June of 2021 marks 117 years since Oris first opened its doors in the town of Hölstein in 1904, and the independent Swiss brand is celebrating its birthday the only way it knows how: by releasing a spectacular watch.
The Oris Big Crown Hölstein Edition 2021 is no mere special edition of the brand’s signature pilot’s watch; it’s a complete reinvention of said timepiece. First and foremost is the movement, as the watch is the first to feature the new Calibre 403. The latest evolution in Oris’ dynamite line of 400 series in-house calibers, the 403 adds pointer date and small-second complications to the robust automatic movement with its five-day power reserve and a 10-year warranty. The case is also new and is inspired by pre-war iterations of the watch. Gone are the dressy fluted bezel and retro domed crystal, as they’ve been replaced here by a flat bezel and sharp, crisp lines. There’s also a new blockier font for the indices, simple pencil hands instead of elaborate cathedral-style ones, and a dramatic broad arrow date-pointer. Overall, it’s a very clean-looking piece that shows Oris hasn’t lost a step in over a century of watchmaking. Priced at $3,900, the 38mm Oris Big Crown Hölstein Edition 2021 is limited to 250 pieces.
