This Blacked-Out Dive Watch Is Not Practical. I Still Want One

Oris marks 120 years in business with one of the stealthiest divers ever.

Published June 3, 2024

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Updated June 3, 2024

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Tradition says that gold is the ideal gift for a 50th anniversary. If you make it to 60 years, congrats, you’re getting a diamond. But what about a 120th anniversary? According to Oris, such an occasion calls for all-black everything.

Each year for the past five years, the independent Swiss watchmaker has released a Hölstein Edition on its birthday to celebrate its hometown. The releases are always exciting, but since Oris is celebrating 120 years this year, the 2024 release feels extra special.

Oris has taken its popular retro-themed dive watch, the Divers Sixty-Five, and given it a thoroughly modern makeover by way of an entirely blacked-out colorway. But that’s not all that’s special about the watch.

Oris Divers Sixty-Five Hölstein Edition 2024

$4,200 at Oris

All-Black Everything

How much more black could the Oris Hölstein Edition 2024 be? The answer is none. None more black.

This iteration of the Divers Sixty-Five has a complete black-on-black design, a first for Oris. The watch has a black DLC-coated stainless steel case, crown and bezel, with the latter sporting numbers in relief.

The dial is also matte black, with all lettering done in black, too. The hands and applied indices are black and are filled with black lume (yes, it’s a thing), and the watch is mounted on a black Tropic-style rubber strap with a black DLC stainless steel buckle.

oris black dive watch — The white on the date window is the only non-black design element you’ll find on the new Divers Sixty-Five

The closed caseback is also completely blacked-out in DLC coating and features an engraving of the Oris Bear mascot, who’s wearing shades and flower-patterned shorts to put out a summer vibe — a contrast to the stealthy appearance of the watch. The only part of the watch that isn’t in black is the date, which is printed in white on a black date wheel.

Oris’s Upmarket Moves Continue

Like most other Swiss brands, Oris has been aggressively pushing upmarket in recent years. But unlike some other brands, the brand is completely justified in its moves thanks to its investments in in-house movements.

The blacked-out Divers Sixty-Five is powered by the brand’s excellent Calibre 400 automatic movement, which boasts strong anti-magnetic properties, a full five-day power reserve and both a warranty and recommended service interval of a whopping 10 years.

black oris watch caseback — Behind the Oris Bear-emblazoned caseback is the brand’s in-house Calibre 400 movement.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen Oris match a Divers Sixty-Five with the caliber, but it is the first time we’ve seen it combined with a dive-time bezel on the model. The existing Divers Sixty-Five Calibre 400 is equipped with a 12-hour bezel.

The more premium movement comes at a cost, naturally, as the Oris Hölstein Edition 2024 retails for $4,200. That ranks it as one of the most expensive Divers Sixty-Five models currently on offer, with the line’s basic stainless steel models with non-in-house movements starting at $2,500.

Oris Hölstein Edition 2024: What We Think

The chief goal of a dive watch is visibility, so how does the Oris Hölstein Edition 2024 compare to other divers in this regard? Well, not favorably. Black-on-black is hard to read, especially on the bezel, and anyone who’s ever had experience with black lume will tell you that it’s not very bright.

But should this dissuade you from buying this watch? Of course not. No one is diving with this watch, and if you buy it, it will because you think it looks cool. And the watch does look cool. It’s a well-sized, attractive dive watch design that’s been given a completely murdered-out treatment.

It’s basically a more wearable (it’s 40mm) and far more affordable version of the Omega Seamaster Black Black. So if you’ve been pining for one of those but can’t justify either the 43.5mm case size or the $9,500 SRP, then the new Oris might just scratch your itch.

You’ll have to act quickly, though, as the Oris Hölstein Edition 2024 is limited to just 250 examples.

Oris Divers Sixty-Five Hölstein Edition 2024

A blacked-out version of Oris’s retro dive watch created to honor the brand’s 120th anniversary, the Hölstein Edition 2024 is powered by Oris’s in-house Calibre 400 automatic movement.