Details Count: The New Oris Divers Sixty-Five Bronze Bezel

March 25, 2018

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There’s no doubt about it, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five is a bona fide hit. When it was first released in 2015 in 40mm guise, it received near-universal praise and it has received continuous additions and updates since that time. Currently, there are numerous dial colors and the case sizes available include the new 36mm diameter, a 40mm version and even 42mm variants. Today, though, we’ll focus on some pieces that debuted at Baselworld 2018, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Bronze Bezel.

I suppose if you’re a reader of Fratello Watches, you’re a detail hound. If so, my unabashed love for the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Bronze Bezel won’t shock you because it’s a relatively minor detail that easily makes this watch a candidate for my choice of “best in show”. Yes, along with a new dial Oris went with bronze for its choice of bezel material. Bronze is nowhere else to be found on the watch, so the move is damn subtle (especially when tryin gto photograph the watch in terrible lighting). Let’s continue…

Available in either the new 36mm case or in 40mm, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Bronze Bezel is one seriously classy watch. The bezel can only be fitted with a new black dial that, at least in 40mm form, closely mimics last year’s sold-out limited Movember edition that we featured late last year.

It’s a glossy dial with rose gold surrounds on the applied indices and similarly plated hardware on the hands. However, in this new serial production piece, Oris uses Super-LumiNova LightOld Radium instead of the white on the mustache model. My opinion is that the lume color looks perfect up against the rose gold.

As you can, or in some cases cannot, see from pictures, the pinkish bezel on the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Bronze Bezel is very subtle. The fact that Oris chose not to go with a bronze crown or any type of yellow/rose hardware on either the option bracelet or straps makes the bezel even more unnoticeable at times. But, when viewed from the proper angle and especially when the bezel and the dial are viewed together, this is a magnificent piece.

Due to the success of the Carl Brashear Limited Edition Sixty-Five, I suppose that Oris felt more comfortable with the copper-tin alloy versus, say, gold and I applaud the choice to be different. I am sure other watches have included both materials to create a certain look, but i can’t think of any off the top of my head. What will be interesting to see is how the bronze ages on this piece because, when new, it’s glossy and does give off a rose gold look. When the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Bronze Bezel ages and develops some patina, it will certainly begin to stray from the colors used on the dial, but let’s hope it adds some more unique character.

As mentioned, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Bronze Bezel is available in both 36 and 40mm versions. The 36mm contains its date at 3:00 in a pronounced window while the 40mm shows the date in an almost invisible window at 6:00. Both can be had on a really nice leather strap, Tropic-style rubber strap or on Oris’ revered rivet bracelet. The cost, no matter the size you choose, will be 1900 Euros on either strap choice and 2100 Euros on steel.

Just when you thought Oris couldn’t do anything else with the Sixty-Five line, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Bronze Bezel comes along and shows that there’s still more magic left. Whether you think this piece is subtle or not, it was convincing enough that at least one of us voted with our wallet and placed an order during our appointment with the brand.