Swiss Watches
Oris has presented yet another member of its growing collection of diving watches. Delivered in a mildly oversized stainless steel case, the new Oris Divers GMT Date automatic diving watch is available both on trendy rubber strap (ref. 01 668 7639 8454-07 4 24 34EB) and a more practical solid steel bracelet (ref. 01 668 7639 8454-07 8 24 01PEB, it also has the cities disk replaced with more convenient 24-hour scale) that features security folding clasp with wetsuit extension.
Although, like most of its siblings, looking really busy, the new Oris Divers GMT Date automatic diving watch (Ref. 01 668 7639 8454-07 4 24 34EB) will always keep you in the know what time is now in London or Tokyo even if you are enjoying yourself 300 meters beneath the surface.
Being packed into a rather large 44 mm stainless steel case, which is equipped with a thick sapphire crystal with double antireflective coating inside, the timekeeper’s Oris 668 automatic movement features a date window at 6 o’clock and a second time-zone (also known as GMT) complications.
Based on the well-known ETA 2893-2 automatic ebauche (the same caliber is used in the much more expensive Omega Seamaster GMT diving watch,) the timekeeper displays the second time zone with a usual secondary hour hand.
Although very thin and colored black, the GMT hand features a huge triangular-shaped tip, which is generously covered with an orange luminous substance.
To make using the complication even easier, the Swiss watchmaking brand also printed the 24-hour second time zone scale in orange color.
As you can see on the photos, the timekeeper’s black dial features nice looking waves decor and its hour markers and hands are provided with Superluminova C3 coating of the natural, pale green color.
Just like most diving watches of this class, the Oris Divers GMT Date comes equipped with a black rubber strap with a stainless steel security folding clasp with a special wet suit extension.
The only usability problem that I can see with this watch is its unidirectional rotating bezel.
Sporting the names of all major time zones, the bezel doesn’t have space for the usual diver’s scale, which somewhat diminishes its value as a real diving watch.
On the other hand, nobody in his right mind will buy this kind of watch for real diving.
The MSRP of $2245 seems to be a bit over the top in this particular instance, but if you’ll manage to find one with a good discount, this ruggedized beauty could be a very nice addition to any collection of diving companions.
See also: DOXA SUB 600T-Graph series of diving watches
Photos: Oris
Oris Divers GMT Date watch specification:
Price range: $2245 (MSRP, ref. 01 668 7639 8454-07 8 24 01 PEB with bracelet)
Movement: Automatic, caliber Oris 668 (base ETA 2893-2), Swiss Made
Functions & Complications: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date, GMT with two time zones
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case material: stainless steel, transparent case back with mineral glass
Case diameter: 44.00 mm
Case height: 13.75 mm
Dial: Black, decorated with waves pattern
Hands: Luminous
Hour markers: Luminous, applied
Water resistance: 300 meters
Strap: Black rubber strap or Stainless steel buckle; Both with extension folding clasp
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective coating on both sides