Bring a Loupe A Rolex 6062 Moonphase In Steel, A Rare Heuer Autavia, A Sleeper Seiko, And More

Longines recently re-launched this dive watch, initially introduced in 1959; the “new” Legend Diver remained faithful to the original in terms of size and design. Here, you get one of the original models, an iteration from the mid-1960s. This Longines reference 7494-2 is in outstanding condition for a 50-year-old watch, with a crisp case and a nicely patinated dial. Its 42 mm size makes it extremely relevant nowadays, and it looks amazing with the tropic bracelet, ready for a dive – although I would not recommend that with a vintage piece, of course (at least not without a service, new gaskets, and a pressure check). The two hatched crowns are a sign of the super-compressor case used to guarantee its water-resistance, initially up to 200 meters deep – this is theoretical pressure but it’s more than enough for underwater use up to and including recreational SCUBA .

The patent for this innovation belongs to the casemaker Piquerez; the idea behind it is to use the pressure of the water to compress the sealing gasket and thus further tighten the case back. You can find some detailed information about the many brands who trusted this case here. The top crown of this Longines controls the inner rotating bezel, tasked to track time during a dive – the real mission of the watch, as shown by the engraving below.