It’s difficult to imagine a watch worthy enough of celebrating a human being as incredible and inspiring as Carl Brashear, but the new Oris Carl Brashear Limited Edition watch that was revealed at Baselworld 2016 does a pretty good job.
For those of you who don’t know the story behind Carl Brashear, here is just a brief look into his brave and inspirational story.
Carl Brashear was the first African-American to graduate from the U.S Navy Diving & Salvage School in 1954 where he eventually became the first African-American U.S Navy Master Diver. Throughout his attendance at diving school, Brashear faced severe hostility and racism but this did not discourage him from achieving his dream. He eventually graduated and became a salvage diver for the Navy, but during a bomb recovery operation in March 1966, a line used for hauling broke loose and caused a pipe to strike Brashear’s left knee dangerously injuring him. He was quickly evacuated to the Naval Hospital in Virginia where he fought persistent infection and necrosis until after four guillotine surgeries his leg was amputated and the infection finally treated.
In the November of 1966, Carl Brashear was fitted with a prosthetic leg which allowed him to sneak out of the hospital and – against doctor’s orders – dive in a deep sea ring. It was his passion and determination for his job and hobby that proved to doctors that he was ready to re-join the Deep Diving Sea School in Washington D.C. After a long struggle, Carl Brashear was finally recognized as the first African American Navy Diver to hold the titles of Master Diver and Master Chief Petty Officer, as well as the first amputee to return to full active duty as a diver in the U.S. Navy. His willpower and dedication serves as an inspiration to divers and non-divers alike.
The brand new Oris Carl Brashear Limited Edition watch, limited to only 2,000 pieces, does a fantastic job of celebrating the inspiring diver. The timepiece is the first Oris watch to be made from bronze, a material used in deep sea diving helmets that will naturally age and change colour the more it is worn. The watch continues to impress as the deep ocean blue curved dial is applied with stunning rose gold hands and indices filled with Superluminova while the nautical bubble curved sapphire crystal glass is also coated with an anti-reflective treatment making the face easy to read beneath the water. The watch is completed by a vintage style dark brown leather strap with a bronze pin buckle that matches the distinctive and brand new case. The Oris Carl Brashear Limited edition watch presents a unique opportunity to own Oris’ first bronze watch that pays tribute to a man whose convictions changed the course of history. You can find the watch to order here.
