A Fan-Favorite Dive Watch Just Received Some Major Improvements

Whenever a brand updates a beloved watch, it’s taking a risk. Change the watch too much, and you run the risk of alienating brand devotees. Change it too little, and you may be accused of generating hype unnecessarily.

It’s a fine line to walk.

Over the weekend, Oris took such a risk when it unveiled an updated version of its Divers watch line. First unveiled nearly a decade ago as the Divers Sixty-Five in 2015, the line began as Oris’s reinterpretation of the brand’s dive watch from 1965 and grew to become one of its most diverse and beloved lines.

But now, the brand has introduced an entirely new watch to the line called the Divers Date. There’s no Sixty-Five in the name anymore, and that’s by design, as this isn’t really meant to be a vintage-inspired diver anymore but rather a truly modern dive watch — even if it borrows much of the design language from the Divers Sixty-Five.

So, did Oris’s risk pay off?

Oris

Oris Divers Date

Specs

Case Size	39mm
Movement	Oris Cal. 733-1 automatic (Sellita base)
Water Resistance	200m

• $2,700 at Oris

Small Yet Big Changes

When I first saw the press images of Oris’s new diver, I admittedly was underwhelmed. At first glance, this looked to be essentially the same watch as the Divers 65 that it was ostensibly updating.

But then I saw the watch in person, and my tune quickly changed. This is no cursory update; it truly is an entirely different and massively improved watch.

First and foremost, the water resistance has been increased from 100m to 200m. This is pretty essential, as the Divers Sixty-Five’s relatively paltry water resistance was hardly comparable to other dive watches on the market. The Diver’s Date 200-meter rating feels just right.

Photo by Johnny Brayson for Gear Patrol

Next is the bezel. Instead of an aluminum insert like on the Sixty-Five, the Diver’s Date gets a ceramic top ring. This is what you’ll find on modern dive watches from the likes of Rolex and Omega, and the material is quickly becoming expected even on divers in Oris’s entry-level luxury price point. The bezel’s markings have also been redesigned for a cleaner appearance, and its action has been refined and improved.

The new bracelet is my personal favorite part of the watch. It again has a polarizing faux-riveted design similar to what you’ll find on Tudor’s Black Bay divers — you’ll either love it or hate it; I love it. It’s been slightly refined with nicely polished edges on the rivets and an extreme taper that looks and feels like an absolute dream on the wrist.

Photo by Johnny Brayson for Gear Patrol

The bracelet is equipped with quick-release spring bars, a premium feature absent from the Divers Sixty-Five’s bracelet. That feature comes in handy right out of the box, too, as the Divers Date includes an additional black Tropic-style rubber strap that also features a quick-release system.

The watch’s dial features small refinements with a new, slightly classier custom typeface and bevels added to the indices. The case has also shrunk just slightly, from 40mm to 39mm. Like many of the changes, these updates are small, but once added up together, they create quite a different watch in hand.

Photo by Johnny Brayson for Gear Patrol

Finally, the movement has received a minor update. Although there’s no in-house Calibre 400 here yet — Oris says doing so would drive the cost up too high for this initial model — the Calibre 733-1 automatic offers an improved power reserve of 41 hours, an increase of about one Lord of the Rings movie over the Calibre 733’s 38 hours.

Pricing and Availability

I’d say Oris’s risk paid off, as the Divers Date looks like a winner. It makes a lot of changes to the Divers Sixty-Five but still maintains the general look and vibe of that watch, just in a more sophisticated, premium and capable package.

At launch, the watch will be available in three colorways — black, blue, and a surprisingly attractive beige — all priced at $2,700.

That’s the exact same retail price as the Divers Sixty-Five Date in steel, so considering all of the added value you’re now getting — an extra strap, a ceramic bezel, double the water resistance, etc. — the Divers Date is an even better value than its value-driven predecessor.

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