Swiss watch brand Oris has launched a new ProPilot Altimeter version with carbon-fibre composite case.
Introduced in 2014, Oris ProPilot Altimeter is the world’s first and only automatic mechanical wristwatch with a mechanical altimeter. Although a high-functioning aviation timepiece packed with technical innovation, it is simple to operate and use.
This year, the brand welcomes a new variant with an upgraded altimeter, a slimmer profile and a lightweight case.
The new ProPilot Altimeter comes with an improved altimeter module, capable of indicating altitude up to 19,700 feet or 6,000 meters. The older variants have a measuring range of up to 15,000 feet or 4,500 metres.
To create the lightweight carbon fibre case of this new model, Oris has partnered with 9T Labs, a Swiss high-tech firm based in Zurich. 9T Labs’ technology is used to make parts for airplanes, satellites, cars, motorbikes, bikes and instruments used in surgery. Oris is the first watchmaker using 9T’s tech.
The ProPilot Altimeter’s case boasts a natural, tree-ring effect. It houses Calibre 793, a slimline automatic movement with an improved 56-hour power reserve that sits inside a case 1mm thinner than the original.
Dressed in a 47mm diameter single-piece carbon fibre case, the watch has a grey PVD-plated titanium bezel and case back. Water resistant to 100 meters, this timepiece features a black dial with altitude scale on dial ring in either feet or metres.
It has two crowns in grey PVD titanium. The first one, positioned at 2 o’clock, is for setting the time and date. The second crown, positioned at 4 o’clock, is for altimeter.
The ProPilot Altimeter watch displays the hour, minute and seconds with centrally placed hands and the date at 3 o’clock.
Technical details
Model: Oris ProPilot Altimeter with Carbon Fibre Case
Case
Single-piece carbon fibre case
Grey PVD-plated titanium bezel
Diameter: 47.00 mm (1.85 inches)
Top glass: Sapphire, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating on both sides
Case back: Grey PVD-plated titanium, screwed, feet-to-metre conversion chart engravings
Water resistance: 10 bar (100 metres)
Dial
Black with altitude scale on dial ring in either feet or metres
Indices, numbers and hands printed with Super-LumiNova®
Movement
Oris 793 Automatic Calibre
Power reserve: 56 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes and central sweep seconds hands, date with quick setting, stop second device, date window at 3 o’clock
Operating devices
Grey PVD-plated titanium screw-in security crown at 2 o’clock
Grey PVD-plated titanium screw-in altimeter crown at 4 o’clock
Strap
Green textile strap with brown leather lining, grey PVD-plated titanium folding clasp with fine adjustment system
Available from
March 2023
Versions
793 7775 8734-Set: Altitude scale in feet
793 7775 8764-Set: Altitude scale in metres
Swiss retail price
CHF 6,200
Oris ProPilot Altimeter Operating instructions
The Altimeter function can be operated with the crown located at 4 o’clock.
1. Neutral mode: Crown position 0
In neutral mode, when its crowns are screwed in securely, the ProPilot Altimeter functions like a regular automatic watch. Time is displayed by the hands on the central dial (adjusted by the crown at 2 o’clock), and the watch is water-resistant to 10 bar/100 m.
2. Activating the altimeter: Crown position 1
To activate the altimeter, unscrew the crown at 4 o’clock into position 1. At that point, a red ring appears, indicating the altimeter is in use.
3. Setting the altimeter: Crown position 2
To set the altimeter, pull the crown out to position 2 and rotate it so that the reference air pressure (supplied by an airport control tower, for example) aligns with the red triangle at 6 o’clock on the central dial. The watch now shows the current altitude, shown by the yellow indicator, and the current absolute air pressure, shown by the red indicator. While activated, a patented Oris altimeter-adjustment and venting crown, equipped with a PTFE vapour barrier, stops ambient moisture entering the watch.
4. Measuring altitude: Crown position 1
Having set the altimeter, push the crown back into position 1. Changes in altitude are shown by the yellow indicator against the outer dial ring, on a scale from 0-19,700 feet, or from 0-6,000 metres (the watch is available with either feet or metres scales).
The altimeter hand is made from lightweight laminated carbon fibre. To deactivate the altimeter and return it to neutral, screw the crown back into position 0. This also reseals the watch so that it becomes water-resistant to 10 bar (100 metres).
