Swiss watch craftsmanship at its finest, Oris have just unveiled the Oris Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115 watch featuring their newest in-house developed calibre. This masterpiece of a skeleton watch is different from anything we have seen before from the Swiss manufacturer, and although we have had skeleton watches from them in the past, we have certainly never seen a dial quite as intricate as this. And yet the dial is only the start, with the Calibre 115 movement providing remarkable functionality from within.
According to Oris, the Oris Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115 Skeleton watch is “not a conventional pilot’s watch,” implying that it might just be the first dedicated jewellery watch for men that we have seen from the brand. But this doesn’t mean that the same quality craftsmanship hasn’t gone into making it, something that is made very clear when you get up close and personal with the piece. Its aesthetics are truly breathtaking with knurled effect detailing on the bezel and case back, harking back to the original Oris ProPilot.
The case of the Oris Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115 Skeleton watch measures to 44mm in size and is comprised of multiple pieces of grade 2 and grade 5 titanium, a lightweight material renowned for its durability. The case is left unpolished and mostly galvanised, a decision we can get on board with since it lends an almost raw, industrial feel to the piece. The case is also fitted with a classic ProPilot coin edged bezel, remaining inspired by the turbines of an aeroplane, alongside domed sapphire crystal glass treated with an anti-reflective coating.
Thanks to its screw in security crown, the Oris Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115 Skeleton watch promises a water resistance of 100 metres while the exhibition case back provides a whole new view of the mechanical movement within. The dial lends access to the other side of the calibre and despite being completely skeletonised is highly legible thanks to Superluminova coated hands and indices. Just like the case, no hand finishing has gone into the movement bridges giving it a matching industrial feel.
The new in-house developed Calibre 115 is possibly the real highlight to this new design, having a remarkable power reserve and accuracy. The hand wound movement is operated through the single crown and when fully wound will delivery power for up to 10 days, an outstanding feat considering most mechanical watches survive less than two days. The power reserve is fuelled by a mainspring coiled in a single oversized barrel, visible through the skeletonised dial at 12 o clock. What is truly extraordinary is that you can witness the mainspring coil tighter and tighter as you turn the crown, giving us a window into the talents of the Oris watchmakers.
The Oris Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115 Skeleton watch is also fitted with large power reserve indicator at 3 o clock so you can see how long you have left before you need to wind the watch. Oris have also explained that this patented non-linear power reserve indicator will now show the power remaining within the watch with even better accuracy than any mechanical watch before it. The dial is also kitted out with centre hands for hour and minutes and a small subsidiary seconds dial at 7 o clock.
The watch is available on either a black perforated rubber strap or a matching titanium bracelet. For us, the titanium bracelet is an easy winner and is breathtaking in its own right. It seamlessly links to the case, coming as close as you can get to an ‘integrated’ bracelet while still allowing room for you to swap out the bracelet for another strap alternative. The titanium bracelet version of the Oris Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115 Skeleton watch retails at £5,950 with the rubber version coming in a little cheaper at £5,600.
If you find yourself interested in the Oris Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115 Skeleton watch and would like to order your own, click here.
Specifications: Oris Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115 Skeleton Watch (01 115 7759 7153-Set7 22 01TLC, 01 115 7759 7153-Set5 22 04TLC)
- Case Size: 44mm
- Case Material: Titanium
- Glass: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Crown: Screw in
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Oris Calibre 115 hand winding
- Functions: Hour, minute, subsidiary seconds, non-linear power reserve indicator
- Power Reserve: 10 days or 240 hours
- Jewels: 38
- Frequency: 21,600vph
- Dial: Skeleton with Superluminova hands and indices
- Strap: Available with titanium bracelet or black rubber
- RRP: £5,950 (Bracelet), £5,600 (Rubber)
