What’s the most important feature of a diver’s watch? Water-resistance? Legibility? A unidirectional rotating bezel for timing dives? Ever since its 2009 launch, the Oris ProDiver Chronograph has set the standard for professional diver’s watches by taking all of these factors into account, and more. This year it returns, redesigned and upgraded to reinforce its impeccable diving credentials.

As with the original, Oris has worked with ambassador and professional diver Roman Frischknecht on the new watch, which bears the hallmarks of a device that’s been designed to both look and function like a real-world diving tool.

It has a lightweight 51mm titanium case that’s water-resistant to 100 bar/1,000 metres, and a bezel that, like the original, incorporates the Oris-patented Rotating Safety System. This ingenious system locks a bezel in place once set so that it can’t be moved in either direction during a dive, eliminating the chance of accidental – and potentially fatal – adjustments.

‘I’ve come to rely on the ProDiver and the Rotating Safety System to keep me out of harm’s way,’ says Roman. ‘Knowing the bezel is locked in place during a deep-sea dive is really reassuring. You can’t afford any mistakes when you’re hundreds of metres below the surface.’

The updated ProDiver Chronograph design is more utilitarian, with angular lugs and a slimmer profile. It’s more practical, too. The screw-down crown and push pieces have deeper grooves for more grip. The same is true of the ridged bezel, which is made of durable, shock-resistant vulcanized black rubber.

The bracelet and rubber strap (the watch comes with both) have also been redesigned so that the edges are flatter, and the centre links of the bracelet and the central section of the strap are more rounded, giving the watch a simpler but more technical look.

Some elements remain from the original model. The bezel insert is still in black ceramic, a scratch and fade-resistant material that has become hugely popular in diver’s watches since Oris first introduced it.

Oris’s designers have also retained the game-changing Oris-developed sliding sledge clasp and its quick-adjust system that means the rubber strap can be adjusted for length without taking the watch off. The only difference is that now the clasp is made of brushed rather than polished stainless steel.
The new ProDiver Chronograph also carries over a built-in automatic helium value, an essential device in a watch worn during saturation dives, when divers – like Roman – live in sealed compression chambers filled with helium-enriched air to offset the need for decompression. Helium particles are small enough to infiltrate a watch case and as they expand on decompression they can cause damage. The automatic helium valve overcomes this problem.

Under the ProDiver Chronograph’s robust, avant-garde titanium shell is a traditional mechanical automatic movement, Oris Calibre 774. It gives the watch time, date and chronograph functions.

The new Oris ProDiver Chronograph comes in a fully water-resistant case that stores the alternate strap and a strap-changing tool. It will go on sale in June 2016 for CHF 4,500.

Redesigned and upgraded, the Oris ProDiver Chronograph sets a new standard in professional diver’s watches.

Product Features
Oris ProDiver Chronograph
Ref. No. 01 774 7727 7154 Set, Ø 51.00mm

• Automatic movement Oris Cal. 774, based on SW500, with chronograph function and date at 6 o’clock
• Multi-piece titanium case. Stainless steel screw-in security crown and pushers with side protection system. Automatic helium valve. Water-resistant to 100 bar/1,000 metres
• Diver’s unidirectional revolving rubber top ring with Oris-patented Rotation Safety System. Minute scale on black ceramic inlay
• Sapphire crystal domed on both sides with anti-reflective coating inside
• Screwed titanium case back with metres-to-feet conversion scale
• Black dial with wave pattern and applied indices filled with Super-LumiNova®. Nickel hour and minute hand with Super-LumiNova®. White chronograph counters
• Black rubber strap with folding clasp and quick-adjust extension system and titanium bracelet with folding clasp and extension system
• Set includes waterproof case and strap-change tools