While we spend time debating what the biggest watch trend of 2025 is so far, Longines just quietly dropped what might be the summer’s most refreshing surprise. The brand’s beloved Legend Diver now comes dressed in white. And before you roll your eyes at another dial variant, this isn’t just a simple color swap. Longines is choosing to be reductive as a way to showcase the vintage-inspired flagship that’s been a fan favorite since its 2007 revival.
When Vintage Meets Antarctic
The Legend Diver has always been a fascinating case study in how to respectfully modernize a classic. Born from the 1959 reference 7042, which was quite the monster of a compressor watch at 42mm when most dress watches barely cracked 35mm back then, the modern interpretations have become the Platonic ideal when it comes to blending heritage and modernity. Introduced in 2023, the 39mm version finally nailed the proportions that the original probably should have had all along, while keeping the 300m of water resistance.
This white dial execution takes that optimal sizing and adds visual space. Where the classic black dial creates drama through contrast, the white version looks more like a blank canvas of sorts. The matte surface catches light differently throughout the day, making the watch appear ostensibly translucent at certain angles. It uses the same design DNA but somehow feels completely fresh.
Technical Substance Behind The Style
Aside from aesthetics, the white dial actually serves the watch’s functional purpose better than you might expect. The stark contrast with the black Arabic numerals and hands creates exceptional legibility, especially underwater where light conditions get tricky. Longines wisely kept the Super-LumiNova application minimal but strategic, avoiding the temptation to over-lume a dial that’s already this bright. Lume is given to the handset, the triangle pip at the top of the internal bezel, and small squares in each hour index.
For underwater utility, the internal rotating bezel, controlled by the signature dual-crown setup, remains one of the most elegant solutions to dive timing, protected from accidental bumps that can be a real issue with external bezels. This lack of external bezel agrees with the white dial well, bringing cohesion to the look and making the dial feel much larger.
Inside of the 39mm stainless steel case sits the trusty L888.6 caliber, Longines’ own exclusive take on the ETA 2892 with a 72-hour power reserve, silicon balance spring, and COSC chronometer certification. Lastly, the watch sits on a beads-of-rice bracelet that pairs perfectly with the steel case and white dial. The mix of brushed and polished links creates visual intrigue but isn’t flashy at all. And Longines has given the band a tool-free micro-adjustment system up to four positions for on-the-fly adjustments.
Playing The Long Game
What’s different about the white dial compared to the black or blue dial versions is how it positions the Legend Diver for year-round wear. The darker variants, while undoubtedly stunning in their own right, can feel almost too purposeful for certain occasions. This white option can look just as good poolside as it could in an office setting. It’s the kind of watch that makes you forget you’re wearing a tool watch at all.
Spec Sheet
Model: Legend Diver L3.764.4.16.6
Case Material: Stainless steel
Case Size: 39mm
Lug-to-Lug: 47mm
Case Thickness: 12.7mm
Movement: Longines L888.6 (ETA base)
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Water Resistance: 300m
Crystal: AR-coated sapphire
Band: Stainless steel beads-of-rice bracelet
Price: $3,550
Pricing & Availability
Available now through Longines’ website and retailers, the white-dial Legend Diver is priced at $3,550 and is a permanent addition to the collection.
Recap
Longines Legend Diver in White
Just in time for the summer, Longines has dressed its Legend Diver in a white dial, bringing a fresh, versatile look and improved legibility as well.
