Vintage inspired watches seemed to be all the rage at this year’s Baselworld and Oris Watches were not one to be left out. The stunning Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition watch was proudly released by the Swiss manufacturer to bring both attention and praise to the brand’s rich watchmaking heritage while also paying homage to Oris’ first pilot’s wristwatch. Boasting a cool and quirky design, this new release tributes a 1917 model found way back in the Oris design archives and is limited to 1,917 pieces.
The vintage aesthetic of the Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition watch doesn’t initially scream ‘pilots watch’ since many of us are more familiar with the typical B-Uhr and Flieger style pilot watches known for their striking black dials and large white hands. However this style didn’t make an appearance until the 1940s during World War II. The design of the new Oris Big Crown was produced over 30 years before and was essentially a pocket watch for the wrist. The only real similarity between them is the large onion style crown.
Now let’s get into the specifications of this Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition watch. The stainless steel case is neatly sized at 40mm, a typical measurement for watches of this era since they were basically styled directly from pocket watches. The screw in case back is also finely detailed with a special engraving that identifies the limited edition number and boasts the ‘OWC’ (Oris Watch Company) seal. The case is paired with domed sapphire crystal glass with anti reflective coating on the inside, bringing to life the very best feature of the timepiece – the dial.
The rich silver dial has a gorgeous texture to it that is impossible to miss and we are even treated to a subtle recession in the central section of the dial – something that used to be a common signature in Oris watches. Around the edge of the dial is a classic black chapter ring with thicker accentuation on each five minute interval. Our favourite detail on the dial of the Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition watch is the combination of the vintage style Arabic numerals and the blue cathedral shaped hands, both filled with a coloured Light Old Radium. It is these carefully made decisions that make it easy to mistake this timepiece as an actual antique.
The Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition watch is powered by the Oris 737 automatic winding movement, based off the SW 200-1. The calibre equips the timepiece with centre hands for hours and minutes and a power reserve of 38 hours. To complete the retro style, the watch is fitted with a dark brown leather strap and stainless steel buckle. This Oris Big Crown is expected to be released from the brand towards the end of this month, but you can still pre-order the model in advance to get your hands on one of the very first. For more information on the watch and where to pre-order it, click here.
Specifications: Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition Watch – 01 732 7736 4081-Set LS.
- Case Size: 40mm
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Case Back: Screw-in with special engraving
- Water Resistance: 50 metres
- Glass: Domed Sapphire Crystal with Anti reflective Treatment
- Movement: Automatic Winding, Oris 732
- Functions: Hours and Minutes
- Power Reserve: 38 Hours
- Vibrations: 28,8000 A/h, 4 Hz
- Jewels: 26
- Dial: Silver with Numerals and Hands coated in Light Old Radium
- Strap: Dark Brown Leather with Stainless Steel Buckle
- RRP: £1,950
- Release Date: August 2017
