If you’ve been reading the various watch blogs, or listening to any of the watch Podcasts for any length of time you’re likely familiar with collaboration pieces. In essence, a manufacturer gets together with a group to produce a limited edition version of one of their collections, with the group identified in some fashion on the watch, usually via custom colors and/or text on the dial or case back. In the case of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Redbar Limited Edition, I’m fully on board.
If you read my article on the Sacramento Redbar chapter you know that Redbar was founded with the express intent of bringing together like minded, watch-loving individuals to geek out on watches over drinks at the local pub. Recently, Redbar had their first national get-together, with watch aficionados from around the country (and the world) converging on the COUTUREtime watch show in Las Vegas. During the show, the group announced their very first collaboration watch, and I don’t think they could have picked a better brand to partner with.
Oris is one of the few remaining independent brands that hasn’t been absorbed by one of the large luxury product conglomerates. They’re also known as one of the more affordable Swiss brands. Introduced at Baselworld 2015, their Divers Sixty-Five vintage-style diver has been a run-away success, offered in all manner of sizes, colors, styles, and price points. The Oris Divers Sixty-Five RedBar Limited Edition is a 40mm stainless steel version of the popular model, but in its Redbar guise we find it sporting a bronze bezel (first seen on the Divers Sixty-Five Bronze Bezel at Basel 2018) with inlaid black aluminum insert. Also unique to the Redbar edition is the red gradient dial, lighter near the center but darkening to an almost black shade as it approaches the chapter ring. Protecting the dial is a domed sapphire crystal with internal AR coating. The case back shows off the Oris shield logo, along with the Redbar logo and the words Oris Redbar Limited Edition. The edition number is engraved below the Redbar logo, and underneath the case back beats the heart of the venerable Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement.
The Oris Divers Sixty-Five Redbar Limited Edition will be made in a very limited run of 100 pieces. If you want one, you’d better be a Redbar chapter member (non-Redbar folks need not apply), and you’d better get your order in quickly by sending an email to [email protected] expressing your desire to be one of the lucky 100. It will drain your piggy bank by $2,100 USD if you’re one of the chosen, and will ship to you on a brown leather strap with a stainless pin buckle clasp. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Redbar Limited Edition will go to the Redbar Fund, which donates to various local charities.
Specifications From Oris
• Automatic movement Oris Cal. 733, based on Sellita SW 200-1
• Multi-piece 40mm stainless steel case and screw-in stainless steel crown
• Water resistant to 10 bar/100m
• Diver’s uni-directional rotating bezel with bronze outside turning top ring, black aluminium inlay with 60-minute timer and zero marker filled with Super-LumiNova®
• Bubble-curved sapphire crystal domed on both sides with anti-reflective coating inside
• Screwed stainless steel case back engraved with historic Oris shield
emblem and RedBar logo
• Red gradient, curved dial with applied rose gold PVD plated indices filled with Super-LumiNova® Light Old Radium. Rose gold PVD plated hour, minute
and seconds hands filled with Super-LumiNova®
• Dark brown leather strap with stainless steel pin buckle
• Limited to 100 pieces
• Retail price: $2,100
