ReviewDive Into The All-New Oris Divers Sixty-Five

After the Rolex Submariner made its debut in 1956, Oris was the only other known Swiss brand in the world making solid, affordable underwater timekeepers. However, they were left in the shadow of ‘the crown’, and Blancpain’s very own Fifty Fathoms, both of which went on to become favourites in this category. That didn’t stop Oris, as they continued to make reliable timekeepers, while constantly reinventing the diver’s watch with new additions, such as anti-shock systems and advanced protection on the timepiece. Oris eventually built a solid reputation and went on to become the brand that professional divers would trust, globally.

Jump to 2017. Oris relaunched their famous divers watch in not one, but two variations: a recreation of the original watch and a more modern, cleaner reinterpretation of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five, catering to the current generation of watch lovers.

While the new Divers Sixty-Five is based on the original 1965 piece, the Sixty-Five has actually seen numerous returns in Oris’ history, with a constant, recurring theme – extremely cool, retro-inspired divers watches made for everyone.

The watches did receive positive reviews from their owners, but we didn’t take their word for it. Instead, we spent a week with both timepieces to find out if they are true recreations of the cult classic.

Domed Sapphire Crystal, Ceramic Bezel, And A Stunning Crown 

The new Divers Sixty-Five is a historic watch with over 40 years of watchmaking history and heritage. Oris has taken the legacy of the watch and added the best advances of watchmaking into it. The Oris Divers Sixty-Five features a domed sapphire crystal, which gives the watch a vintage look, yet making it much better than the original piece which featured mineral glass. It has a unidirectional scratch-resistant ceramic bezel with SuperLuminova, which marks the bezel. The ceramic in the bezel prevents scratches while the knurling helps with the grip.  The bezel and the sapphire crystal sits on the 42mm case, which has been up-sized to make it more contemporary. The screw-down crown is stunning from every angle and prevents water from entering the system.

A Gorgeous Sunburst Dial With Subtle Yellow SuperLuminova 

The Divers Sixty-Five features a dial which resembles a work of art. Every dial (it’s available in deep blue, dark green and silver) features a sunburst effect. The dial features large, circular hour markers. A subtle yellow SuperLuminova fills the hands and the indexes. The yellow looks beautiful when seen in contrast to the dark dial colours. The date aperture at three o’clock is in a unique trapezoidal shape – another interesting vintage element. The dial proudly announces its water resistance, the fact that it houses an automatic movement, and is Swiss-manufactured.

Automatic Movement: Oris Calibre 733

Powering the Divers Sixty-Five watch is the Oris Caliber 733 – a movement based on the Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, offering hours, minutes, seconds and date. It features a 38-hour power reserve. It is made in-house at the Oris manufactury in Holstein, Switzerland.

Certified Depth Rating: 100 Metres

The watch is water resistant to 100m or 10 ATM. The 100m water resistance allows the Divers Sixty-Five to qualify for an ISO 6425 certification – mandatory to be certified as an official diver’s watch.

The Original Packaging From 1965

Over 26 Variations To Choose From – A Great Selection Of Dials And Straps

Oris has clearly invested a large amount on the Oris Divers Sixty-Five to ensure that every watch collector can get exactly what he or she wants. The Oris Divers Sixty-Five is available in three dial colours: dark green, silver and deep blue. This can be combined with several strap options, ranging from a special leather, which gives it a lovely, vintage distressed look, to the traditional steel bracelet. The nato and rubber straps, which have a carbon fibre pattern, are also stunning options, and are a part of the modern interpretation of the watch.

 Worth The Hype?

The Divers Sixty-Five did give us many reasons to love it.

• It’s a modern rendition of a vintage classic. In terms of the theme and design, it’s very close to the original 1965 model, but still looks contemporary. The history and heritage of the watch adds to its beauty.
• It houses an advanced, high-performance automatic movement.
• It offers water resistance of 100m, with an ISO certification.
• The domed sapphire crystal, unidirectional ceramic bezel, 42mm case and a knurled screw-down case are all elements that reflect perfection.
• It is available in beautiful dials in stunning hues, with detailed hands and indexes. The perfect use of yellow SuperLuminova brings in an element of the vintage theme in a contemporary re-imagining of the design.
• There is a great variety of dials and straps to create the perfect combination for every watch connoisseur.

So do we believe it’s worth the hype? We think it’s probably one of the best watches created in the ₹1.5 lac price range and it’s definitely worthy of a spot in your watch collection.