The “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.
At 8,000 Feet, Oris Takes a Dive
In a pre-Basel preview held in Vail earlier this month, the Swiss watch brand introduced the latest addition to its ProDiver line.

Vail, Colorado—Oris went up to 8,022 feet to present a watch that works at 3,280 feet down.
Earlier this month, Oris presented the new Dive Control Limited Edition, along with a handful of other still-under-wraps watches, to journalists in Vail, Colorado.
The pre-Basel release of the new dive watch follows the November unveiling of the special bronze 80th anniversary version of the Big Crown Pointer Date.
It’s also part of the Holstein, Switzerland-based watch brand’s new strategy: put less emphasis on Baselworld, push out more newness throughout the year and tell the stories behind the products while letting the now-numerous watch blogs, websites and Instagram accounts do the rest.
“Basel has lost its importance,” Oris co-CEO Rolf Studer said before presenting the watches over lunch at Swiss restaurant Almresi Vail. “You can launch a watch in August and through social media, through events, through all these multipliers, it will be as effective, or even more effective, than doing it in Basel.”
Released globally Jan. 7, the Dive Control Limited Edition is big and bold—51 mm with an optional bright-yellow rubber strap and matching yellow detailing on the dial.
The timepiece is part of Oris’ ProDiver line, which, as the name indicates, is designed for professional divers (though likely worn in equal measure by watch collectors and enthusiasts).
It features the company’s patented Rotation Safety System (RSS), developed in partnership with ballet dancer-turned-commercial offshore diver Roman Frischknecht, who joined the watch presentation in Vail via video conference from Switzerland to talk about his path from stage to sea and the importance of safety when diving.
“Life has its funny ways sometimes. You start off on one leg and you finish on another, no?” he said when asked how he got into commercial diving. “Like other kids would play tennis or football, I chose ballet for myself.
“I pursued it to a professional level but, pretty soon, I realized it was not going to stay with me for much longer and that I needed to do something else.”
After ballet, Frischknecht made a career out of another passion, diving, and discovered the two were quite similar,
The RSS he worked with Oris to develop locks the unidirectional rotating bezel in place during a dive; the diver must pull it up to turn it, ensuring it cannot accidentally move if wearer hits his or her wrist against something while diving.
Frischknecht said safety is “paramount” in diving and, in fact, the name of the watch, Dive Control, references the central command unit present at each dive, the “conductors of the orchestra” who are responsible for the safety of the entire operation.
Water resistant to 1,000 meters, the Dive Control Limited Edition has a 60-minute chronograph counter at 12 o’clock with key detailing in yellow and is powered by the Oris Cal. 774 (Sellita SW 500) movement
with a 48-hour power reserve.
Oris is making 500 Dive Control Limited Edition watches.
The watch comes in a box with two straps—bright yellow and black rubber—and retails for CHF 4,850 (about $5,000).
The Latest

This year’s inductees include second-, third-, and fourth-generation jewelers.

The author, speaker, and entrepreneur will give his presentation, “Spiritual Billionaire,” on Saturday morning.

As gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.

Three-time Grammy award-winning artist Nelly is set to perform at the annual event at Tao Beach on Sunday night.


Signet will integrate the online-only, natural diamond-focused jeweler into Blue Nile, which it wants to position as a higher-end retailer.

These up-and-coming jewelry brands are bringing their distinct aesthetic and unique point-of-view to the Design Atelier for the first time.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

The lab’s proprietary diamond cut grade has been expanded to include the popular fancy shape.

This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.

High-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

The designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.

Buying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.

The trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.

The Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.

Bring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.

The deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.

The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.

The “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.

The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.

Everett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.

Fourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.

The new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.

The addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.

The NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.

Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.

The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.

























