Neo Noir: Oris Celebrates Its 120th Anniversary with an All Black Divers Sixty-Five Hölstein Edition

For the past five years, on the first of June, Oris has released a limited Hölstein Edition of one of its signature timepieces, all of which are decorated with a happy Oris Bear on the caseback.

In 2020, the inaugural Hölstein Edition was a full-bronze version of the brand’s 43mm Divers Sixty-Five chronograph.
 

That model was followed up in 2021 with a monochromatic take on the Big Crown Pointer Date featuring a 38mm stainless steel case and a graphite gray dial with splashes of crimson to aid in legibility.
 

Then, in 2022, Oris traveled back to 1998 for that year’s Hölstein and recreated the Full Steel Worldtimer with its gleaming 36.5mm stainless steel case and its trademark pushers at 4 and 7 o’clock.
 

Finally, last year, the Hölstein Edition was a no-date Aquis featuring a 43.5mm stainless steel case and a purple dial, a first for the brand.
 

Although the various Hölstein Editions are meant to celebrate the brand’s anniversary, the series is ultimately a gift to Oris fans. So, since 2024 marks Oris’ 120th birthday, the brand has an extra special treat for enthusiasts this year: the All Black Divers Sixty-Five Hölstein Edition.

Could this blacked-out timepiece be the watch of the season?

First of all, the black-on-black finish of this Divers Sixty-Five represents a first for the brand in that the 40mm stainless steel case, bezel, and crown are all plated in black DLC.

Then, on top of that, the hands, hour markers, dial text, date wheel, lume, and retro rubber strap are also entirely black.
 

The caseback is (you guessed it) plated in black DLC and engraved with a limited-edition number (you can choose your lucky number, by the way), and decorated with the Oris Bear, who, because it’s summer, is sporting flowery swim trunks and sunglasses. What could be more beach-ready than a bear in a bathing suit?
 

“We’re trying to show that a luxury watch can be joyful and inclusive,” explained Oris’ Co-CEO Rolf Studer in a press release about the piece. “We believe that this fresh perspective is what keeps us relevant.”

The big question remains: how do you read a fully blacked-out dive watch?

Two things help with the All Black’s legibility, whether you’re checking the time on the seashore or far beneath the waves. First, the numbers and markers are not inset so that they are sitting flush with the surfaces of the bezel and dial; they are either deeply incised or well-raised. A side effect of this nod to legibility is that these elements give the watch an undeniable sculptural look.
 

Second, the indices and hands are also generously coated in black Super-LumiNova, which, in daylight, matches the dial but, in the darkness, glows gray.

We’re not going to lie and say it’s the most legible dive watch to ever hit the market, but it gets the job done. “It captures the idea that you don’t need a mechanical watch to survive; you need it to live,” added Studer.
 

For an extra degree of design difficulty, the All Black is also the first time the Divers Sixty-Five has presented a regular bezel with a minute scale (rather than a 12-hour scale).

Lastly, the All Black is built to endure alongside its in-house Calibre 400 with a five-day power reserve and elevated levels of everyday anti-magnetism. It also comes with 10-year recommended service intervals and a 10-year warranty (when you register it to your MyOris account).

Limited to just 250 pieces globally and priced at $4,200, the new Oris Hölstein Edition 2024 is now available and will only be sold on the brand’s website. For more information, visit the Oris website.