⏱ 7-9 min read
📅 Updated Aug 2026
🔍 1 Watch Reviewed
Reference: 00.20307.100.06.200 | Case: 39mm Stainless Steel | Water Resistance: 300m | Movement: FLD01 Automatic | Price: CHF 2,250 (approx. $2,500–$2,900)
Sixty years after the original Deep Blue rewrote the rulebook for Swiss tool watches, Favre Leuba has brought it back almost exactly as it was — just tougher. The Deep Raider Revival is a faithful, 39mm-diameter reissue of a genuinely important 1964 diver, built by one of the oldest watchmaking houses in Switzerland. This review breaks down the design, the movement, the price, and how it stacks up against the usual heritage-diver suspects like Tudor, Longines, Doxa, and Oris.
Rating: 4.3 / 5
Standout features: 68-hour power reserve, 300m water resistance, historically faithful dial layout
Biggest drawback: Far less brand recognition and resale liquidity than its Swatch/LVMH-adjacent rivals
Price: Roughly $2,900, positioning it below Longines, Doxa, and Oris on paper spec-for-spec
📅 Updated Aug 2026
🔍 1 Watch Reviewed
Reference: 00.20307.100.06.200 | Case: 39mm Stainless Steel | Water Resistance: 300m | Movement: FLD01 Automatic | Price: CHF 2,250 (approx. $2,500–$2,900)
Sixty years after the original Deep Blue rewrote the rulebook for Swiss tool watches, Favre Leuba has brought it back almost exactly as it was — just tougher. The Deep Raider Revival is a faithful, 39mm-diameter reissue of a genuinely important 1964 diver, built by one of the oldest watchmaking houses in Switzerland. This review breaks down the design, the movement, the price, and how it stacks up against the usual heritage-diver suspects like Tudor, Longines, Doxa, and Oris.
Quick Verdict
Best for: Collectors who want authentic vintage dive-watch DNA without paying Tudor or Rolex moneyRating: 4.3 / 5
Standout features: 68-hour power reserve, 300m water resistance, historically faithful dial layout
Biggest drawback: Far less brand recognition and resale liquidity than its Swatch/LVMH-adjacent rivals
Price: Roughly $2,900, positioning it below Longines, Doxa, and Oris on paper spec-for-spec
Favre Leuba's Heritage: The Brand Behind the Watch
Favre Leuba was founded in 1737 by Abraham Favre in Le Locle, making it one of the oldest continuously referenced Swiss watch names still in existence — older than many far more famous marques. Through the 20th century the brand built a reputation for genuinely useful instrument watches rather than pure dress pieces, developing proprietary calibers and landmark tool watches such as the Bivouac, the first mechanical wristwatch to combine an altimeter and barometer.
The original Deep Blue diver debuted at the 1964 Swiss Watch Fair under the brand's old tagline, "The Swiss Watch for All Climates," embodying that same rugged, all-conditions philosophy. Like many independent Swiss houses, Favre Leuba struggled through the quartz crisis and changed hands multiple times, including stints connected to LVMH and India's Titan Company. The brand's most recent relaunch arrived at Geneva Watch Days 2024, when the Deep Raider Revival was introduced to mark the Deep Blue's 60th anniversary.
Design & Build Quality
Case and Bezel
The case sticks closely to the original 1964 proportions: 39mm in diameter and roughly 12.75mm thick, in polished and brushed stainless steel with tapered, beveled lugs. A unidirectional rotating dive bezel with a black insert sits atop a sapphire crystal, and Favre Leuba has bumped water resistance up to 300 meters — a meaningful upgrade over the original model's 200m rating.
Dial
This is where the "revival" concept really shows. The dial layout deliberately echoes the '64 original, right down to the brand name sitting at 9 o'clock and the logo at 10 o'clock — an unusual placement most modern brands would never choose, which is exactly why it reads as authentic here. Extra-long quarter-hour indexes, baton hour markers, and a discreet date window tucked between 4 and 5 o'clock keep the dial clean and legible. Hands and markers use an aged, radium-toned lume that mimics vintage patina while still glowing brightly at night.
Bracelet
A vintage-inspired five-link stainless steel bracelet with triangular links and a satin-brushed finish rounds out the package, closed with a butterfly-style clasp.
Movement & Performance
Inside the case is the FLD01, an automatic caliber built on the La Joux-Perret G100 architecture.
Key specs:
- Automatic winding with manual winding and hacking seconds
- 28,800 vph (4Hz) beat rate
- 68-hour power reserve — enough to sit in a watch box over a weekend and still be running Monday morning
- 24 jewels
- Functions: hours, minutes, central seconds, date
That 68-hour reserve is a genuine selling point. It comfortably beats the ETA 2824 and Sellita SW200-based movements found in most competitors at this price, several of which top out around 38 hours.
On the Wrist: Who Is This Watch For?
At 39mm and roughly 12.75mm thick, the Deep Raider Revival sits in the increasingly popular "correctly sized vintage diver" category — smaller and slimmer than oversized modern divers, but not so small it reads as delicate. It should suit most wrist sizes comfortably, including smaller wrists that find 42mm+ divers overwhelming. This is a watch for someone who values authenticity and mechanical substance over outright brand cachet — a collector who already knows the Favre Leuba story, or someone hunting for a distinctive alternative to the usual Tudor/Omega/Rolex diver conversation.
