Oris presents a limited edition of the Big Crown made in honour of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The PA Charles de Gaulle Oris Limited Edition takes its inspiration from one of the company's most iconic models, the Big Crown, and will be produced in a limited edition of 1,890 pieces, a number inspired by the date of birth of the extraordinary French general and founder of the Fifth Republic of France Charles de Gaulle. Oris worked closely with the ship's officers to create this timepiece. The coat of arms of the aircraft carrier is stamped on the dial, the central curved seconds hand is tipped in the blue, white and red colours of the French tricolour and the case back is engraved with the PA Charles de Gaulle. The crown is engraved with 'R91', the aircraft carrier's identification number. This watch is a true tribute to one of the world's most outstanding military vessels. When it entered active service in 2001, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, or porte-avions in French (PA for short), became the first surface ship of the French Navy (the Marine Nationale) equipped with nuclear-powered engines and the eighth French aircraft carrier. Today, it remains the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in service outside the US Navy and the largest warship currently operating in Western Europe. For more than 15 years, the Charles de Gaulle has been a deterrent against any threat to both France and its allies. It can be ready for action in 72 hours, cross an operational area at a speed of 27 knots and cover distances of up to 1,000 kilometres in a day. On board are two 75-metre long catapults capable of launching an aircraft weighing 25 tonnes in two seconds at a speed of 270 km/h every 30 seconds, meaning that up to 20 planes can leave its deck every 10 minutes. The ship can accommodate a crew of 1950 sailors and has served in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Syria. The PA Charles de Gaulle is based on the Oris Big Crown and is the newest military watch produced by the Swiss company. Oris has been creating watches designed to operate in harsh situations for over a century and is now recognised by navigators, pilots and divers around the world as an innovator and producer of tough, reliable and high-performance timepieces. The new watch has many elements typical of the Big Crown Collection. It features a 40 mm diameter stainless steel case with a fluted bezel, a large steel crown (a design reminiscent of the original Oris Big Crown from 1938) and a black dial with highly legible Super-LumiNova printed numerals and indices. Inside, a self-winding mechanical movement drives the complication that has become Oris' signature, the pointer date, characterised by a red crescent-tipped central hand oriented towards a scale running along the outside of the dial. "We are very proud to have come into contact with the crew of the PA Charles de Gaulle and to have been asked to design a timepiece for them," said Oris President Ulrich W. Herzog. "This ship and its crew serve France and its allies with courage and honour. It is a great privilege to present this limited edition watch and to be able to write the name Charles de Gaulle on an Oris timepiece."
