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A Guide To
Oris Watches

Shop Oris Watches

The History

Named after the local Orix valley, the first Oris watch factory was purchased in 1904 by Messers Paul Cattin and Georges Christian. The floundering watch business was soon flourishing under the mechanically gifted partners. With a vision that prioritised discernment over elitism, the Oris watch business was buoyant throughout the golden post-war age. Oris responded to the Quartz crisis of the 1970s by following a brave strategy, producing only mechanical watches. The risk paid off, with Oris quickly moving to the top of their game. Kitting out their watches with an adventurous range of functions for a mechanical watch, Oris never really played it safe. The payoff is a history of watchmaking that excels in high-quality, technically brilliant watches, but always within an accessible price range.

Key Characteristics

Oris continues to deliver some of the industry’s most clever and thoughtful designs. Their original ethos of discerning mechanics and exacting specifications has evolved to provide the watch industry with a careful range of watches. Using a carefully executed Swiss calibre, modified to the brand's exact specifications, the key characteristic of Oris watches is superb mechanical engineering. Although they have begun to branch out from their early narrow specialisation, they have not lost the expert knowledge this specialisation gave them. Now you are more likely to see a full array in the design teams assembly, ranging from the diving and aviation categories through to the culture collection. Each bears the carefully planned, slightly conservative mark of the Oris design.

Key Moments

It’s important to note some of the key moments in the Oris company history – moments that had an impact on the characteristic Oris design. During the second world war, for example, Oris is determined to survive the slow-down in watch buying. The company develops a finely-tuned alarm clock range which becomes increasingly popular. When the design team move back toward watches again, they take some of the lessons learned, developing ever more inventive functions for their watches. 1952 is an equally important year for the Oris business, as it sees the launch of their first automatic watch. Having spent most of their history developing mechanical watches, this is a vital step toward the future. 1988 is a clever moment in Oris watch development, as it realises the merging of two important branches in the watch business, wristwatches and alarms. Leading the way in both these categories, Oris releases one of the very first alarm wristwatches.‍

Fun Facts

Oris has also been notable in wider history, releasing a range of men's Oris watches called ‘jazz watches’, bearing the names of jazz greats like Louis Armstong and Andy Sheppard. More importantly, in 1956 the company employs Rolf Portmann to overturn the Watch Statute, opening up Swiss lever escapement watches to modernising companies in the Swiss watchmaking industry.

Watches to Look out for

If you are looking out for a vintage find, then pre-owned Oris watches are a clever buy, with some specific specialist models in particularly high demand. However, if you are struggling to find a popular model like those in the 1965 range, then you might also be interested in some newer releases. 2015 saw the modern reissue of a vintage classic, in the shape of the Oris Diver Sixty-five. The key designs and mechanics stay the same on this ever-popular watch, but with some smart upgrades: the addition of a corrosion-resistant stainless steel case, and a much safer unidirectional bezel. The case-back presents the same Oris engraving as the original 1965 model, and a nice touch is a beige glow filling the vintage hands and indices. This is a classic take on an immensely popular Oris design. It is a conservative, mechanically-excellent watch with some significant modern characteristics, the perfect balance.

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A Guide To
Oris Watches

The History

Key Characteristics

Key Moments

Fun Facts

Watches to Look out for

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A Guide To Oris Watches

The History

Key Characteristics

Key Moments

Fun Facts

Watches to Look out for

OUR SHOWROOM

SELL YOUR WATCH

VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT only

Get In Touch

Shopping With Us

Information

Newsletter Sign Up For Latest News and Offers

A Guide To
Oris Watches