesn’t have on the fly adjustment, and the legend diver 39mm has both so the price will be higher
Thank you! Agree! Not to mention the bracelet is by far the most comfortable of the 3. Not to mention I would imagine a compressor style watch has its own difficulties to manufacture.
@@drkesrf exactly
Price is not the only measure of value. The 39 has better lume and bracelet BY FAR and has a better movement. Do i wish it was lower price? I could say that about all swiss watches
Extra points: you bought yours on that strap. Adding the bracelet (and new clasp) alone account for a good 300+ in value. That means the extra 700 at most accounts for the better lume, better wearable size, and better movement. Sounds about right.
I have had the 42mm for several years and was interested in the new 39mm, but the dial just doesn't look right to me. Yes I would like the 42 to have better lume but you mainly see it in the light anyway and think it's a better-looking watch !
The 42 Legend is one of my best watches. It sits great on my wrist and doesn’t look too big. Admittedly, I have big hands. This and the IWC 3706 are neck and neck for my favorite daily wearer. The crystal and the buckle are super cool. I prefer the strap to the bracelet. That’s just me.
The 39mm came out 5 years too late for me. I wanted the no date Legend Diver for years since they only made the no date 42mm for a short time and they were kinda pricey on the used market. But now, my BB58 navy blue just kills any desire to buy the blue 39mm LD even though it looks like a beautiful watch. I still want to see the 39mm models in the metal.
Fair points! I would say a compressor style has a totally different vibe. I have the blue legend diver and a BB54.
My 36mm sits vey nicely on my 6.5” wrist. I especially like the fume blue.
The 36mm still has the best colourways available, love that blue and the beige
Fyi the new version at $3,400 comes with an on-the-fly adjustable clasp.
All good observations TWI. I'm quite a fan of Longines and the super compressor diver has been on my 'watch' list for years but thus far has never made it to the top. As a watch I prefer the 39 without the date but as you mention when comparing it to the current Legend Diver it is expensive. I'm unlikely to make a purchase at retail for the 39. For now I'll be hanging around considering what I can justify and that may take a while following last weekends spend.
the 39 is better in pretty much every aspect, from design, to wearability, to movement. Not to count the fantastic bracelet. It is an expensive watch! So is a seamaster 300m, that has a poorly executed window date and a terrible bracelet. So are many other watches. Personally, I've waited and I just bought a used one for 2.100 eu in mint conditions: there will always be the person who is selling everything to get a Rolex and is in a rush to capitalize, it's just a matter of waiting. With 5y of non-nominal warranty, buying the more expensive watches used is a very good idea.
This watch was for a longer time my favourite but then I decided to buy a Ball Engineer Master Diver II. The price for this watch was too attractive....
The watch has an extremely vintage 1930’s pilots watch feel to me, maybe I’m wrong. 🤷🏻 That bezel crown feature is awesome too . Also reminds me a bit of Breitling too… 👍🏻
I would buy the 39 in blue. I saw that watch in person and I really loved it. However, I have not pulled the trigger due to the price.
Great video. Agree that there is such good value within Longines as a brand that the pricing of the 39mm LD is incomprehensible. The only thing I can think is that Tudor doesn’t have a super compressor so maybe they are trying to put the 39 against the BB58?
If price is an issue for you, buy one preowned for 2,500. But when you look at quality, its nearly as good as tudor. I own both the legend diver and black bay 54. The clasp and finishing on the lugs is probably where tudor is better.
Absolutely love the 42mm. Must try it on in person. 39 is such a cash grab. Cheers
Is it not the best watch for the price? I don’t like 39, I want 42. BUT I don’t want a date…. 39 is the choice
The Longines legend diver was my Grail when I started ,IT WILL BE MINE new grail JJ Reverso.
42 is the ORIGINAL size of the watch it references in Longines’ archive. I always saw LLDs as Panerai style watches where you just have to have the wrist meat to rock it properly.
The date kills the 42 for me
Dear Host, you speak out the comment in my heart for two years. The old version of dated Legend Diver is much better then the no date version.
1. It is larger.
2. It has a date.
3. Cheaper.
4. No the 13 and 91 issue as complained by the crowd.
Thank you.
I'm glad we're on the same page about the 42mm version being awesome! The price difference while getting so much quality really makes it hard to choose the 39mm version despite my preference for that size in general. Plus the original from the 60s was 42mm so one more reason to get the 42!
It’s all about the price lol. If the 39 sells 200 bucks extra no one will say 42 is better.
Great review. Yes i discovered the value discrepancy like you. I tried both the 39 and 42. Both wore well on my 7.2 inch wrist. I think i will go for the 42 on the mesh bracelet.😊
I used to love the idea of a internal bezel, until I realised it makes it virtually unusable.
That price difference is insane. If you have a wrist to support the 42, I’d go that direction any day due to price alone.
Yeah the pricing is just bizarre especially when considering the gray pricing of their own watches. No idea how they came up with the price. I'm sure it's easy to get the 39 for less but still bizarre. I'm just glad that they kept the 42mm version in production!
Pricing alone shouldn’t dictate anything unless ur on a budget. The 39 is better in almost every way unless you like fake patina and long lugs.
The price comparisons made with the hydro conquest gmt and the spirit zulu time were really telling. The 39mm legend diver does seem overpriced! Weird choice from longines I wonder how they came up with that number
Yeah i would have loved to have been a fly in the wall when they were discussing pricing! I think this should have been perhaps 2800 or 2900 meaning a bump in price for the cosc movement and bracelet over the older legends diver. But here we are at a $1000 premium!
I have the bronze version and it is one of my all time favorites. My only complaint is I wish the minute hand was longer, always a pet peeve of mine.
39mm Hydroconquest ceramic bezel is the best deal of all. Great specs, distinctive dial, and $1750 retail that can be had with AD discount…or even better gray market discount
Good piece. I would say the bracelet on it is terrible tho
@@drkesrf As an owner…bracelet is fine…clasp isn’t terrible (functional)…but certainly no match for the quality of watch itself….belongs on a Seiko…not a Longines
@@GoTerpsGoBlue sounds like you basically agree with me
@@drkesrf not really. the bracelet isn’t terrible…if it was I would not have bought the watch. No watch is perfect
But the 42 is too big for my wrist so.........yea, no.
Better than a 100k overpriced watch: we just wanted to quickly introduce ourselves: we are Harris watches from Germany. We have just started... our watches are probably unlike anything you might have ever heard of or seen before. If you share our kind of humor, that is! We are into music and are openly sarcastic. Regards!
It’s not.
The 42 looks way better. The 39 is stubby and ugly with those short lugs. Some watches just have long lugs since it looks better. Patek, Nomos, Longines...
"the watch idiot"