We as a society are no strangers to timepieces with cartoons on them. From Mickey Mouse to Snoopy and all icons that follow, many watches offer a way to bask in Saturday morning nostalgia. Now, Oris looks to join the fray in a way that’s decidedly more elegant than your average character watch. The independent Swiss brand has garnered inspiration from The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven, a timeless Chinese animated film from 1961 whose protagonist is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, too. With Oris’ unveiling of the meticulously made Sun Wukong Artist Edition, the Hölsten brand looks to be escaping its comfort zone a bit while simultaneously elevating its craft.
For added context, Sun Wukong translates directly to “Monkey King.” While the horologists at Oris have put forth a timepiece inspired by this embellished figure in the past, its latest features a gorgeous cloisonné enamel dial inspired by a scene from the film, marking the first time in Oris’ history that the brand has implemented the complex finishing method. It is a technique primarily connoted with the likes of far more exorbitant watches, making the new release all the more intriguing. Each of these hand-painted dials is meticulously finished by the same artist over the span of three days.
Oris’ latest collaborative effort with the Shanghai Animation Film Studio Co. is powered by the former’s stellar new in-house movement, the five-day, anti-magnetic Calibre 400 automatic movement. Rounding out the watch is an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, an engraved case back commemorating the film, and a 300m water resistance.
The stunning new timepiece from Oris will be limited to a mere 72 pieces. Sold on a three-link stainless steel bracelet, the watch will also arrive in an exclusive cherry wood presentation box, making it all the more eye-catching. The Oris Sun Wukong Artist Edition will be available this month for $26,500.
