Way back in 1965, Oris released a diver called the Oris Sixty-Five 42mm replica with a particular character about it that one couldn’t help but like. The dial was the main selling point—the funky design screamed unique but was still appropriate for the time period and offered a fresh face for a dive watch.There’s simply no reason why a dive watch created using modern techniques can’t shoot for higher, but if Oris’ goal was to keep the watch as faithful to the original as possible (using contemporary materials), the Sixty-Five is home run.
For Baselworld 2015, hot sale Oris Sixty-Five replica returns with a watch that’s remarkably true to the original, though not without a few updates. Like the vintage iteration, the new interpretation still bears the Sixty-Five moniker, but the differences become more apparent once begins to look at the watch past its modish face. For starters, Oris ditches the chrome-plated case, as contemporary quality calls for stainless steel, and the case grows from 36mm to 40mm to better suit modern tastes. A domed sapphire crystal also replaces the original’s plastic one, while the date window moves from 3 to 6 o’clock, which is, admittedly, a puzzling choice.
Oris Sixty-Five
40mm stainless steel case; automatic Oris caliber 733 (Sellita SW200-1); throwback design
What carries over from the vintage Oris Sixty-Five copy is an aluminum, unidirectional bezel and a textured rubber strap en vogue for many divers of the period. The faux patinated lume surrounding the numerals, in place of indices, and filling the hands will no doubt be a controversial choice, though it’s hard to argue that it isn’t well done.
In the end, the Sixty-Five’s only glaring fault is that, like the original, the water resistance is a measly 100 meters.
The Oris Sixty-Five is set to retail at 1,600 Euros later this year.