Oris Brand Review: Identity, Reputation and Ranking
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Oris – Purely Mechanical Watches – Expert On Divers Watches
History, Mission, Manufacture, Movements, Reputation, Ranking & Pricing
Oris Brand Review By Alexander – Founder and Owner of swissdiverswatches.com
A Review of Oris’ history
In 1904, Paul Cattin and Georges Christian, established Oris close to Hölstein in Basel-Country in Switzerland. The headquarters of Oris are still in the small Swiss city of Hölstein. Oris is one of very few independent Swiss watchmakers left.
Oris is known for producing automatic or mechanical watches only. Watch enthusiasts around the world regard Oris as an exclusive Swiss brand which offers affordable mechanical watches.
In 1904, Paul Cattin and Georges Christian established Oris close to Hölstein. The name Oris is derived from a creek and a valley called Oris close to the city of Hölstein.
In 1906, Oris opened its first branch in Switzerland.
In 1911, the Swiss watch manufacturer expanded its business and employs hundreds of new workers.
In 1925, the brand opened its first electroplating manufacture. Oris started making quite affordable quality wristwatches and began to sell their watches to new customers in United Kingdom, the British colonies and South America.
In 1927, George Christian died and in 1928, his brother-in-law Oscar Herzog took over the management of the company until 1971.
In 1942, the watchmaker developed a method to harden the brass movements to ensure the watch’s accuracy and durability for several years.
In 1944, the company became famous for the quality of its plating.
In 1949, Oris is increasingly getting involved in manufacturing water resistant watches.
In 1952, the brand released its famous automatic movement 601.
In the early 1960s, the legendary watch manufacturer expanded its original building to expand its manufacturing capabilities. By the early 1960s, Oris became one of the 10 largest Swiss watch manufacturers.
In 1966, Oris began its manufacture of its famous automatic movement 645.
In 1968, the brand was granted a chronometer certificate for its movement 652.
In 1970, the watch producer released its first chronograph watch called Chronoris.
In the early 1970s, the quartz crisis started. Japan invented the affordable, cheap and reliable quartz movement and many traditional Swiss watch manufacturers – who were manufacturing automatic/mechanical movements – soon went bankrupt. Oris decided for financial reasons to sell many of its shares to ASUAG Holding – which today is part of the Swatch Group. Oris’ manufacture was limited to manufacturing and selling strictly cheap watches. Despite low production expenses, Oris was hit hard financially.
In the early 1980s, Oris made a comeback, through a management buyout.
In 1984, a certain Oris Collection made a comeback: the Oris Pointer Date Calendar. Despite the quartz crisis in the 1970s, the world and indeed the Japanese themselves, are still interested in mechanical watches. Oris decided to focus more on expensive mechanical watches.
In 1991, the watch manufacturer launched its famous complication movement 581 – equipped with a second time zone, date, moonphase function and week day function. The same year, Oris launched the Oris XXL Pointer Day.
In 1996, the luxury brand launched its Oris Jazz Collection.
In 1997, the watchmaker released its famous movement 690.
In 1998, Oris decided that the form and shape of their watches would become a top priority. The logic was that the function that would determine the form. The same year Oris launched a full steel collection.
In 1999, the watch producer launched the BC3 Pilot’s Watch with a distinctly sporty look.
In 2000, Oris paid homage to Louis Armstrong with an Oris Jazz Watch in a limited edition. The same year, Oris released the Oris XXL Collection.
In 2001, the watch manufacturer released a sporty tool watch/peformance watch called Oris TT1.
In 2002, Formula 1 driver Allan McNish started using Oris watches.
In 2003, the luxury brand became the official timekeeper of the BMW Williams Formula 1 Team.
In 2005, Oris extended its sponsorship to the Williams Formula 1 Team. Oris also produced a limited edition of watched dedicated to the Williams Formula 1 Team.
In 2006, Oris became a partner of the Venezuelan freediver/world-record diver Carlos Coste. He became a spokesperson for the Oris brand.
In 2008, the company released the Oris BC4 Flight Timer Pilot’s Watch. It offers a compass and three time zones.
In 2009, the watch producer introduced and applied for a patent for its Oris Rotation Safety System, which is a safety system used for the bezels on Oris’ divers watches.
In 2012, the luxury watch manufacturer released the Oris Artix GT Chronograph Watch.
In 2013, Oris launched an extraordinarily well made divers watch called Oris Aquis Depth Gauge.
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A Review of Oris’ mission
Oris’ mission is to manufacture and offer only mechanical watches, at affordable prices.
According to Oris, they have never made a single battery driven watch, and they never will. Oris’ designs are practical and functional and made for daily usage.
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A Review of Oris’ manufacture
Oris is a fully, and 100% independent watch manufacturer, and is directly run by its owners. Very few Swiss brands are still independent. Only a handful of Swiss brands, such as Rolex, Breitling, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe, are truly independent.
Oris only makes automatic/mechanical watches. Oris’ watches and movements must pass through exacting and demanding tests before they are sold to watch retailers around the world.
The brand does make to a certain extent in-house made movements. Its very first in-house made movement is called Calibre 110 and was released in 2014. The overwhelming majority of Oris’ movements, are either Sellita movements procured from Sellita, or ETA and Valjoux movements, procured from Swatch Group.
Despite Oris’ independence, the brand relies heavily on other organizations making their movements.
Oris’ watches are sturdy, robust, practical, and made for everyday use, and are characterized by their bulky build, and red colored rotor fitted inside their automatic movements.
