Swiss watch brand Oris celebrates the great humanitarian and baseball Hall-of Famer Hank Aaron with a limited-edition Big Crown Pointer Date watch.
Inspired by the colours of Hank Aaron’s uniform, this exclusive timepiece marks a new collaboration between Oris and The Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation, a US-based non-profit.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1934, Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron was a natural athlete and entered baseball’s Negro Leagues in 1951, at a time when black players still endured segregation. In 1954, he was recruited to MLB by the Milwaukee Braves, which later became the Atlanta Braves.
By 1974, Aaron was chasing down Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, which had stood for almost 40 years. As he bore down on the record, he received hate mail and threats. But again, he persevered, breaking the record on 8 April of that year.
By the time he retired aged 42 in 1976, Aaron had set a number of MLB records, some that still stand today: most career runs batted in (RBI) at 2,297, and total bases (6,856). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986, and in 1999, MLB created the Hank Aaron Award, awarded annually to the best overall offensive performer in each league.
Aaron’s humility on the field would shine through in his retirement. In 1994, he and his wife Billye founded the Chasing the Dream Foundation, awarding millions of dollars in scholarships to youth with limited opportunities. To date, it’s helped over 800 kids into higher education, many going on to become athletes, musicians, doctors, scientists and, most importantly, educators. Aaron died in 2021.
The Oris Hank Aaron Limited Edition is based on the emblematic Big Crown watch. It has a smooth, ergonomic round case in 40mm of stainless steel. Evoking the iconic Big Crown watch, it features a central pointer date hand with a red tip, a fluted bezel reminiscent of classic pilot’s watches, and an oversized crown.
The case back is engraved with a motif of Hank Aaron and his famous cross-handed batting stance, another thing that set him apart in the world of baseball.
The watch is based on Oris’s signature design, the Big Crown Pointer Date, with touches that point to the great man and his record-breaking career. The colour palette of blue, red and white is inspired by Hank Aaron’s famous baseball uniform.
The palette is subtly applied to reflect Aaron’s humble attitude. For example, the white dial boasts blue-outlined red numerals and red-outlined blue minutes ring that runs around the dial.
Finally, the blue leather strap is finished with white stitching akin to the stitching on a baseball glove. It comes with an interchangeable blue, red and white NATO fabric strap and a strap change tool.
The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Hank Aaron watch is available in a limited edition of 2,297 pieces.
Technical details
Model: Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Hank Aaron Limited Edition
Reference 754 7785 4081-Set
Case
Multi-piece stainless steel case
Diameter: 40.00 mm (1.575 inches)
Sapphire crystal glass, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating inside
Stainless steel screw-in security crown
Case back: Stainless steel, screwed, special engravings
Water resistance: 5 bar
Dial
White dial
Hands, indices and numerals filled with Super-LumiNova®
Movement
Oris 754 Automatic Calibre
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
Edition
Limited edition 2,297 pieces, each watch is delivered in a special presentation box
Bracelet
Blue leather strap with white stitching and stainless steel buckle
Also supplied with alternative blue, red and white NATO fabric strap with stainless steel buckle and strap change tool
Swiss retail price
CHF 2,300
Available
July 2023
