Those who may or may not have acquired their first Oris watch will still be familiar with the brand’s distinct red winding logo which adorns the mechanical movement sitting within its heart. Oris watches have links to the motorsport industry as well as the diving universe with timepieces like the Chonoris and ProDiver watches respectively. Renowned far and wide for its catalogue of robust and reliable wristwatches integrated with Swiss precision, these mechanical watches tell a story of the company’s growth and success to date. Various pilot’s watches have been cementing the watchmaker within the aviation industry since the 1940s. US Air Force pilots utilized wristwatches from the Oris Big Crown series, depending on their precise movements and high end materials for guaranteeing longevity on the wrist.
Oris was founded in 1904 in Holstein, Switzerland. Paul Cattin and Georges Christian named the company after a brook that ran alongside the village nearby. In just two years manufacturing was well underway, enabling Oris to branch out to another five more factories between 1906 and 1925. Grandson of former Jaeger LeCoultre managing director, Jacques David LeCoultre became the president for Oris after this, pushing forwards with a team of various designers, watch technicians and skilled artisans. During the 1930s and 1940s, Oris began supplying its precise and robust timekeeping tools to the military during the Second World War. Once this demand subsided, the manufacturer focused on creating its first escapement, the Big Crown watch. The automatic watch proved easy to facilitate under thick pilot gloves and stylish enough for accompanying with other attire. It also came equipped with a Pointer Calendar function. In 1949 the first Oris 8 Day Clock was released, shortly followed by Oris’ first automatic movement named the Calibre 601.
During the 1960s Oris focused its attention on developing a Swiss lever escapement and also developed a line of robust, reliable diving watches. These first few models were cutting edge for their time and came equipped with luminous markers for assisted timekeeping in dark conditions under the sea. They also featured rotating bezels for effortless measuring of elapsed time underwater and offered a bold dial design encompassed by a strong and sturdy case construction. The Calibre 652 was released during this time with a superior lever escapement and a Chronometer certificate to authenticate its performance. Accurate to the highest Swiss standards, Oris movements like these were becoming a trusted engine for the wrist. By the end of the 1960s, Oris had become one of the world’s top ten largest watch companies, employing over 800 craftsmen.
The 1970s were associated with the development of the famous Chronoris watch and its prominent links with the motorsport industry. The watch came equipped with a distinct chronograph, which was later relaunched in the year 2005. In 1992 the Oris Worldtimer watch was released following the brand’s most complicated calibre so far, the Calibre 581. The Worldtimer appealed to globetrotters and Oris fans alike, offering the wearer a chance to adjust local time forwards or backwards in one hour jumps by the simple push of a button. Between the 1990s and 2000, Oris released the BC3 – a fresh new look for the aviation collection, along with the Oris XXL series of sports watches. There were three case sizes to choose from within this range, offering collectors various sizes to choose from. In 2002 the red rotor symbol became the official logo for Oris watches. It first featured in the brand’s Artelier collection but now symbolises Swiss accuracy across the company’s entire, diverse catalogue of luxury timepieces. A year later, Oris had patented its Quick Lock Crown technology, requiring the crown to be twisted just 120 degrees to secure it into place.
Since 2003 and now, Oris has launched innovations like the BC4 Flight Timer with three time zones and a Rotation Safety System built into a unidirectional rotating bezel. In addition to this, the brand also created a sliding sledge clasp for its bracelets, preventing the watch from falling off the wrist even when the safety clasp comes undone. Since 2010 Oris has been focussing on Ocean preservation, partnering up with the Australian Marine Conservation Society to raise awareness of the importance of preserving the Great Barrier Reef. Furthermore, Oris watches like the Aquis Depth Gauge, the Artix GT Chronograph and the Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter can all be found within our extensive range of Oris watches for men and women here at C W Sellors.