Price & Where to Buy
Favre Leuba lists the grey-dial Deep Raider Revival directly through its official site at CHF 2,250, with authorized dealers in other regions pricing it similarly in local currency (for example, around £2,250 through UK retailers). Some earlier press pricing around launch cited figures closer to €2,600, so it's worth checking current pricing directly with Favre Leuba or an authorized dealer before buying, as regional pricing and currency shifts can move the number.
Favre Leuba Deep Raider Revival vs. The Competition
Spec Comparison
Favre Leuba Deep Raider Revival vs. the Competition
How the 39mm Deep Raider Revival stacks up against four well-known heritage dive watches on size, depth rating, movement, and price.
| Watch | Case Size | Water Resist. | Movement | Power Reserve | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Favre Leuba Deep Raider RevivalThis review | 39mm | 300m | FLD01 (LJP G100) | 68h | ~CHF 2,250 |
| Longines Legend Diver | 39–42.5mm | 300m | ETA 2824-based | 38h | ~$3,250–$3,550 |
| Doxa Sub 300 | 42.5mm | 300m | Sellita SW200 | 38h | ~$2,890 |
| Oris Divers Sixty-Five | 39–40mm | 100m | Sellita-based | ~38h | ~$2,850 |
| Tudor Black Bay 58 | 39mm | 200m | In-house MT5400 | 70h | From ~$4,975 |
What the table shows: the Deep Raider Revival matches or beats every rival here on water resistance and nearly matches the Tudor on power reserve — while undercutting all four on price. What it can't match is brand recognition, dealer network size, or resale liquidity, which is where Tudor and Longines still have a clear edge.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Genuinely faithful reissue of a historically significant 1964 dive watch
300m water resistance, exceeding the original and most rivals at this price
Class-leading 68-hour power reserve
Correctly sized 39mm case that wears comfortably on most wrists
Sapphire crystal, five-link steel bracelet, and solid overall specification for the money
Cons
Far smaller brand recognition than Tudor, Longines, Oris, or Doxa
Limited long-term ownership and reliability track record following the brand's 2024 relaunch
Bracelet-only configuration for this grey reference (no strap alternatives included)
Resale value and secondary market liquidity are unproven
Frequently Asked Questions
What movement powers the Favre Leuba Deep Raider Revival?
It runs on the in-house-branded FLD01 automatic caliber, built on the La Joux-Perret G100 base movement, offering a 68-hour power reserve and a 4Hz beat rate.
Is the Deep Raider Revival actually suitable for diving?
Yes. With a screw-down crown, sapphire crystal, and 300 meters of water resistance, it meets the specification of a genuine dive tool, not just a diver-styled dress watch.
How much does the Favre Leuba Deep Raider Revival cost?
Favre Leuba's official pricing lists it at $2,900, though exact pricing in your region may vary slightly by currency and retailer.
What's the difference between the Deep Raider Revival and the Deep Raider Renaissance?
The Revival is the faithful, vintage-styled reissue covered in this review. The Renaissance is a larger (40mm), more contemporary-looking sibling built on a related movement, aimed at buyers who want the Deep Raider concept with a modern aesthetic.
Is Favre Leuba a reputable watch brand?
Yes — it's one of the oldest Swiss watchmaking names, founded in 1737, with a genuine history of technical firsts. The brand has changed ownership several times and only relaunched in its current form in 2024, so it lacks the modern retail footprint of bigger Swatch Group or LVMH names.
What wrist size suits this watch best?
Its 39mm diameter and roughly 12.75mm thickness make it a strong fit for small-to-medium wrists, and it wears easily under a cuff for daily use.
Where can I buy the Deep Raider Revival?
Directly through Favre Leuba's official website or through the brand's authorized dealer network.
Final Verdict
The Favre Leuba Deep Raider Revival is a genuinely compelling case study in what a heritage reissue should look like: it doesn't just borrow vintage styling cues, it recreates a real 1964 watch detail-for-detail while quietly upgrading the parts that matter — water resistance, power reserve, crystal, and case finishing. On paper, it beats or matches far more famous rivals like the Longines Legend Diver, Doxa Sub 300, and Oris Divers Sixty-Five on water resistance and power reserve, and it undercuts all of them, plus the Tudor Black Bay 58, on price.
The trade-off is brand equity. Favre Leuba doesn't have Tudor's marketing muscle or Doxa's cult following yet, and its 2024 relaunch means there's limited long-term ownership data to lean on. But for a buyer who cares more about mechanical substance, historical authenticity, and value than about instant brand recognition, the Deep Raider Revival is one of the more interesting Swiss dive watches to arrive in years — a well-specified, honestly-priced tribute to a watch that earned the right to be brought back.
Bottom line: if you want a 300m Swiss diver with real 1960s pedigree, a 68-hour power reserve, and change left over compared to a Tudor Black Bay 58, the Deep Raider Revival deserves a place on your shortlist.
[photo credits: www.favreleuba.com]
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