First Nice Watch! Omega Speedmaster Reduced vs Longines Legend Diver (No Date)

Chadwick133 · May 5, 2016

So - it's time. I'm looking to get my first nice watch. After the well known tireless searching and researching I've found myself set on a full black face with a distressed brown leather band (most days) with the final candidates being:

Omega Speedmaster Reduced vs Longines Legend Diver (No Date)

To get ahead of some potential conversation, my budget is $1,500 which eliminates the Speedy Pro and my wrist size is 6.75 (allowing the Reduced not to wear too small) but extremely flat (so I doubt the long lugs of the Longines will be a concern)

Would love if some folks would give there opinion between the two and maybe a quick line as to why - thanks!

*would be getting a 'No Date' Longines

Chadwick

Watchbreath · May 5, 2016

Can't compare, apples v prunes.

3th3r · May 5, 2016

Well, between these two, MY preference would be for the Omega. If the Legend Diver was 2mm smaller and had a nicer grade movement and had shorter lugs, I would like it a lot more. But it's not about what I prefer now, is it?

jeremyworld · May 5, 2016

Congrats! Very good looking watch. I like the black dial & case combined with brown strap.

ed21x · May 5, 2016

i had a small review of the speedy reduced somewhere on here, but bottom line is that it is an excellent watch. The revision you are looking at is a bit harder to find because it contains the sapphire and removes the minute numerals, making it look more like a speedy pro. I believe they were only made for 2 years relatively recently, so their prices would be closer to $2100.

The only issue I had with mine is that it made me yearn for a Pro more because it was somewhat of a tickle, so I ended up buying a FOIS as well

some thing happened when I had a PAM48 =\

edit: https://www.watchuseek.com/f20/omega-speedmaster-reduced-3539-50-a-1603802.html

Saxaphonst · May 5, 2016

Speedy reduced is a fine watch indeed. And no offense to those who wear it, but if I had that watch I would be yearning for the pro. I would go with the legend diver or something similar with a brushed case. Very smart looking timepiece.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

cuthbert · May 5, 2016

I don't understand this comparison as one is a diver watch the other is a chrono, if you need water resistance of course the Longines wins, if you need a chronograph you should compare the Reduced with a Longines chrono and probably Longines would again win as the 1973 and the 1967 reissues are much better than the Reduced.

I too have a similar wrist size and I tried the Legend Diver, it's interesting because it's big but it fits as:

1) The lugs are very thin and gently curved
2) The drills of the springs are are in the MIDDLE of the lugs, not at the end

Just like my Longines W.W.W., so in short the Legend Diver wraps around tiny wrists in a pleasant way.

I'm not a fan of the Reduced, IMO it's the Professional's poor man version of the Speedmaster, with that movement (modular ETA) or with a 7750 you can find better watches. The running seconds at 3 o'clocks also annoy me.

MZhammer · May 5, 2016

To echo what many others have said in the Speedy world I'd generlly opt for the Pro over the Reduced even if it means waiting longer. As it sits you're comparing two very different watches (diver vs chrono) so I'm not sure one is "Better" than the other. Omega makes a higher end watch these days but Longines was regarded more highly in the past... If it were my dollar, and the LLD fit my wrist, I'd opt for that as it's a true heritage model with great styling and something unique. Are you specifically looking for retro inspired watches? There's quite a few other nice models from other brands that could be in the ~$1,500 range used to consider if that's the case.

Both very nice watches for the money.

jwillee · May 6, 2016

If you have/want to get a watch right now and it has to be between these two, I'd recommend the LLD. The Speedy Reduced is not like the Pro and you will still want the Pro.

Personally, I'd wait for the Speedy Pro. These are two very different watches and the Speedy would be the nicer of the two. Looks, of course is subjective, but finish, history and movement got to the Speedy hands down.

Good luck!

mleok · May 6, 2016

cuthbert said:
The drills of the springs are are in the MIDDLE of the lugs, not at the end

I actually found that this makes it less appropriate for smaller wrists, since the strap will hang straight down on a small wrist, but the lugs will protrude away from the strap, like a pair of horns.

With regards to the OP's question, I have 6.75" wrists and they are quite flat, and I did not like how the LLD sat on my wrist. I would strongly recommend trying out the fit before getting it.

Likestheshiny · May 6, 2016

I don't understand this comparison as one is a diver watch the other is a chrono,

Yes, but he's not looking for a diver or a chronograph -- he's looking for a nice watch. Both of them are nice watches, hence the comparison.

