The Legend Diver is one of the most prolific dive watches ever created. It’s solidified its iconic status within enthusiast communities, and it brings to the table a very unique overall design that contrasts sharply against competitors in higher price brackets, like the Rolex Submariner and the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.
Today we’re going to be exploring the differences between the recently released, Legend Diver 59 reference L3.795.4.59.9, and its longer running counterpart the Legend Diver 39 in its black dial variant reference L3.764.4.50.7. I’ve handled and spent significant time with both of these watches, and not too long ago I published an extensive review of the Legend Diver 39. From images, and at a distance in person, the watches look relatively similar. It’s only when you begin to zoom in, or place them on wrist that the differences becomes obvious.
For one, these watches vary enormously in size. The Legend Diver 59 is significantly larger, with a 42mm case diameter, and the Legend Diver 39 has a rather compact 39mm case size. This right here is the largest difference between these watches, and it makes the decision rather simple if you have a small or large wrist, or if you simply prefer to wear oversized watches or you prefer the classier tailored appearance on wrist.
The Differences On Wrist
To start off, if you don’t already know, and for your reference, I have a 6.5 inch wrist size. The choice between the Legend Diver 59 and the 39 is easy for me, I essentially need, and crave the existence of smaller watches – especially divers, or any sports watches for that matter. So there’s no secrete here, I absolutely love the Legend Diver 39 on my wrist, and the subtle differences within the parameters of the dial layout of both watches are not enough to sway me outside of my sizing comfort zone.
That is not to say that I disregarded the Legend Diver 59 immediately, as a watch enthusiast and collector it was only natural for me to try it on anyways. There were no surprises upon testing, it wears significantly too large for me, almost clownishly large. There’s a series of physical and illusionary reasons for this, yes it measures in at 42mm, but the sizing is accentuated by a near “no external bezel” construction. Many of us seasoned collectors know exactly what happens when you get a large case size, with a small bezel, and an open airy dial – you get the visual appearance of an even larger watch than the specs on paper would suggest, and that’s exactly what’s happening here.
With the Legend Diver 59 I get lug overhang, too much wrist real-estate being used up, and the appearance of an open empty dial. Placing the Legend Diver 39 on my wrist is essentially an inverted experience in comparison. It provides me with a compact and comfortable sporty fit, the excellent lug to lug distance of 47mm allows just enough skin to show on both sides of the watch, and the lug width retains the goldilocks measurement of 20mm, again aiding in a more proportional fit, but also allowing for easy aftermarket strap compatibility. The skinny external bezel balances very well with the smaller dial size, so it doesn’t end up looking too dainty, but rather just right for a cool masculine dive watch with lots of retro flair.
Dial Differences
The dial differences between these watches is where things get interesting, and comparing both dials side by side has me wishing at times, that the Legend Diver 39 had the dial of the LD59, while retaining all the good sizing specs of the LD39.
One of the biggest surprises during the launch of the Legend Diver 59, was the introduction of a finely grained matte black dial, instead of using the traditional glossy finish used on the Legend Diver 39. The matte finish creates the appearance of a more vintage inspired watch, a touch less classy, and a notch towards the sportier side. The whole point of this transition was to bring the Legend Diver 59 closer in appearance to the original Legend Diver, references 7042, and 7042-1, released back in 1959. This also brings us back to the topic of size, as the Legend Diver 59 is also much closer in size to the very first original ref. 7042 than the smaller Legend Diver 39.
Zooming out on both dials reveals a very similar overall layout that Longines has recreated for decades. They both have the same 3-6-9-12 layout with the use of oversized Arabic numerals, although the Legend Diver 59 uses a more vintage faithful painted application, while the LD39 uses a more modern raised application (not really applied, but a heavier embossed paint). Various small differences are also present such as the use of a raised hour index on the LD39, with the LD59 again using the same elongated style but with a flat painted appearance. Many of these small details can be gauged by the images I’ve included in this article.
Other noteworthy dial alteration between these two variants include the sand blasting finish of the hour hand on the LD59, with the LD39’s hour hand being polished, and various typography changes, for example on the Longines logo and “automatic” text. One of the most obvious, and detrimental changes for me, is the use of what’s called “old radium” luminescence, otherwise known notoriously as “faux patina lume”, on the Legend Diver 59. I’m ecstatic to report that the Legend Diver 39 does not have this artificially aged appearing lume, instead remaining faithful to a nice crispy white Super-Luminova.
Movements
Both watches are using the Longines calibre L888.6, which is rather curious because of the size differences between the watches. The L888.6 seems very well suited, and slightly more dimensionally compatible with the LD39, although there are no performance drawbacks in its use in either watch. Perhaps the larger case of the LD59 could provide housing to a future developed movement from Longines or ETA, but at the moment there really is no readily available superior alternatively, keeping in mind production costs and the retail price point of the watch. Aesthetically this is a moot point, as neither watch has an exhibition window to display the movement, instead opting for closed casebacks, keeping true to the functional design of serious dive watches, and both with the cool diver medallion motif engraving.
Sharing the same movement also explains why both watches are nearly identical in thickness, with the LD59 measuring 12.85mm thick, and the LD39 coming in at 12.7mm thick, despite being significantly different in case diameter.
Bracelet Options
The Legend Diver 39 is offered on a really nice and substantial beads of rice bracelet, which I personally prefer when compared to the Milanese mesh bracelet offered on the Legend Diver 59. The LD59 is sacrificing its bracelet quality in the name of faithfulness to the original Legend Diver, which is fun in theory, but I don’t find it as comfortable or aesthetically pleasing as the beads of rice bracelet on the LD39, which is retro enough for me anyways.
The bracelet on the Legend Diver 39 was fabulously comfortable on my wrist, there’s just nothing I’d change about it, except perhaps the clasp which can be sticky at times. The links are thick and very polished, catching light as you’d expect from this style of bracelet. The mesh bracelet of the LD59 was nice as well, appearing a touch more subdued, pretty much inline with the rest of the more casual appearance of the watch.
Final Thoughts
If you’re still contemplating between these two watches, knowing the price isn’t going to help too much, since the Legend Diver 59 retails at $4,100 USD, and the Legend Diver 39 retails at $3,850 USD, or $3,500 USD on the leather strap option, really not a big difference. Choosing should really come down to simple wrist size, and I’d place strong parameters on the LD39 for any wrist smaller than 7 inches in size. If you have a 7 inch wrist or larger, you can open up your horizons to the LD59.
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