When it comes to high-quality dive watches from Japan, there are quite a few to choose from, as nearly all Japanese brands have made their mark by experimenting in this category. Among those brands is Orient Star. Though the brand was founded in 1951 it did not debut its first dive watch until 1964, thus inspiring its newest release: the New Diver 1964.

This is the second edition of the model released by Orient Star, as it was originally introduced last year in celebration of the brand’s 70th anniversary. While that model took its design cues from the Olympia Calendar Diver, the second edition is based more closely on the Calendar Auto Orient.

A prominent difference between the two versions is a dial with the dot indices, as well as the colored diving bezel. Orient Star is releasing the New Diver 1964 in two different colorways. The first comes the closest to the original, with its black dial and bezel. It is a clear representative of the classic diving watch, fitted with a comfortable bracelet, but will look equally well on a black rubber or, even better, a Tropic strap.
The second model is a bit more daring, as it combines a matte green dial with a matching bezel. Japanese brands often take inspiration from the unique natural beauty of their island empire, and Orient Star is no different. The mysterious Ryusendo limestone cave in the Iwate Prefecture is represented in the watch through the gradient effect on the dial.

Both new watches feature a...