Watch lovers often consider high-quality Oris watches since they offer luxury at affordable prices. For instance, you will get the premium quality in the range of twice as expensive models of other Swiss companies for only $2,000 to $3,000.
Since the company was founded in 1904, they produced numerous models, including beautiful vintage Oris watches. They offer four watch categories, divers, motorsports, culture, and aviation timepieces. Therefore, you need to learn something more to pick out a perfect vintage model for you.
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Oris Watches History
Paul Cattin and Georges Christian founded the Oris watch company in Hölstein, Switzerland, in 1904. They had extensive expansion during the first two decades and managed to open six factory facilities by 1925.
The company has established a reputation for producing elegant, quality, and affordable mechanical watches. They made the first fully equipped wristwatches in 1925 and then developed four categories.
Their models are not famous like Rolex or Omega brands, but this company keeps producing respected Swiss watches without compromising their quality.
The Big Crown was produced in 1938 as the first watch. In 1952, the caliber 601 appeared and became an iconic first automatic watch that displayed hours, minutes, and seconds.
The first dive watch with Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 occurred in 1965, while Motor Sport Collection hit the market five years later with the unique Chronoris chronograph featuring a barrel-shaped case.
Besides a short period of experimenting with quartz watches, the company decided to stick to mechanical watchmaking. That decision allowed the brand to keep the firm position until today, particularly after launching the automatic BC3 pilot watch in 1999.
Their dive watches with rotation safety systems are impressive, making them the unavoidable brand for divers and those who enjoy other water sports.
Oris Watches Categories
The Oris brand has thirteen watch collections divided into four categories. You can see a few variations and unique edition timepieces within each one. In other words, there is a watch for everyone and every occasion.
Aviation watches
The company created the first aviation timepiece in 1910. Nowadays, you can choose among four new versions featuring chronograph, GMT, and altimeter. They can withstand intense G-force and keep working smoothly at high altitudes.
- Big Crown – This model was the most famous pilot watch this company ever produced that occurred on the market in 1938. It came with an oversized crown that allowed pilots effortless maneuver, making this model popular.
- Big Crown ProPilot – This sporty looked watch model is ideal for use in a cockpit, thanks to legible pilot functionalities. It came with advanced performances, including Chronograph and GMT.
- Crown ProPilot X – In one word, this watch with the skeletonized dial is a mechanical engineering miracle. Creators added an incredible and patented ten-day power reserve.
- BC3 – This model is the youngest but the most technologically advanced in this category. In 1999, the company introduced models with different dial and band colors, while geometric cases came in stainless steel or grey and black coatings.
Diving watches
The first dive watch this company released was the model from 1965. Pieces from this group are water-proof, affordable, and can sustain high pressures.
Plus, they come in great design with two dial variations and luminescent hour markers. You can recognize three collections within this group:
Aquis – Watches from this subgroup feature classic dive design and ultimate functionality at depths up to 985 feet (300 m).
Divers – The Divers sixty-five was re-produced in honor of the company’s first diving watch from 1965. Customers like the vintage appearance and enjoy state-of-the-art creations. It can withstand up to 330 feet (100 m) depths.
Prodiver – Its sporty look with bright yellow accents that allow effortless underwater reading makes this model one of the most favorite in this collection. Besides RSS bezel-locking system and automatic winding chronograph, it offers careless diving up to 3,280 feet (1,000 m) in depth.
Culture watches
The culture collection was a result of Swiss watchmaking ingenuity and ultimate aesthetics. In this group, you can find watches crafted in a traditional style and connected with culture. Some limited editions are dedicated to musicians like Bob Dylan or Louis Armstrong.
These watches come with classical round or rectangular cases and Art Deco pieces with vibrant dial and strap shades. The company classified them into two groups:
Classic – These timeless, elegant watches typically have a round case, Roman numeral hour markers, and a metal bracelet with stainless steel. You can choose among the two-tone models featuring a blue or a midnight-black face.
Artelier – This collection is recognizable by diverse designs and connections with heritage and innovation. Watches in this group are a perfect combination of elegant classic design and contemporary watchmaking technology that includes chronographs, day-date, annual calendars, and Moon-phase displays.
Motorsport watches
The company started the Motorsport collection inspired by motorsports racing in 1970 with the famous Chronoris chronograph that featured a black dial and barrel-shaped case. Nowadays, Oris canceled Motorsport from the list of collections, but you can find vintage models widely available.
- Chronoris – Even though the original Motorsport Chronoris model was released in 1970, it is still trendy nowadays. Its bold barrel-shaped case design with a dark dial and orange accents is highly recognizable.
- Williams – Since the company is dedicated to Formula 1, Oris and the F1 Williams team became partners in 2003. Twelve years later, a watch with blue team-colored accents and stainless steel occurred in their partner’s honor.
- GT – This model is recognizable for a bi-rotating bezel and substantial stainless steel case. You can pick out a watch with the regular date, a skeleton reminding a race car engine inside, and a three sub-dial chronograph.
- TT1 – The first things to notice when seeing this watch are the blue color typical for William’s team, thick hands, and applied hour markers. An attractive stainless steel case complements all these advantages.
Vintage Oris Watches
Oris watches are among the most affordable Swiss-quality devices available. Therefore, you can pick out a top-notch, working vintage wristwatch for a reasonable price. The most desirable models on offer include:
Vintage Oris watches |
||
| Watch type | Year | Price |
| Big Crown | 1938 | $960 to $1,370 |
| Mid-Century Calibre 601 | 1952 | various |
| Pointer Date | 1960 | $555 |
| Diver 65 | 1965 | $900 to $1,600 |
| Chronoris | 1970 | $1,000 to $2,200 |
| Players | 1990 | $1,770 |
| Worldtimer | 1997 | $1,500 to $2,000 |
Oris Big Crown
This watch model with pointer date function appeared on the market in 1938 as an excellent piece for men with larger wrists.
