A tribute to the railway that brought prosperity to Hölstein
Without the Waldenburger historic railway, there might not be the Oris we know today. The independent Swiss watchmaker has created a watch which pays tribute to the unique role the railway has played in the brand's own origin story — one that is quite different than so many Swiss watch companies. It began in 1904 with two watchmakers, Paul Cattin and Georges Christian. The pair were based in the watchmaking heartland of Le Locle, but rather than found their company there, they ventured west towards Basel. They settled in Hölstein, an unassuming village nestled in the beautiful Waldenburg Valley, and one whose manufacturing heart would soon depend on the railway for its growth.
The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date is, without question, the most important watch in Oris' rich history. First introduced in 1938 as a pilot’s watch, it has been a collection mainstay ever since, becoming Oris’s signature design. Its oversized crown was originally intended for gloved airmen but now serves a more aesthetic purpose, while the iconic pointer date function is now internationally recognized as a symbol of Oris’s mechanical inventiveness.
The watch has a 40mm stainless steel case and fluted bezel, and a domed sapphire crystal over a black dial decorated with large, lumed Arabic numerals and a railway-track minute scale. It’s powered by the Oris Calibre 754, which fuels the brand's enigmatif Pointer Date function, whereby a central, red-tipped hand points to a date scale running around the perimeter of the dial. It’s finished on a dark brown strap made of sustainable deer leather supplied by partner Cervo Volante.
Specifications
- Movement: Automatic Oris 754 (base SW 200-1)
- Functions: Centre hands for hours, minutes and seconds, date centre hand, instantaneous date, date corrector, fine timing device and stop-second
- Power Reserve: 38 hrs
- Case: Stainless steel case
- Size: 40mm
- Dial: Painted with hands & markers coated with Superluminova C1/C3
- Crystal: Sapphire, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating inside
- Case Back: Stainless steel, engraved with Waldenburgerbahn locomotive & limited edition number
- Water Resistance: 5 bar (50 meters)
- Strap: Leather
- Packaging: Leather travel pouch and card holder, and special Hölstein map cleaning cloth
- Limited Edition: 1,000 pieces
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Extended Warranty
Toppers is excited to offer a free extended warranty on the purchase of new watches. This warranty begins when the manufacturer's warranty runs out. As such, Topper Fine Jewelers will provide an additional non-transferable warranty for a period of one year.*
*Restrictions Apply. Service provided anywhere other than at Topper Fine Jewelers or a service center of the original manufacturer is not covered and shall void the warranty. Topper Fine Jewelers will have sole discretion to determine whether the work for the warranty will be performed "in house" by Topper Fine Jewelers or at a repair facility of our choice. The limited warranty does not cover bracelets, crystals, batteries, or any damage to the case or movement caused by moisture that might have entered the watch as a result of improper handling, nor does it apply, on a more general basis, if there is evidence of misuse or abuse. Only Topper Fine Jewelers will determine at its sole discretion to repair any watch under this warranty.