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Review | Oris Regulateur Der Meistertaucher
Design
The black dial includes a traditional guilloche wave pattern, much in keeping with the oceanic life for which this watch is intended. Between the bold hour markers are smaller dashes and numbers for each 5 minute segment, before reaching the hour at 12. The numbers are placed on the outside edge rather than at the inner point, which means they are not affected by any markers which are cut-off for the sub dials or date window.
The indices are orange, flanged with steel and evenly applied, tapering to a point towards the centre. Orange is used for the indices and hands as it is particularly clear under water and when diving in poor visibility. We say hands, but on the main dial there is only one of course:
It is important for a scuba diver to know how many minutes have passed (or remain) since they submerged beneath the waves. This single hand makes this easy to read, even at a quick glance. The hour hand resides on a small sub-dial. The logic being that a diver will know the hour - it is the minutes which count.
However, whilst the sword minute hand looks classy, we prefer the large arrow minute hand which Oris uses so effectively on some of its other Regulateur divers watches. They are not only clearer still, but also lend a greater technical feel to what is already a very distinctive dial. And they separate the design of the watch from so many other divers watches on the market.
The seconds are also on a sub-dial and sweep reassuringly, as only a mechanical watch allows.
There is green Superluminova applied to the indices and hands. However, this is not particularly bright unless the watch has had a long time in daylight and even then, its vibrancy soon diminishes. Whilst lume is useful and can be effective underwater, we would be loathed to rely on the visibility of this Oris in poor light. Of course, in a world of technology, it is a brave scuba diver who would use his watch as a sole means of timing and certainly it’s not recommended. It would be a real traditionalist who didn't use this as a back-up only, with a dive computer being the main form of safety equipment in this respect. A mechanical divers watch is a useful back-up and provides something of a purity to the experience, but divers watches are worn as much in the board room as they are in the underwater realm, these days.
At 6 o'clock we find the date window, nicely bordered in white to match the text on the dial, with clear white digits on black and in an ideal position both for legibility and from a design perspective. The text includes the Oris Automatic designation, the Swiss Made legend and the exceptional water resistant 1000 metres/3281ft rating which should be more than enough for all but the deepest sea divers. The only other text are the hour and seconds so you do not confuse the sub dials and minutes, clearly written adjacent to the 12 o'clock position. All are superbly legible and precise, despite their small point size.
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