I’m writing about the Oris Divers Sixty-Five because I think it’s one of the most attractive sports diving watches out there. At around €2,000 it’s not the cheapest option, but its looks set it apart from the competition.
Rotating bezel for timing events
The Oris Divers Sixty-Five was first introduced in 2015, with this blue dial version arriving a year after. It is now available in a range of formats, 40 and 42mm case, an idiosyncratic vintage black dial version with reverse SuperLuminova numerals, and a lovely variant with bronze case dedicated to Carl Brashear, but personally I think that this version is exceptional. I like the narrow bezel with aluminium insert and minutes marked all around, making it useful for timing events under water or on dry land. The hour markers are well proportioned appliques with beige “old radium” colour SuperLuminova.
A date window with an interesting design
It’s the date window that shows just how much attention Oris dedicated to the design of this piece. A date window is something that some people want, while others would prefer not to have it, and so to keep everyone happy, Oris made it a little quirky, with a trapezoidal shape and a slight curve to the right-hand side of the window. The numerals are large enough to be comfortably legible. The dial has a slightly domed profile matching the watch glass. The only thing that I would comment on regarding the dial is the narrow minute hand. One of the necessary features of a diving watch is that hour and minute hands should be visibly different, and Oris have chosen to use the width to differentiate it, in addition to the divided areas of luminescent paint on the hour hand.
Slim-look case
The case is 42 mm in diameter with a water resistance of 100m. That sounds less than the usual 300m for diving watches but it’s fine for a sports diver or a sports watch. It has a narrow caseband which gives it a very slim look on the wrist. In actual fact it is almost 15 mm thick, because of the domed sapphire watchglass and the shape of the case back. The screw-down crown is given a prominent role because it is large and has no crown protector.
Strap options
The watch is available with a range of strap options, NATO, distressed leather, rubber, and a lovely stainless steel bracelet that tapers quite thin. The lug width is 21 millimetres, not such a common width, but Oris retailers can provide you with replacement or alternative straps if you need them.
Sellita SW200 movement
The movement is the Oris 733, which in fact is a Sellita SW200. Oris personalised it by adding a jewel and their own oscillating weight. It is self-winding, with a power reserve of 38 hours. It runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz, and according to user forums it is well regulated and satisfactorily accurate, on a par with COSC parameters. It provides quick date change, and the stop-seconds function.
Price
The Oris Divers Sixty-Five costs €2,100 with stainless steel bracelet, and €1,900 with leather strap, rubber strap or textile strap. All three strap options are nicely detailed. More information from the Oris website.
