In 1938, Oris introduced a pioneering watch for pilots. It had an oversized crown so that glove-wearing airmen could easily adjust it, and an unusual complication – a date indicated by a central pointer hand.
The aim behind it was to create a beautiful, high-quality, reasonably priced timekeeper that would be reliable and easy to use, even in hostile conditions. Eight decades later, the Big Crown Pointer Date would not only continue to fulfill that ambition, but also that it would have become one of the most recognisable of all watch designs, an icon for the generations.
To mark the 80th anniversary of this landmark watch, Oris has created the Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary Edition, a special piece with a 40mm case, fluted bezel and oversized crown cast in bronze, and a striking green dial.
Oris has chosen bronze for the case material in part because of its current popularity, but also because it’s a utilitarian material that tells the story of Oris’s industrial approach to watchmaking. Bronze patinates naturally as it oxidises, so that each watch will take on a unique finish over time.
The deep green of the dial also has a natural feel, complementing the bronze case. The combination of materials and colours is symbolic of the watch’s design heritage, Oris’s rich mechanical watchmaking history, and the company’s natural location in Switzerland’s beautiful Waldenburg Valley.
Technical details
Model: Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary Edition
Case
Multi-piece bronze case
Size 40.00 mm (1.575 inches)
Top Glass: Sapphire, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating inside
Case Back: Stainless steel, screwed, see-through mineral glass
Bronze screw-in security crown
Water Resistance: 5 bar
Dial
Green
Luminous Material: Indices and numerals printed with Super-LumiNova C1/C3, hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova C1/C3
Movement
Number Oris 754
Automatic winding, bi-directionally rotating red rotor
Power-Reserve: 38 hours
Functions
Centre hands for hours, minutes and seconds, date centre hand, instantaneous date, date corrector, fine timing device and stop-second
Availability
November 2018
Strap/Bracelet
Dark brown leather strap made with sustainably sourced and produced materials, bronze buckle
Swiss retail price
CHF 1,900