This famous aviation watch’s name came from oversized crowns designed for pilots. Its construction allowed them to adjust them despite wearing leather gloves. This vintage watch will cost you over $1,000.
Oris Mid-Century Calibres
It was the first Oris watch model created in the post-war period. The Calibre 601 was the first automatic movement watch produced in 1952, while the Calibre 652 from 1968 was the first Oris watch with a chronometer.
It was also one of the rare watches with the prestigious Full Chronometer Certification. Their prices will vary depending on the chosen model.
Oris Diver 65
The first Oris diver watch appeared on the market in 1965, and it is still their best-known vintage watch. This superior model featuring a timer scale and rotating bezel, is water-resistant at depths up to 330 feet (100 m).
It is still expensive, and you should set aside approximately $4,000 for a well-preserved piece. Interestingly, you can buy a reissued watch at a significantly lower price.
Oris Chronoris
Chronoris was the first chronograph watch this company produced in 1970. It featured a stopwatch function and dual display and was inspired by motorsports.
Oris Players Watch
This model presented to the market in 1990 was something special in Oris’s offer. An original Players watch with four independent counters on the dial was recently sold for $1,770 at auction.
Oris Worldtimer Watch
This watch model from 1997 offered the ability to shift the times in one-hour increments forward or backward. It was handy for travelers who often face time zones problem.
The Best Oris Watches of All Time
After almost 120 years in business, Oris produced numerous watches in four categories. A list of the best models of all time includes:
Best Ori swathes of all time |
|
| Watch model | Price |
| Artelier Alarm | $3,346 to $3,900 |
| Men’s Swiss automatic | $1,850 |
| Rectangular date Bob Dylan | $1,440 |
| Frank Sinatra chronograph | $1,750+ |
| Hammerhead | $2,565 |
| Martini racing | $3,100 |
| Chrononoris | $1,300 |
| Williams FW41 | $3,355 |
| Men’s Artix GT Swiss automatic | $1,650 |
| Big Crown 1917 | $2,600 |
| Big Crown ProPilot | $,400 to $2,800 |
| Aquis analogue display | $1,551 |
| BC3 sportsman day date | $800 to $1,000 |
| Artix GT Audi Sport watch | $1,795 to $1,895 |
| Automatic silver watch | $1,580 to $2,180 |
| Force Recon GMT | $3,875 to $5,000 |
| Audi sport black dial | $1,795 |
| Aquis date blue dial | $1,300 to $1,800 |
| Big Crown pointer date | $1,600 |
| Diver sixty-five | $1,200 to 1,750 |
Oris Artelier Alarm
This attractive model comes with a stainless steel case and bezel and a matching bracelet with a fold-over clasp. This elegant, scratch-resistant, automatic self-winding watch has intriguing rose-gold tone hands.
Oris Men’s Analog Display
This Swiss automatic watch comes with luminous hour and minute hands markers and stainless steel case with a matching bracelet. It is water-resistant up to 1,000 feet (305 m), making this model an excellent option for professional divers.
Oris Rectangular Date Bob Dylan
This rare rectangular model honors Bob Dylan, a famous American songwriter and singer. It appeared on the market in 2009 as a part of a limited edition of only 3,000 pieces. You can notice a singer’s signature in white next to the 6 o’clock mark and his outline on the case back.
Oris Frank Sinatra
This special edition model with a chronograph was created in 2012 in honor of the great singer Frank Sinatra. Collectors are prepared to pay at least $1,750 for this collectible, depending on its condition.
Oris Martini Racing
Oris produced only 500 highly collectible watches from this special edition to honor the racing sport. It features a Williams-style case made of stainless steel with a rubber strap and black dial. It comes with a certificate of authenticity in a unique, elegant box.
Chrononoris
The company produced only 200 unique and stylish limited edition Chrononoris watches. This high-end model made of stainless steel case comes with a classic black dial and leather strap. Each piece packed in an elegant box has a certificate of authenticity.
Oris Big Crown 1917
This classic pilot watch with stainless steel case and recognizable vintage aesthetic was produced as a limited edition. The company made and released only 1,917 pieces.
Oris Audi Sport
This elegant luxury watch is one of the most popular models Oris ever designed. Its bold sporty aesthetic is an excellent way to commemorate the partnership between the company and Audi Sport. You will be delighted with the titanium case, black dial, fixed bezel, leather band, and tachymeter markings.
Oris Diver Sixty-Five
Nowadays, the Oris Diver 65 is an iconic model and is unavoidable for every dedicated watch collector. Since the original version appeared over half a century ago, the company decided to create Diver sixty-five for fans. This water-resistant and scratch-resistant model with classic construction is a part of a vintage line.
Oris Watch Value
The Oris politics is to sell their watches at significantly lower prices than other luxury brands. You can find most of their models for $1,000 to $2,000. On the other hand, some vintage pieces are available for a modest $100 to $1,000, depending on their quality and age.
For instance, you can find a Pointer Date produced in 1960 for $555, while it is necessary to set aside $975 for cult, stainless steel Oris Diver 65.
Fake Oris Vintage Watches
Since the company has recently reissued many iconic vintage watches, finding original vintage Oris models can be challenging. Moreover, auction houses typically avoid listing their estimated ages when reselling particular pieces.
Summary
Thanks to numerous models, you can find one Oris watch for you at any time. If you are into vintage timepieces, this company can offer an almost unlimited selection of beautiful models produced for nearly 120 years. The biggest challenge will be to pick out only one!