Under Market: A Humble Oris Divers 65

Not everything here has to be a heavy hitter. I’d like to think this site spans the breadth of what watches can offer, regardless of price. It is enough to simply present value. The humble Oris 65 is as ubiquitous as it is lovely. But this 65, at 1200 some USD, is a good few hundred under where most are selling. That’s nearly 1/3 off.

I wouldn’t approach the Diver 65 as a collector. I would approach it, like most, as a customer. If you require a beater, this is one notch up from your SKX. If you’re living near an ocean and want to surf most mornings, you are not going to risk your 5513 and its sixty-year-old clasp. What you’re going to do is buy an Oris 65 and love it. You want to be the guy who has a Bizzarini at home but loves his Focus ST. Reverse snobbery is truly refreshing.

The 65 is as good a move as one could make in this price range. Released in 2015, it quickly became a staple of the starter-enthusiast watch market. The 65 was a throwback to a popular vintage piece from the 1960 back catalogue. It sought to be a back-to-basics iconic design with tritium look-a-like indices, a Sellita SW200 based Oris 733 beating at 28000 vph, and a classic case. Yes, there is a 250pc Hodinkee LE with a manual wind as an alternative. But if I’m seeking a back-to-basics daily ‘beater’, I want an automatic that I don’t have to think about. Around 1K, I want a watch that’s going to take care of me—not that I have to take care of.

Whether you’re looking to step up from a Casioak or down from a Submariner, the Diver 65 makes sense from many angles. If you want something more like what I usually post here, try the Momotaro, Hodinkee, CTime, or Topper limited editions. They make something for everyone. But I’d opt for the 2015 classic, no frills. Solid, dependable, and a value. Particularly today, with this example.

Find this Divers 65 here on Chrono24 for ~$1200.