Oris’ relation with jazz goes back many years, and the company’s limited edition jazz-inspired watches have become collector’s items. This year, Oris announces a limited edition watch that pays tribute to one of the 20th century’s greatest jazz musicians, Dexter Gordon.
Dexter Gordon was born in 1923 in Los Angeles, California. His father was one of the first African-American physicians, whose patients included legendary jazz musicians Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton. After learning the clarinet, at 15 Dexter switched to the saxophone. At 17, he picked up the tenor saxophone, the instrument with which he would become synonymous.
Dexter is widely regarded as the first musician to translate the language of mid-20th century modern jazz – pioneered by the likes of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and known as ‘bebop’ – to the tenor saxophone.
He recorded and performed extensively, both as the lead and as a sideman to fellow jazz greats, including Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole and Herbie Hancock. Later in life, he turned to acting and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the 1986 film Round Midnight. He died in 1990.
The Oris Dexter Gordon Limited Edition is the seventeenth jazz watch made by Oris. In keeping with the company’s previous jazz watches, it is a classic, deeply stylish piece. Its look is calm and harmonious, a reflection on Dexter’s famously warm, sociable personality.
Oris has included a number of subtle touches that reference the great man. The index at 12 o’clock is shaped like a saxophone reed, while ‘DEXTER GORDON’ is spelt out around the dial, one letter per index.
The central seconds hand is brass-coloured like a saxophone and has an extended counterbalance, a reference to Dexter’s nickname ‘Long Tall Dex’, which is also engraved on the watch’s case back.
The Oris Dexter Gordon watch is a limited edition of 1,000 pieces. It will be available from January 2017, priced CHF 1,800.
The Oris Dexter Gordon watch comes with a dark brown leather strap.
Technical details
Model: Oris Dexter Gordon Limited Edition, Reference 01 733 7721 4083 LS
Movement
Oris Calibre 733, base SW 200-1
Automatic movement with date window at 6 o’clock
Dimensions: Ø 25.60 mm, 11 1/2’’’
Centre hands for hours, minutes and seconds, date window, instantaneous date, date corrector, fine timing device and stop-second
Power reserve: 38 hrs
Vibrations: 28’800 A/h, 4 Hz
Jewels: 26
Case
Multi-piece stainless steel case and crown
Diameter: 40mm
Lug width: 21mm
Sapphire crystal domed on both sides, with anti-reflective coating inside
Water-resistant to 5 bar
Screwed stainless steel case back engraved with ‘Long Tall Dex’ in brass colour and limited edition number
Dial
Sunray-finished grey dial with polished indices and nickel hour and minute hands
Polished, gold-plated, extended second hand
Strap
Dark brown leather strap with stainless steel folding clasp
Packaging
Luxurious wooden box with bronze medal engraved with ‘Long Tall Dex’, as per detailing on the watch’s case back
Edition
Limited to 1,000 pieces
Swiss Retail Price
CHF 1,800
