Lex’s “Go Anywhere, Do Anything” Watch — The Oris × Momotaro Divers Sixty-Five Special Edition
Love at first sight. I experienced that with a pair of Momotaro jeans in 2018. But when the Oris × Momotaro Divers Sixty-Five Special Edition came out in 2020, my heart didn’t go into overdrive. I did like the denim strap with the two white “Battle Stripes” that the Japanese denim brand is famous for. However, the combination of the sea-green dial, cream indexes, and black bezel with bronze rim looked over the top to me. But when I saw the watch in the metal, strapped it on, and looked at it again two years later, I knew I had been wrong. The combination of colors and materials just works. And the strap not only perfectly complements my Momotaro jeans but also pairs well with denim jeans, shirts, and jackets from other brands. The watch even allows me to take my look up a notch from double to triple denim.
Allow me to share a bit of personal information. It’s a bit silly and maybe nonsensical, but because I’m among watch friends, I feel safe enough to open up a bit. In the end, when we’re judging, trying on, and looking at watches, it’s often the details that are a substantial factor in either embracing or rejecting them. Some watch enthusiasts can’t deal with a date on a chronograph, for instance. And I know of a watch collector who really likes the design and technicality of F.P.Journe timepieces and can afford them but just can’t handle the Latin “Invenit et Fecit” on the dial. According to him, it’s pompous in a childish way. You might not feel the same way, but I think most of you can relate. It’s the little things that have big consequences. All right, now I feel ready to share my “thing”.
The Oris × Momotaro Divers Sixty-Five makes me open up to you
What I want to share with you had, at first, nothing to do with watches, but the Oris × Momotaro Divers Sixty-Five made it a watch thing as well. Okay, no more beating around the bush: I don’t combine brands that are complete opposites. For example, I won’t wear Adidas socks with Nike shoes. When I wear a cycling outfit, the shirt and the shorts must — and I repeat, MUST — be of the same brand. When I got the Oris × Momotaro Divers Sixty-Five, I was faced with the problem that I only wore it with my Momotaro jeans. It just felt wrong to wear it with a pair of Lee 101 Rider jeans.
I got over myself
Somehow, I got over myself. Not regarding the cycling and the Nike and Adidas stuff — no, that will always be a thing — but regarding the Oris × Momotaro and (mismatching) jeans. I now wear the watch with all my denim stuff, including a pair of Evisu jeans. In my misguided mind, Evisu and Momotaro are like Nike and Adidas, but I managed to ban those nonsensical and self-limiting thoughts. And boy, does that feel good! I’ve always been a fan of the “Canadian tuxedo,” and the watch allowed me to turn the double-denim look up a notch into a triple-denim look — pants, shirt, watch! The quadruple look that also includes a jeans jacket is a step too far for me for now, but who knows?
Effortless
All kidding aside, despite the watch’s quite flamboyant combination of colors and materials, it is very versatile. The blue strap matches a lot of my shirts, and the bronze kind of tones down the look instead of adding visual spectacle. I’m usually not the type to complain about the presence of a date window, but in the specific case of this Divers Sixty-Five edition, I’m glad there is none. It also makes the watch easier to wear. Maybe that’s because I’m lazy. This morning, all I had to do is set the time, wind the movement a little bit, and I was good to go. If it had a date, I’d have to set that too, and that would cost me time and “effort”. A watch with a date that’s not set correctly is a definite no-go for me.
Go anywhere, do anything
The fact that the Oris × Momotaro Divers Sixty-Five Special Edition is, in essence, a dive watch means that it’s robust enough to cope with everything I do. I’m thinking of taking this watch on my summer vacation, so the denim strap can develop some nice patina from the salt water and the sunshine. And once on a terrace or in a restaurant, the 40 × 47 × 13mm case is proportioned well enough to not look misplaced. It’s also a comforting feeling to know that the automatic 4Hz caliber Oris 733 (essentially, a Sellita SW200-1) is like a tractor. This movement will plow through time steadily without missing a beat, although I prefer time to stand still while swimming in the clear blue waters off the coast of Ponza.
A seamless fit
What I first thought was not for me turned out to be just right for me. The Oris × Momotaro Divers Sixty-Five Special Edition is a good example of a collaboration done right. The watch really is something that looks different from the standard Divers Sixty-Five offerings because of the balanced mix of details that stem from different worlds. I’m very happy to have the watch be a big part of my world now, where it fits in seamlessly.
The Oris × Momotaro Divers Sixty-Five Special Edition might be no longer in the Oris collection, but a search on Chrono24 produced 20 results. Take a look if you want to spice up your denim wardrobe in a very subtle and wearable way.
Please follow me at Lex Stolk • Instagram.
