The Oris Divers Sixty-Five is a much-beloved watch, a versatile and nostalgic throwback to the golden era of 1960s dive watches. A heritage-inspired design that has proven to be as versatile as it is popular. Well, today Oris and Collective Horology ask ‘what if?’, and propose the Oris Divers ‘Seventy-Five’ as the answer.

The question, of course, is what would an Oris dive watch from the mid-70s look like, and this is the answer. Collective has taken inspiration from 1970s Californian graphic design, and applied it to the original version of the Divers Sixty-Five, including the distinctive Arabic dial layout, realised in a burnt orange color scheme. In this context, the dial printing looks like it’s been lifted straight off Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine. Of course, the bezel matches, but so too does the bracelet, with its bronze centre links. The vibe of this watch is pure, unadulterated nostalgia, and if that doesn’t make you smile, how about the fact that there’s no date display? Collective’s Gabe Reilly explains the design choices, “It was important to us that this watch be as quintessentially Oris as possible. That’s why we went with the distinctive Arabic dialm as well as the bi-color bracelet and case. The use of bronze in two-tone watches is a signature design element for Oris. While many brands use gold capping or PVD, Oris takes a more authentic and distinctive approach to two-tone with solid bronze. There’s no mistaking this watch for anything other than an Oris, and we just love that.”

However, the watch is packing something a little more impressive than 1970s tech in the movement department. Specifically the Caliber 400. This premium Oris movement is becoming more prevalent across the brand’s offerings, and its easy to see why. The five-day power reserve, antimagnetic attributes, 10-year service interval and 10-year warranty make it one of the most compelling movements of its type, and you can gaze at it all day long through the clear caseback.

What’s great about this watch (besides the fact that it looks great) is that it injects some fun into the often overly serious world of watches. Did Oris make this watch in the 1970s? No, they did not. Does this make it any less valid? Absolutely not. It’s an exceptionally well-made watch that isn’t afraid to have a little historically inspired flair, and that’s exactly what makes it so groovy.