Hands-On Review of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy Stainless Steel
Summer is in full swing and Oris has marked the occasion by releasing a trio of fun pastel, you might even say “summer-themed”, watches in the new Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy in stainless steel. When Oris released the bronze Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy just a year ago, I was immediately a fan. The playful colors, vintage charm and bronze case made it a winner in my eyes. And apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought so. Perhaps noticing that bronze might not be everyone’s flavor, Oris now offers the Divers Sixty-Five in the same trio of colors, but this time in stainless steel.
I was able to go hands on with all three colorways (green, blue and pink) shortly after the release announcement and came away very impressed. The first thing noticed when looking at the new Cotton Candies was how seamlessly Oris blends old and new. The pastel dial with applied indices says modern while the rest of the watch evokes a vintage charm. Few brands blend vintage and modern quite as well as Oris.
For starters, the Cotton Candy has a large domed crystal, something that has become more common on divers these days (yes, this is a bit of an oxymoron as it is a vintage-inspired touch). The watch also has what I would call a “big crown”. This is something you would see on Rolexes from the 1950s and 1960s. I am not sure the exact size of the crown, but it is on the larger size for its restrained 38mm case size. However, the dial is a more modern affair. I had the chance to look at all three dial variations, and have to say the green dial, which you might call turquoise or even Tiffany blue, was my favorite. While the pastel colors looked good in a bronze case, I’ll admit that prefer the cotton candy dial colors matched to the new steel case, especially when it comes to the green and blue models. The result is a bit more of a subdued aesthetic that still retains the quirkiness and charm of the original bronze models (and that Oris is known for).
At its core, the Divers Sixty-Five is an everyday tool, dive watch. And for an everyday wear, it is incredibly comfortable. The three link stainless steel bracelet is incredibly comfortable and includes 5 micro-adjustments in the clasp. I particularly appreciate the numerous micro-adjustments, given that Oris has really leaned into the watch being a “summer watch”. Summers here in New York City get really hot and humid and the micro-adjustments allow me to extend the bracelet as the summer heat makes my wrist expand (though a small tool or pin is needed to make the adjustment). Speaking of the bracelet, it also plays into the vintage aesthetic as it is riveted. No, it is not a true rivet bracelet, because that would make removing links difficult. Instead, the rivets along the end-links are for show, much like on the newer Tudor Black Bays. I know some purists might not be fans of the “fake rivets” but I like the look aesthetically, so I have no problem with it. It adds a bit of necessary extra character to a fairly standard (yet comfortable) bracelet. The bracelet has a nice taper that that aids the wearabiltiy.
If a bracelet isn’t your thing, Oris also offers the watch on a matching Perlon strap (in either large or small). I am not myself a huge fan of Perlon straps, but wearing the watch on the strap gives it an even more summery and beachy feel (if that’s your thing).
The case of the Divers Sixty-Five is a fairly restrained 38mm and 48mm lug to lug. I have always felt that 38mm is that sweet spot in case sizes that is not too large or too small. 38mm means just about anyone can wear the watch. The case is also just 13mm thick, making the watch feel very sleek on the wrist. Because of the size and the color options, the Cotton Candy models are true unisex watches. While the pink/red might not be my first choice, I warmed up to it over time, especially on the steel bracelet.
While a lot of brands are moving towards ceramic and sapphire bezels, I like that Oris opted for a steel bezel. The contrast of a toned down and monotone case paired with quirky colors really hit the sweet spot of just enough funkiness for me. As we recently saw with the new ProPilot X Kermit Edition, Oris really knows how to make a fun watch without bashing the “fun” over you head with an anvil. Other brands should follower Oris’ example.
The Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy runs on the reliable Oris Caliber 733 movement, which is really a modified Sellita SW200 movement. While other watches in Oris’ collection are powered by completely in-house movements, that comes at an increased pricetag. The Cotton Candies are fun pieces, so I actually appreciate that Oris opted to make them a little more attainable than some of their other models.
Overall, I found all the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy models to be fun watches that I wouldn’t hesitate to wear in the summer (or even winter). They are extremely wearable, comfortable and sure to be conversation starts. Price for the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy is $2,350 USD on Perlon strap and $2,550 USD on stainless steel bracelet.
