Oris Big Crown - Because We Are Pilots

Wrist Watch

In the 1930s, it became clear that a major war was impending, and aviation would play a huge role in it. Many watchmakers were preparing for this, including Oris, which launched the pilot's Big Crown Pointer Date in 1938. The model turned out to be extremely successful. The large crown was convenient to operate with gloves (the cockpits were not heated at that time). The display was arranged very clearly. Of course, the watch was truly Swiss: precise and reliable. In addition, the company managed to set the price for the watch quite moderate. I must say that the price has always been one of the most important indicators for the company.

The company says that if it were not for the Big Crown Pointer Date watch, there would be no Oris brand in the form in which it is known and respected in the world today. In particular, in the 1970s and 80s, which were difficult for the entire watch industry (the so-called "quartz crisis"), the Hölstein relied on the Big Crown Pointer Date collection. And they were not mistaken: the brand not only survived, but also grew.

Without the past, there is no future

In 2018, Oris launched the Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary Edition to celebrate the 80th anniversary of its flagship collection. 40mm bronze case with fluted bezel, large bronze crown, cathedral hands, beautiful green dial with traditional central date hand, reliable Oris 754 movement based on Sellita SW 200-1 (it is visible through the transparent back cover).

Oris 754-7741-31-67LS

One of the peculiarities of bronze is that over time it becomes covered with a patina, so that each piece becomes unique. The deep green tone of the dial has become a natural choice - it is in perfect harmony with the bronze.

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The arrowhead of the date indicator is interesting. Company CEO Rolf Studer explains: “This tip was originally triangular, then became a crescent moon, and now it looks like a mixture of the two. The hand seems to cover the date digit, which allows you to determine the date at a glance. The evolution of design is the hallmark of a confident independent company that can listen to its customers and go its own way. "

Oris 754-7741-40-68MB

Oris offers the anniversary model in two versions - a man's (40 mm diameter) and a woman's (36 mm). It should be noted: the watch carries a lot of vintage signs, but at the same time there is a lot that was not there in the 30s of the last century - for example, the pilot's watch was not made in bronze, green was not used for dials.

However, in the modern collection of Big Crown Pointer Date there are other versions - in steel, on bracelets and straps, with different dial colors, including, for example, modern dark cherry color and others, among which there is also classic black. As for the illumination of the dial, now it is made using the Superluminova C3 phosphor, in contrast to the historical prototypes, which used the unsafe (as we now know) radium.

Brave New World

Oris watches from the Big Crown ProPilot collection look much less retro-futuristic. The Pro prefix hints at the professional nature of this wrist instrument, although nowadays aviators certainly use electronics for professional purposes. However, the image is another matter!

Oris 752-7760-40-63MB

The modern style of these "pilots" is indicated by the notch on the bezel: it is oblique, which evokes associations with the turbine blades of jet engines. In this collection, there are both simpler three-pointer and more complex chronographs. Very interesting is the 44-mm steel Big Crown Propilot Timer GMT, equipped with a second time zone time function, and realized with the help of a central hand and in a 24-hour format. The small hand shows the seconds, and the date is displayed in a larger aperture (this is a special development of Oris).

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It should be noted that retro elements are also present in this line: one of the models comes on an olive-colored strap made from durable Ventile textiles, developed for the British Air Force during World War II. In any version of the watch - with fabric or leather strap, or a steel bracelet - uses Oris' signature and innovative buckle, which is designed to resemble the buckle of an aircraft seat belt.

Oris 748-7756-40-64LS

The Big Crown Propilot Timer GMT is powered by the Oris automatic caliber 748 (base Sellita SW220-1).

Of the functionally simpler, but in all other respects no less attractive “pilots”, it is worth highlighting the Big Crown Propilot Big Day Date line on the Oris automatic caliber 752 (the same basic Sellita SW220-1). Also steel, also 44 mm, the same oblique "turbojet" notch on the bezel, but the second hand is central, and the option "big date and day of the week" is a special development of Oris.

Everywhere - a reliable folding clasp and, of course, a large crown - the same Big Crown.

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