11/15/2018

Introducing The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary, A New Bronze Beauty

To cap off what’s been a phenomenal year for Oris, the brand has released a special Big Crown Pointer Date in bronze.

By Josh Shanks

Contributor

After 80 years of watchmaking, Oris is taking a step back and honoring its rich heritage with the introduction of the Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary. This 40mm pilots inspired watch features a hunter green dial and striking bronze case which, with the help of the Carl Brashear editions, has made Oris a household name in the modern era.

But first, let's look back to 1938 when Oris made their first Pilot’s Watch. At the time, wristwatches weren’t exactly in fashion, and the mere existence of a watch on the wrist in contrast to the pocket watches of the day was a huge breakthrough.

1954 Oris Big Crown Pointer Date

Regardless, Oris' modern day slogan of #goyourownway applied even back then. No matter the customer sentiment, Oris did what it felt was best for the market and introduced a Pilot’s Watch at a time when flying a plane was just as rare as an average citizen going to space. But then again, Oris has always been ahead of the curve. Whether it be bucking the trend of the Quartz crisis while continuing to focus on mechanical watches or regaining their independence during the heady days of the industry while owned by the Swatch group.

A flair for the dramatic

Oris has always had a flair for the dramatic, and their watches speak to collectors and enthusiasts on a personal level. While so many monolithic brands produce generic timepieces with ill-conceived storylines, Oris pushes the boundaries of emotion. Personally, this writer may be a bit biased owning two Oris watches, but despite this, few can argue the fact that Oris produces timepieces based upon design and merit instead of consumer focus groups.

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary Edition

The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary

Without naming names, over the last 80 years, many brands have come and gone. One company has remained constant. Oris. The 1982 buyout (from Swatch Group) led by Ulrich W. Herzog and Honorary Chairman Dr. Rolf Portmann was the closest thing to a watchmaking coup, especially since it happened right in the middle of the quartz crisis.

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary

Today’s introduction, the Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary pays homage to the history of Oris while keeping a keen eye towards the future of the iconic watchmaker. Over the decades, Oris has produced a wide variety of Big Crown models, but their introductions over this decade have paved the way for Big Crown pieces to become the second most popular Oris line beside the Divers 65.

Dr Rolf Portmann, Honorary Chairman

“Designs come and go, but the Big Crown Pointer Date has endured and keeps getting stronger, It’s become an Oris signature and a symbol of how strong the company's heritage and brand are," says Oris’ Honorary Chairman, Dr. Rolf Portmann.

The Beauty Of Bronze

Part of the allure behind owning a bronze watch is the ability of the alloy to oxidize and change color over time (i.e., "patina"). While most of us think of patina as it relates to antiques and vintage cars, the phrase has only recently come into the vernacular of watch aficionados. As one of the first watch brands to lead the charge into bronze cases, Oris has a lot to say regarding the manner.

Rolf Studer, Co-CEO

Perhaps it’s best to let Rolf Studer, Co-CEO Oris tell us more, “Bronze is a beautiful material with charming natural properties. We've used it in a few of our watches over the last few years, and it's proved hugely popular with our customers. But more than that, it's a utilitarian material that fits our approach to watchmaking and serves as a nod to our industrial heritage.”

Pricing and Availability

A fitting tribute to the 80th anniversary of Oris’ Big Crown lineup, the fully bronze Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary is a 40mm piece with a central hand which indicates the 31 days of the month. Powered by an automatic Oris calibre 754 (based on the Sellita SW 200-1) movement with a power reserve of 38 hours. The watch comes fitted to a dark brown strap with matching bronze buckle.

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary

Even more remarkable is the price, at just $2,000 USD, the Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary is reasonably priced and should hit store shelves just in time for the holidays (November 2018). Here’s to the next 80 years!

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