MajorsApr 01, 2026
Foundrae Sues Pandora for Allegedly Copying Its Medallion DesignsFoundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.
WatchesJan 16, 2019
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.
The Oris Dive Control Limited Edition is a 51 mm dive watch with a lightweight titanium case coated in black DLC (diamond-like carbon). The watch is water resistant to 1,000 meters and is part of the brand’s 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,
noting that in both lines of work, “you … have to put on a costume and enter a different world, and everybody’s going to watch you while you work.”
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 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).
More on Watches
The Latest
AuctionsApr 01, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Heads to AuctionA Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece owned by the American businessman who died on the Titanic will be offered at Freeman's Chicago.
SurveysApr 01, 2026
Consumers’ Outlook Improves Again in MarchThe Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged up, with optimism about the present outweighing worries about the future.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
IndependentsApr 01, 2026
Zachary’s Jewelers’ Constance Polamalu to Release Children’s BookThe retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.
Weekly QuizMar 26, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2026
AGA Opens 2026 Gemological Scholarship, Research Grant ApplicationsApplications are open for the AGA Gemological Scholarship Program through May 15, and until June 2027 for the Gemological Research Grant.
ColumnistsMar 31, 2026
Q1 Clues That Reveal Where Your Jewelry Store’s Sales Are Heading These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Buddha Mama, Ashley Longshore to Host Pop-Up in DallasThe Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
NDC Designates April 8 as 'World Diamond Day'The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
GIA VP Jillian Wolk to Take Over at Tracr Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
SourcingMar 30, 2026
Rio Tinto Hauls Last Load from DiavikProduction has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.
MajorsMar 30, 2026
Tanishq Opens First New England LocationThe store opening marks the 10th United States location for the India-based jewelry retailer.
MajorsMar 27, 2026
Saks Global Has Changed Its Mind About Closing These 3 StoresTwo Saks Fifth Avenue locations, one in Florida and one in California, and one Neiman Marcus store are off the chopping block.
IndependentsMar 27, 2026
Jimmy West, Longtime LJG Executive Director, Dies at 72West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.
CollectionsMar 27, 2026
Itä’s ‘Yarí Whirl’ Ring Tells Every Side of the StoryIn the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.
IndependentsMar 26, 2026
Peter Smith Pens Book on Human Behavior in Sales“Essentially Human: On Sales and Salespeople" reveals the underlying human traits and behaviors of the most successful sales professionals.
CollectionsMar 26, 2026
Lionheart Celebrates 13 Years of ‘Cassandane’The collection features symbols of love, luck, and light, based on the story of Queen Cassandane and Cyrus the Great of Persia.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2026
NAJA, Instappraise Introduce New ScholarshipIt’s the third scholarship to be launched as part of the partnership to help appraisers advance their professional credentials.
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2026
JA Still Accepting Entries for 2026 CASE AwardsThe deadline for entries in the jewelry design competition has been extended to April 3.
SourcingMar 25, 2026
Rob Bates Steps Down as JCK News Director After 28 years with JCK, the veteran industry journalist is launching his own publication on Substack called The Jewelry Wire.
GradingMar 25, 2026
New York’s Natural History Museum, Wiley To Build Minerals DatabaseWiley said the project will give scientists worldwide access to the American Museum of Natural’s History renowned mineral collection.
CollectionsMar 25, 2026
Boochier Turns Flower Friendship Bracelets Into Fine JewelryThe “Flower Puff” collection looks to beaded flower friendship bracelets from childhood, turning the silhouette into nostalgic fine jewelry.
Policies & IssuesMar 25, 2026
Community for Ethical Jewelry to Host Bench Jeweler Shortage WebinarSet for April 2, the webinar will discuss how the jewelry industry can address the workforce gap.
