Introducing The Oris × Collective Horology Divers “Seventy-Five” Limited Edition

When I first laid my eyes on the new Oris × Collective Horology Divers “Seventy-Five,” I was pleasantly surprised to see a look that Oris said goodbye to a while ago. The Oris Divers Sixty-Five with the retro numerals returns in this collaborative effort as the cleverly named Divers “Seventy-Five.” This 250-piece limited edition is the result of a collaboration with Collective Horology. Its vintage-inspired graphical style is a perfect match for the color scheme that transports you straight back to the 1970s. It’s the return of an aesthetic that I, as a ’70s kid, greatly applaud.

We know the Oris Divers Sixty-Five as the brand’s vintage-inspired dive watch. Today’s version has a straightforward dial with mostly circular indices to indicate the hours. But when the Divers Sixty-Five came out in 2015, the watch featured a far more outspoken dial inspired by the Oris archives with rectangular markers and characteristic Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock. Over time, it proved to be less commercially popular than the more conventional dial design. That’s why Oris decided to discontinue the specific look despite it packing a lot of charm and just the right amount of quirkiness.

Oris × Collective Horology Divers “Seventy-Five”

For the new Oris × Collective Horology Divers “Seventy-Five,” that look returns in all its glory. The dial design is accompanied by a California-inspired orange and brown color scheme to turn the retro vibes up to 11. Finishing off the look, this collaborative effort gets a stainless steel case with a bronze bezel and a stainless steel bracelet with bronze center links. The result is a style statement linking back to the glorious ’70s in all the right ways.

For this collaboration, the guys behind Collective Horology wanted to create a relatively affordable timepiece. As Asher Rapkin, co-founder of Collective, notes: “For years we have wanted to create a more accessible collaboration, but finding a partner that can do that at scale and meet the demands of watch enthusiasts is extremely difficult. We found that partner in Oris — an independent brand beloved by watch enthusiasts of all stripes.”

Collective’s first collaboration with Oris

Collective Horology is an enthusiast platform for collaborative timepieces. Previous efforts include projects with IWC, Czapek, Urwerk, H. Moser & Cie., and Zenith. Additionally, Collective is a retailer of independent watch brands with limited distribution in the United States. As such, Collective sells timepieces from Czapek, Fears, Formex, and Arcanaut, among others. This new Oris Divers “Seventy-Five” is the ninth collaborative effort, and it celebrates Collective’s Californian roots.

When it came to choosing the right Oris model for this collaboration, the answer came quickly. As Gabe Reilly, the other co-founder of Collective, explains, “My first Oris, and still my favorite, was the Divers Sixty-Five. From its svelte case profile to distinctive Arabic dial, it’s a watch that just oozes charm.” And as the Divers Sixty-Five is a fan favorite that is praised for its vintage looks and great wearability, it was clear that this was the model to go for.

The Divers “Seventy-Five” reintroduces a much-loved aesthetic

Let’s remind ourselves of the specs of the Divers Sixty-Five that apply to this new release as well. The new Divers “Seventy-Five” has the familiar diver-style case that measures 40mm in diameter, 12.8mm thick, and 48mm long with a 20mm lug spacing. The vintage charm is further enhanced by the domed sapphire crystal that protects the colorful dial.

For this model, the central part of the dial is light orange and contains the minute track. The outer part of the dial is home to the oversized numerals and rectangular markers for the hours. In line with the original Divers Sixty-Five layout from 2015, there is no date window, keeping the dial perfectly balanced. Both of the pencil-style hands as well as the hour markers are treated with beige Super-LumiNova. The bright colors of the dial work well with the overall aesthetic, leaving no question about the ’70s inspiration.

Retro vibes combined with a modern movement

But that’s not where it ends when it comes to the ’70s bliss. The dial is matched with a bronze bezel that features a dark brown aluminum insert. Completing the look is a stainless steel Oyster-style bracelet with bronze center links. The bracelet tapers from 20mm at the end links to 14mm at the clasp. The taper is made possible by four stepped links with rivets, transitioning into straight links that you can remove to size the bracelet. Lastly, the clasp features fine adjustment notches to size the bracelet to perfection.

I love that the Collective guys went the whole nine yards and made this a two-tone watch. Although gold and steel would follow the usual two-tone formula, the much more affordable mix of bronze and steel perfectly complements the retro vibes. Regarding the movement, Collective opted for the Oris Calibre 400. This automatic movement, as most of you will know, operates at 4Hz and boasts an impressive 120-hour power reserve and a 10-year warranty. The movement is visible thanks to the sapphire crystal on the display case back.

Pricing and impressions of the Oris × Collective Horology Divers “Seventy-Five”

Overall, this collaboration is a bold retro statement. As a child of the 1970s, I have grown to love the style that defined the decade. So it comes as no surprise that I feel connected to the choices that the guys from Collective made together with Oris. The 250 units of this limited timepiece are priced at US$4,500, with an exclusive pre-order price of US$4,150 for those who order quickly. The watches will ship to customers in December 2023, and the pre-orders are open exclusively on the Collective Horology website.

Indeed, $4.5K is a substantial amount of money. What you get in return, though, is not just a two-tone homage to the ’70s but also a revival of the Divers Sixty-Five’s original dial style. All together, this makes for a fantastic tribute to the character-packed watches of decades gone by.

For more information or to place your order, visit the Collective Horology website. Also, feel free to let us know your thoughts on this new Oris × Collective Horology Divers “Seventy-Five” in the comments section.