ReviewIn-depth Review Of The Oris Carl Brashear Limited Edition
Limited to 2,000 pieces worldwide, Oris's first bronze watch is dedicated to the inspiring life of Carl Brashear - the U.S. Navy’s first African American Master Diver.
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It’s not a sin to get knocked down, it’s a sin to stay down – Carl Brashear
This is the quote you find inscribed on the caseback of the Oris Carl Brashear Limited Edition Divers watch. A true masterpiece, the Oris Carl Brashear brings forth the remarkable story of Carl Brashear, the first African-American Master Diver of the U.S. Navy. A rare bronze diver’s watch, it is a part of the legendary Oris Divers Sixty-Five collection. Dedicated to a man of courage, dignity and integrity, the vintage looking timepiece truly represents the extraordinary story of Mr. Brashear and his incredible diving career.
Here is an in-depth review of the remarkable watch and what it represents.
The Carl Brashear story: The man behind the watch
The story of Carl Brashear is that of courage, defiance and hard-won achievement. At the young age of 17, Brashear joined the Navy in the year 1948. He graduated from the prestigious diving program in 1956, despite being picked on several times for being different. In the coming years, Carl Brashear went on to prove his mettle in the field of diving and accomplished becoming the first African-American Master Diver of the U.S. Navy.
However, in 1966 while recovering a hydrogen bomb that was lost off the coast of Spain, there was a tragic accident because of which he lost his leg. Undeterred, he still pursued his career in the U.S. Navy with a long and inspiring story of recovery and rehabilitation. Following his “it’s not a sin to get knocked down, it’s a sin to stay down” motto, he quickly regained his strength and went on to get re-certified as a Naval diver in 1968.
He was also the Navy’s first amputee diver who went on to receive the honour of Master Diver in 1970. His incredible story is masterfully epitomised in the highly acclaimed movie “Men of Honor” starring Cuba Gooding Jr and Robert De Niro.
Oris takes on the metal du jour with a bronze watch
The Oris Carl Brashear Limited Edition Divers is a unique piece that incorporates the watch industry’s inclination towards bronze watches. We know that bronze as a material for watches has definitely taken the front seat and become increasingly popular in recent times. However, it has always been the go-to material for developing marine applications. Why? The copper present in bronze forms a patina that protects the underlying metal from corrosion, hence resulting in a long lasting use of marine applications.
However, the purpose of using bronze in a watch is a little different. Firstly, the patina (that forms naturally with time) creates a unique look that is different from watches made of other materials. Secondly, and perhaps more significantly, each patina has a unique appearance, implying that your watch will be distinctly different from another Oris Carl Brashear belonging to a different owner. With this in mind, one can easily see that the watch is a handsomely crafted masterpiece that has a fantastic story behind it, and it’s also a definite forerunner in the fast growing segment of bronze watches.
Case: A 42mm bronze case, unidirectional rotating bezel and stainless steel caseback with significant engravings
The Oris Carl Brashear is not rendered in bronze solely for aesthetic purposes; like we said, the watch has powerful symbolism behind it. The use of bronze actually symbolises the diving helmet worn by Brashear on his momentous dives. While the fast ageing property of the 42mm bronze case is a welcome feature, Oris also takes into consideration the fact that the patina, when in direct contact with the wearer’s skin, can discolour or stain the wrist (and cuff). Hence to avoid this, Oris has given the watch a stainless steel caseback instead of a bronze one.
This allows the watch to retain its classic bronze appeal while still managing to be practically useful. The screwed-in case back features special engravings that represent the Carl Brashear commemoration. As mentioned above, it houses an inscription of Carl Brashear’s motto along with an engraving of his helmet, both beautifully executed. The 42mm multi-piece bronze case (bumped up in size from the 40mm Divers Sixty-Five) features a unidirectional rotating bronze bezel with a minute scale, and is water-resistant to 10 bars.
Dial: Ink blue with gold-plated applied dot indices, date aperture and curved sapphire crystal
The aesthetics of the watch have been rendered in perfect harmony, and the result is an abundantly handsome piece. The peculiar warm tone of the bronze works in perfect accordance with the ink blue dial. Furthermore, the gold plated applied markers and hands are just the right tone to complement the bronze and the ink blue. The bubble-curved sapphire crystal lends the dial a distinctly curved appearance while providing subtle magnification. The gold plated markers and hands are filled with SuperLuminova, giving way to great legibility. The proportions of the watch look perfect, aided by a long minute hand and symmetrical date position at six.
Movement: Calibre 733, a Sellita based movement, 38-hour power reserve
The Oris Carl Brashear Limited Edition, like the Divers Sixty-Five, is powered by an automatic mechanical movement: Calibre 733. This movement is based on the Sellita SW200-1 that offers functions including instantaneous date, a date corrector and a stop-second. It also features the signature Oris bi-directionally rotating red rotor which is however not visible due to the fully-covered caseback. The watch clocks in a power reserve of 38 hours.
Strap Options:
The Oris Carl Brashear is available with a dark brown leather strap that enhances the warm tone of the watch. Fitted with a bronze buckle, the strap is elegantly designed with contrast stitching.
The watch is presented in a luxurious wooden box decorated with the US Navy Master Diver badge on the inside. This is a special addition that brings home the entire concept of the limited edition piece. It is a gentle reminder of what the watch represents and how valuable it is.
Prices & Availability:
The Oris Carl Brashear is limited to 2,000 pieces worldwide and is priced at Rs 205,000. For a watch that’s become a worldwide sensation and an investment that collectors aren’t regretting, the price-tag it comes with isn’t one that will hurt. The watch is available on special order at Ethos Watch Boutiques.
What did you think of this timepiece? Are you a fan of bronze watches? Let us know in the comments sections below!