As its latest new release of 2023, Oris is bringing back the chronograph version of the Divers Sixty-Five. While the brand previously offered a chronograph-equipped model among its vintage-inspired series of dive watches, that version was characterized by a fairly large 43mm case and has since been discontinued entirely, leaving only three-handed models in the current collection. With that in mind, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph is now back, and this new version features a smaller 40mm case, along with a more relaxed and monochromatic design that pairs its fully stainless steel case components with a classic black dial and bezel insert.

While the overall design of the new Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph is very much the same as the previous version that we reviewed a few years ago, its smaller size and more contemporary color palette ultimately result in a noticeably more refined overall appearance. Rather than measuring 43mm in diameter, the new Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph features a 40mm case that has also been thinned out and now comes in at 15.4mm thick, compared to the nearly 17mm height that accompanied the previous generation. Additionally, rather than having a bronze bezel ring framing its domed sapphire crystal (with anti-reflective treatment on the underside surface), the new 40mm Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph has its bezel ring in stainless steel, although it is still fitted with a fully demarcated black aluminum insert. With that in mind, just like before, the reverse side of the watch receives a solid screw-down caseback, while the 3 o’clock side features a pair of pump-style pushers, along with a signed screw-down crown that helps ensure the model’s 100 meters of water resistance.

While the dial of the new 40mm Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph offers the same overall design and layout as its 43mm predecessor, it now features a more contemporary monochromatic colorway to better complement the rest of the watch. Rather than having tinted lume with gold-finished hands and hour markers, the new 40mm Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph has white lume paired with hands and markers that have a polished white metal finish to match its entirely stainless steel case. Aside from the updated colorway and proportions, the fundamental appearance of the dial remains unchanged, and it features a duo of registers at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, along with a standard applied luminous index at 6 o’clock, meaning that just like the previous version of the Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph, the new 40mm generation also omits the date display.

Powering the new 40mm Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph is the same Caliber 771 automatic movement that can be found inside the previous 43mm generation. Since this movement is based upon the design of the Sellita SW510 and Valjoux 7750, the Oris Cal. 771 offers the familiar specs of an operating frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) paired with a power reserve of approximately 48 hours. While these on-paper specs are nothing remarkable, the Oris Cal. 771 does benefit from the same common design and easy serviceability as its ETA or Sellita counterparts. Additionally, since the internal movement is the same in both the 40mm and 43mm models, the pair of chronograph registers are now located slightly closer to the periphery of the dial on the new 40mm ​​Divers Sixty-Five Chrono, although the actual difference is relatively minimal and the dial still offers a proportional and cohesive overall appearance.

To correspond with its smaller case diameter, the lugs on the new 40mm Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph are now placed slightly closer together, and rather than being spaced 21mm apart like on its larger predecessor, they now offer the standard lug with of 20mm, which has the added benefit of significantly increasing the number of compatible third-party straps. Similar to other Divers Sixty-Five models, Oris offers this new 40mm chronograph with the option of either a flat three-link stainless steel bracelet or a black leather strap that is constructed from sustainably sourced deer leather by the brand’s Swiss partner Cervo Volante. In terms of their overall style, both the strap and bracelet are very much the same as what you will find throughout the rest of the Divers Sixty-Five collection, and while the bracelet features a vintage “rivet style” design, the leather strap features two small contrast stitches near the lugs and is completed by a signed stainless steel pin buckle.

Given its more complex movement, the new 40mm Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph inherently costs more than its three-handed siblings, and the new model is accompanied by an official retail price of $4,200 USD when purchased on the leather strap, or $4,400 USD should buyers opt for the version that is paired with a stainless steel bracelet. While this represents a fairly significant premium compared to the standard time-and-date Divers Sixty-Five models, it is only a few hundred dollars more than the versions that are powered by Oris’ own manufacture Cal. 400 movements. Additionally, compared to what the brand was charging for the previous generation, the price of the Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph has only increased by a couple hundred dollars over the course of the last few years, which is quite a bit less than the rather steep price hikes that can be found throughout many other brands’ respective catalogs. For more information on the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph, please visit the brand’s website.