Oris celebrates the extraordinary history of the iconic Big Crown Pointer Date with a solid bronze case and a customised finish that makes each bronze dial a unique piece. The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date became part of the Oris collection in 1938, over eight decades ago. It was designed as a watch for aviators (who wore gloves), so it had an oversized crown and a highly legible dial with Arabic numerals. "Beauty guides our choices," says Rolf Studer, CEO of Oris. "Beauty and love attract us. And we invest in what we love. With a watch, this is even more true. Very often, the heart inspires the mind'. The success of the Big Crown Pointer Date owes much to the original design and testifies to its role in the revival of Oris and the Swiss watch industry following the quartz crisis of the 1970s. "In the mid to late 1980s, Oris was reborn by producing only mechanical watches and the role of the Big Crown Pointer Date was crucial," Studer continues. "The transient innovations of quartz were no match for its history, functions and emotional value. A cornerstone of Oris, it symbolises the prodigious revival of the Swiss watch industry." Today, more than 30 years later, Oris presents the Big Crown Pointer Date Bronze. The bronze case and dial represent Oris' industrial philosophy and the eternal value of a mechanical Swiss Made watch. The solid bronze dial is coated with a transparent matt lacquer that creates an exclusive finish for each watch, creating a truly unique design. Dr. Rolf Portmann, the main actor in the events of the 1980s, has just celebrated his 90th birthday. He is now Honorary President of Oris. Where would wristwatches be today without aviation? With the advent of air travel, we have seen substantial changes in industry, world politics, mobility and many other areas. But the need for an instrument capable of measuring time and other useful information such as position, fuel economy and average speed has also materialised. The first wristwatches designed for pilots had to be extremely readable and capable of quick calculations, literally at a glance. They also had to be easily adjustable and robust enough to withstand the fluctuations of flight. Oris, founded in 1904, built its first pilot's watch in 1910. Louis Blériot had flown across the English Channel in 1908; Oris made a pocket watch with the image of his plane engraved on the case. In 1917, the brand's first pilot's wristwatch was produced, an ingenious piece that could be adjusted by a single button on the crown. Two years ago, Oris created a special edition for the centenary of this historic timepiece. The war stimulated progress in both watch design and aviation. In 1938, Oris presented a model which became known as the Big Crown Pointer Date. It had an oversized crown that was easily operated by the pilot, even when wearing gloves, with large Arabic numerals for a quick time reading, an ergonomic fluted bezel and a central pointer hand for the date. It was simple, rational, practical and a great success. More than 80 years later, the Big Crown Pointer Date is inspired by the same design principles. Materials and mechanics have evolved but its pioneering spirit is unchanged. Today, the new Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Bronze perpetuates the myth. The solid bronze case, reminiscent of Oris' industrial roots, will in time be enriched with a patina that will tell the story of each timepiece. The Big Crown Pointer Date has played a special role in Oris' journey: never out of production, it has become the brand's emblem. Some have said that without it, Oris might not enjoy its current reputation as an independent Swiss watch company. A summary of the Oris story.
Data sheet
- Case Bronze composite
- Dimensions 40.00 mm (1.575 in.)
- Dial Bronze
- Luminescent material Hands, numerals and indexes printed with Super-LumiNova
- Sapphire Glasscurved on both sides, with anti-reflective coating on the inside
- Back case Stainless steel, screwed, with mineral glass porthole
- Devices Screwed bronze safety crown
- Strap Brown suede buckskin, bronze buckle
- Waterproof 5 atmospheres (50 m)
- Movement Oris Calibre 754
- Functions Centre hands for hours, minutes and seconds, centre hand for date, instantaneous date, date corrector, fine adjustment and stop seconds
- Charge Automatic, Red Rotor bidirectional rotating
- Power reserve 38 hours
- Public price in Switzerland CHF 1,900
