Month: May 2020

Oris is still one of those amazing underdog brands in the watch collecting world. Sturdy construction, particular design, and meaningful value are all hallmarks of the brand, whose catalog mostly runs in the sub-$5k price bracket. Whether you like watches, pilot watches, timers, or replica watches, there is a choice, and often a variety. Today, let’s take a look at the diver and four watches that will impress even those more familiar with the luxury watch industry.
That’s just the thing with Oris, they operate in a special window of price and general market position. Though affordable, they aren’t a big mass-market fashion brand selling themselves on a logo. Nor are they trying to become a great luxury brand, but they have wisely chosen their sources of manufacturing, finishing, and parts suppliers so that they can still offer quality and value to collectors who want to get rid of the first or second automatic watches. As you’ll see below, these Oris watches aren’t the kind of things that just blend into the background.
Relatively speaking, its design is quite close to the original, other than an increase in case of size up to a still-compact 40mm diameter, and the repositioning of its date window down to the six o’clock location – a common design choice that you’ll see in many Oris models. Its large screw-down crown, aluminum bezel insert, slender case profile, and domed sapphire crystal all add to its vintage charm, while its 100m water resistance ensures that it can handle any water-going activities.
This special version stands out from the pack, being a rather rare “lefty crown” configuration. Designed for left-handed folk who prefer wearing their replica watch on their right wrist, these pieces can also appeal to right-handed people, as they can be worn on the left with a looser fit without having the crown dig into your wrist.
Stepping it up both in size and complication, the Oris Aquis Depth Gauge is unique in that it’s one of the very few mechanical fake watches to feature a built-in depth gauge. To execute this, Oris stepped up the Aquis case size to 46mm, but thanks to its lug design the piece does not feel as overbearing as one would think. This is an interesting topic rather than a practical tool, but an entertaining diver can surely use it for the next time they fetch water.
Now, it’s not for people with weak wrists, but here we have the mother of all the Oris diving watches. She is a beast.51 mm titanium case with bracelet, safety locking bezel, screw under crown and push, diving extension bracelet clasp, 1000 m water resistance, helium escape valve – this is the peak level diving watch features in a surprisingly affordable package.