Longines released the new Heritage Diver 1967 at BaselWorld 2015. As one of the oldest watch brands in the market, Longines holds rich heritage and classic designs from the previous century that has made its way back to today’s world stage. Notably, the monopushers and vintage themed divers have caught our attention. Today we review the Heritage Diver 1967.
The Longines Heritage Diver 1967 self-winding chronograph diver.
The Case
The Longines Heritage Diver 1967 uses a tradition inspired case design with modern inflections. Sized at 42 mm in diameter and approximately 14 mm in height, the hefty divers chronograph is waterproof to 300 m. Stylistically, the watch looks every bit a statement of its past, with design cues right out of the 60s. The thin tapered and angled lugs works very well with the bracelet joint link. Other features like an aluminium bordeux bezel also enhances the design theme. But most importantly, the integrity of the design is kept with the use of normal button pushers without the screwdown guards. In our opinion, we thought this worked particularly well for a more classic look.
The stainless steel case is fit with a screw down caseback and crown. Note however, that unlike other diver chronographs in the market, the pushers are non screw down.
Clasp with an additional embossed 300 meter signage. Some may say this is an unnecessary blemish.
The Movement
The Longines Heritage Diver 1967 comes with a self-winding mechanical movement with column wheel chronograph mechanism Calibre L688.2 (ETA A08.231). The 27 jewels movement beats at 28,800 vph and has approximately 54 hours of power reserve. The movement also comes with a date function displayed at the 4.30 position.
The 1967 case design is especially rustic due to its thin angled lugs and traditional style bracelet. The slight raised dome crystal also adds to the vintage touch.
The Dial
Contrary to what most vintage inspired watches are doing, there is no patina lume on the Longine Heritage Diver. The hours and minutes hands are rhodium-plated with Super-LumiNova® on a black opaline dial. The other 9 indexes are also treated with Super-LumiNova®. Apart from the lume and hands, the dial layout also includes an inner flange with tachymetric scale. Silver-coloured subdials act as the minutes and seconds counter and the subdial at 6 in black is the hour counter. While some may think this vintage inspired chronograph is yet another run-off the mill replication of past designs (which is not necessarily a bad thing), they should not miss out an extremely interesting detail on the dial. The asymmetrical subdials. The subdial at 3 is approximately 2 mm larger than the subdial at 9; possibly with a practical intention for a more legible minute counter.
Note the red cross hair and asymmetrical counter subdials. Date at 4:30 is reminiscent of watches in the same era. Namely the Zenith El Primero, Breitling Navitimers.
Apart from steel bracelet, the watch can be fitted with an additional rubber strap with deployant clasp.
The watch comes in a steel bracelet with double security folding clasp and an integrated diving extension black alligator strap with diving buckle. Other alternatives include a black rubber strap with double security folding clasp and integrated diving extension.
42mm looking great on a 7.5 inch wrist.
All in all, we find that the watch is appropriately priced at US$3100, or S$4770. We love how brands are rekindling their past designs and looking back into their heritage to recreate classics. This designs look good and will stand the test of time. That said, any watch collector should pause for a moment to think if the trend to hold dear to classics may in turn stumble designers from coming up with new styles in the present and future. Just as how TV-cases came about in the 60s, bull-head designs in the same period and all sorts of other diver, race-watches, aviation themes, all created in that developing time frame. What will the design classic of the 21st century be?
3 Comments
It is NOT a helium escape valve at 10 o’clock. That is a button to change the date….
Where can I get the diver ’67 watch. l live in the UK YO17 9SR