Introducing – Oris Divers Sixty Five, now in 42mm, with Blue Dial and Riveted Bracelet (hands-on with live photos & price)

Some of you probably shared a strong enthusiasm last year, when Oris introduced what was certainly the coolest watch of Baselworld 2015, mixing a superb vintage-inspired design, a nice execution and a very acceptable price: the now famous Oris Divers Sixty Five – and I must confess that it is a personal favorite too. Well, this was not a one-shot for the brand but the starting point of an entirely new collection, which already evolved with the introduction of a bronze limited edition dedicated to Carl Brashear, featuring a 42mm case and a blue dial. It was prefiguring the main update of the Oris Divers Sixty Five, now in 42mm, with blue dial and riveted bracelet – in stainless steel of course.

The 2016 Oris Divers Sixty Five 42mm / Blue dial vs. the 2015 Oris Divers Sixty Five 40mm / Black Dial

Let’s rewind back to Baselworld 2015. If you take a look at all the watches introduced, and considering the timepieces that most of us can afford, no real debate is possible concerning which was the coolest. The Oris Divers Sixty Five had the vote of the audience. This watch was very inspired in terms of design and the overall quality is on par with watches priced much higher (super-domed sapphire crystal, domed and glossy dial, well manufactured case…). It gave this watch the tittle of coolest of BW2015 – well, at least here at Monochrome-Watches. Then came a first variation with a “Deauville Blue” dial and, more surprising, a limited edition dedicated to legend Carl Brashear, with this time a bronze case measuring 42mm (while the normal one had a 40mm case in steel) and a blue dial with round indexes. Again, this limited edition was not a one-shot but it allowed to prepare collectors to what Oris had in mind for Baselworld 2016, a larger edition of the Sixty Five with the same kind of blue dial.

What are the main evolutions to note on this 2016 edition of the Oris Divers Sixty Five? First and easy one is the increased size of the case. Introduced in 40mm (a size that we found simply perfect at that time), it now features the 42mm case of the bronze edition – but of course in stainless steel. Design, proportions and finishes are the same, meaning a straight case (no protection for the crown), polished thin casebands (which virtually make this watch look super slim), relatively short lugs with a brushed finish, an oversized notched crown and a rotating bezel with 60-minute diving scale. Talking about the bezel, one change to note however. The first 40mm series featured a black aluminum insert and a bezel also coated in black. Now, on the 42mm, the insert is still the same but the bezel is left in raw metal – probably more durable. The scale is also slightly different, with slimmer markers (as you can see in the comparative photo at the beginning of this article). The watch keeps the same water resistance of 100m.

Another novelty concerns the options for the bracelets / straps. Launched with a vintage-inspired, tropic-like rubber strap, the collection has now evolved with other options, such as a distressed leather strap, a black or blue NATO-like strap or – and this is just cool – a vintage-inspired riveted bracelet, very slim, extremely tapered to the buckle and entirely brushed (however, links are solid and not folded like vintage bracelet). A killer in terms of aesthetics and comfort. The 42mm isn’t such an issue and the watch remains comfortable and easy – even if it has a stronger presence on the wrist.

The second main evolution concerns the dial. Previously available in glossy black, with cuboid-shaped indexes (with squarish numerals), the increased size of the Oris Divers Sixty Five also coincide with a more classical dial, in terms of layout, but a bolder color. The dial is still domed and glossy but shows a dark blue color: a deep blue, which, depending on the light conditions, will turn from almost black to vivid blue. The indexes are now traditional dots, applied on the dial and filled with the same faux-patina paint. The hands, of course longer, remain the same as on the 40mm edition.

Besides this new layout and color, the 42mm Oris Divers Sixty Five also shows a different placement of the date. It used to be positioned at 6, in a small window and printed on a black disc. It is now located at 3, slightly larger and printed on a white disc. Probably not the best feature of this new edition. Inside the case ticks the exact same movement, the Oris Calibre 733, basically a Sellita SW200, a Swiss automatic movement, featuring 26 jewels, beating at 28,800vph and offering 38 hours of power reserve – so to say, a very reliable workhorse.

5 editions of the new 42mm Oris Divers Sixty Five Blue dial will be available:

• Distressed leather strap – 1,850 Euros
• Blue NATO fabric strap – 1,850 Euros
• Black NATO fabric strap – 1,850 Euros
• Black tropic-like rubber strap – 1,850 Euros
• Stainless steel riveted bracelet – 2,050 Euros

You can read more details about the 40mm edition here and see all the specifications of the new 42mm edition of the Oris Divers Sixty Five on the official website of the brand.