I'd get the Speedy, myself, and not even think about a pro. My wrists are the same size, and the pro is just too bulky for my tastes.

mpalmer · May 6, 2016

I'd take the LLD. It's a versatile and unique looking dive watch that won't remind you of what it is not like the Speedy reduced likely will.

publandlord · May 6, 2016

Both good watches, although I'd only have the Reduced if it was the later model with the sapphire crystal. (I don't do plastic.) The Longines Legend is way too big for me - your wrist would have to be shaped like a two-b'-four to accommodate those 53mm long lugs. But as others have said, they're so different that you can't choose between them, like choosing between an annual pension contribution and a pre-owned Volkswagen.

lantar · May 6, 2016

very smart choices.. would suggest you go for the omega .. it is would be more appreciated

cuthbert · May 6, 2016

mleok said:
I actually found that this makes it less appropriate for smaller wrists, since the strap will hang straight down on a small wrist, but the lugs will protrude away from the strap, like a pair of horns.

With regards to the OP's question, I have 6.75" wrists and they are quite flat, and I did not like how the LLD sat on my wrist. I would strongly recommend trying out the fit before getting it.

My experience is quite the opposite, I found the LLD very comfortable to wear and just the lack of $$$ prevented me to get one, I agree the OP should try the watch and make up his mind.

Also, unlike the 1967 chrono the LLD is relatively thin and lightweight, the only think I didn't like much was the strap.

Chadwick133 · May 6, 2016

Extremely helpful rundown of the Reduced revision... I'll be trying on the LLD, Reduced and the Pro (in case I'm in love and want to hold out longer to get it) next weekend. If, given my wrist size of 6.75, the reduced is the one for me I think I'll be patient and track down a 3539.50 to get some sapphire in my life and ditch the minute numerals

Chadwick133 · May 6, 2016

ed21x said:
i had a small review of the speedy reduced somewhere on here, but bottom line is that it is an excellent watch. The revision you are looking at is a bit harder to find because it contains the sapphire and removes the minute numerals, making it look more like a speedy pro. I believe they were only made for 2 years relatively recently, so their prices would be closer to $2100.

The only issue I had with mine is that it made me yearn for a Pro more because it was somewhat of a tickle, so I ended up buying a FOIS as well some thing happened when I had a PAM48 =\

edit: https://www.watchuseek.com/f20/omega-speedmaster-reduced-3539-50-a-1603802.html

Thanks Ed21x! - Extremely helpful rundown of the Reduced revision... I'll be trying on the LLD, Reduced and the Pro (in case I'm in love and want to hold out longer to get it) next weekend. If, given my wrist size of 6.75, the reduced is the one for me I think I'll be patient and track down a 3539.50 to get some sapphire in my life and ditch the minute numerals

Apologies for two attempts here, this is my first thread

LRAM77 · May 6, 2016

Longines, the Reduced is just too small..

Chadwick133 · May 6, 2016

Likestheshiny said:
Yes, but he's not looking for a diver or a chronograph -- he's looking for a nice watch. Both of them are nice watches, hence the comparison.

I'd get the Speedy, myself, and not even think about a pro. My wrists are the same size, and the pro is just too bulky for my tastes.

I'd like to thank you guys for the comments. To answer a few at once, my wrist is 2x4 like in its ability to hold larger watches on a smaller wrist but I'll be trying on the LLD, Reduced and Pro (recently added to the list) in hopes that the pro is too bulky and makes my life easier (and more affordable). The comments around the spring catch in the LLD lugs being half way has me wanting to ensure I see it on my wrist first as well. I'll include pictures once I've tried on all three..

Understood as WatchBreath put it, these two are like comparing 'Apples and Prunes' but i'm not looking for a diver/chrono etc. I'm looking for a nice black faced watch that looks good on brown leather and can be dressed up or down... and worthy of being considered an heirloom (1.5 year old son I'd love to pass my eventual collection to)

Consider yourselves lucky I didn't throw my third choice in - a vintage Universal Geneve Compax which would have made this like comparing Apples to Prunes to Soft Pretzels

Chadwick

sleepyhead123 · May 6, 2016

I guess consider whether you'd rather have a water resistance diver with a cheapo low accuracy chrono (the bezel) or a low water resistant accurate chrono. Personally, if I had to choose between the two, I'd go with the Longines. I don't like divers in general (especially bezeled, which is almost all of them now), but the Longines passes in terms of asethetics. As for the Speedmaster, despite having two of them, I've been on the record for not really liking the looks all that much and not buying them if not for the history. So if I go for a Speedmaster, I'd go for the Professional or the Broad Arrow.

Also, something about that Speedmaster makes the subdials look too close to the perimeter and the middle look too empty.

First Nice Watch! Omega Speedmaster Reduced vs Longines Legend Diver (No Date)

Chadwick133

Watchbreath

3th3r

jeremyworld

ed21x

Saxaphonst

cuthbert

MZhammer

jwillee

mleok

Likestheshiny

mpalmer

publandlord

lantar

cuthbert

Chadwick133

Chadwick133

LRAM77

Chadwick133

sleepyhead123

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