Bronze makes a noteworthy entrance into the Oris collection with this commemorative model that pays tribute to Carl Brashear, the U.S. Navy’s first African-American master diver. Brashear joined the Navy in 1948 as a 17-year-old, and, despite facing discrimination, graduated from the Navy’s diving program in 1954. In 1966, he lost the lower part of his left leg in an accident during a mission to salvage a hydrogen bomb. After rehabilitation, he became the U.S. Navy’s first amputee diver in 1968, and then qualified as a Master Diver in 1970, the first African American to do so. His story was the subject of the film, Men of Honor starring Cuba Gooding Jr.
Historically only used as a case material by a few watchmakers, bronze is notably distinguished by its oxidation, which leaves a unique patina on each piece. Initially bright and shiny, the case and the unidirectional rotating bezel gradually darken over time, according to its owner’s habits, thereby making each timepiece in the Oris Carl Brashear Limited Edition truly unique. Clearly referencing the history of deep-sea diving, this eminently legible and functional model – a nod to the deep-sea diving helmets from the 1950s – is ideal for underwater exploration, since the 2,000-piece limited edition is water-resistant to a depth of 100 meters.
Movement
Mechanical automatic, Oris Calibre 733, Sellita SW200 base.
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date.
Case
Bronze case middle and bezel, 42 mm.
Unidirectional rotating bezel with 60-minute timer scale.
Bubble-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides.
Stainless steel caseback with special engraving.
Water-resistant to 100m (10 bar/330 ft).
Dial
Dark blue.
Superluminova-coated pink gold-plated hands and hour-markers.
Date at 6 o’clock.
Strap
Dark brown leather with bronze pin buckle.
Stay tuned for more Basel Previews throughout this week and into next, as Baselworld 2016 prepares to open its doors March 17. Want more? Check out iWMagazine.com’s dedicated Baselworld 2016 for debuts, exclusive video and more.