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A Review of Oris’ movements
In 2014, Oris started making an in-house made movement called Calibre 110. But, to be perfectly honest, most Oris collections either utilise Sellita or ETA/Valjoux movements.
Oris Aquis:
- Oris automatic movement 733, base movement Swiss automatic SW 200-1 (Sellita), with 26 jewels, 28,800 vph, and a 38 hour power reserve.
- Oris automatic movement 735, base movement Swiss automatic SW 220-1 (Sellita), with 26 jewels, 28,800 vph, and a 38 hour power reserve.
- Oris automatic movement 743, base movement Swiss automatic SW 220-1 (Sellita), with 28 jewels, 28,800 vph, and a 38 hour power reserve.
- Oris automatic movement 749, base movement Swiss automatic SW220-1 (Sellita), with 28 jewels, 28,800 vph, and a 38 hour power reserve.
- Oris automatic movement 752, base movement Swiss automatic SW 220-1 (Sellita), with 26 jewels, 28,800 vph, and a 38 hour power reserve.
- Oris automatic movement 774, base movement Swiss automatic SW 500 (Sellita) with 25 jewels, 28,800 vph, and a 48 hour power reserve.
Oris Divers:
- Oris automatic movement 733, base movement Swiss automatic SW 200-1 (Sellita), with 26 jewels, 28,800 vph, and a 38 hour power reserve.
- Oris automatic movement 771, base movement Swiss automatic SW 510 (Sellita), with 27 jewels, 28,800 vph, and a 48 hour power reserve. This is a chronograph movement with no date function.
Oris ProDiver:
- Oris automatic movement 761, base movement Swiss automatic SW 220-1 (Sellita) with 26 jewels, 28,800vph, and a 38 hour Power reserve.
- Oris automatic movement 774, base movement Swiss automatic SW 500 (Sellita) with 25 jewels, 28,800 vph, and a 48 hour power reserve.
Sellita is a more affordable alternative to an ETA/Valjoux movement, and Sellita movements are essentially ETA-clones in a more affordable price range.
These are simple, robost, reliable and accurate movements – but in all honesty – no higher end movements. They aren’t in-house made, and they aren’t examples of fine watchmaking or higher watchmaking. They are practical and reliable performance machines.
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A Review of Oris’ reputation
Oris is considered to be a mid-tier luxury watch brand.
The watch manufacturer probably belongs to the world’s top 20-30 watch brands. It’s not a member of the absolute elite of Swiss watch manufacturers.
The very first thing that comes to mind when I hear the brand name Oris, is extreme divers watches. Oris manufactures divers watches – a lot of them!
Oris has a good and decent reputation and it’s one of very few independent Swiss watchmakers left. The brand has existed since 1904. Oris’ watches are available at retailers across the world.
Oris is quite famous and popular among many watch enthusiasts and connoisseurs because it’s an affordable brand (everything is relative – of course!) that offers automatic/mechanical movements. Usually you have to spend a lot more to get a Swiss automatic/mechanical watch.
Oris isn’t about fine watchmaking or in-house movements. Oris is a relatively affordable Swiss luxury brand which offers relatively affordable luxury watches.
I would probably place Oris in the same price and prestige category such as TAG Heuer, and Longines.
If you want a Swiss luxury watch brand and manufacturer that fulfill the following criteria:
- relatively affordable,
- offers technically advanced divers watches with attention to aesthetic detail,
- offers automatic-mechanical movements and wristwatches only,
- and offers watches with a big, bulky, hefty, and sporty tool watch appearance, then this is absolutely and most definitely the right brand for you.
Let’s see Oris for what it is: it’s not Rolex and Omega, and it doesn’t imitate Rolex and Omega either. Oris isn’t trying to be Rolex or Omega. Oris is Oris. This brand is proud of its identity and offers relatively affordable watches.
The reason why Oris is so affordable is because it mainly utilises the Sellita SW200 movement procured from Sellita. Sellita is a more affordable alternative to Swatch Group’s ETA/Valjoux movements, and procuring movements from a third party means that the watch manufacturer doesn’t need to take upon themselves the financial burden of manufacturing their own movements. Oris rarely makes their own movements. That makes the brand less prestigious – for sure – but it also significantly reduces the cost!
What I really like about this brand – except for its relative affordability and mechanical movements, is that you can spend somewhere between $1,000-$2,000, and get a diver watch with a water resistance ranging from 500 meters to 1000 meters!
You usually have to spend a fortune to get a Swiss luxury diver watch with a 500 m – 1000 m water resistance! Oris can offer you a 500 m – 1000 m water resistance at only the fraction of the price Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Jaeger LeCoultre and IWC would charge you.
Oris produces among the coolest looking combined divers and tool watches ever made!
It’s easy to see just why Oris is so popular!
Among the celebrities that have worn Oris watches, you’ll find Harrison Ford, Nicholas Cage, Meg Ryan and Gwyneth Paltrow.
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A Review of Oris’ ranking
My ranking of Oris: top 20-30 brands.
It’s debatable how you actually rank a brand, and a ranking is never objective, but the best way to turn a subjective ranking into an “objective” one is to rely on certain criteria. My ranking criteria of course are entirely subjective, and they aren’t set in stone.
I use 14 criteria in determining the ranking of a particular brand, such as (1) a long and respected history, (2) limited supply and large demand, (3) reputation/status/prestige, (4) whether the brand is independent or not, (5) pioneering spirit and innovations, (6) impact on watchmaking history and modern culture, (7) general in-house production, (8) whether the brand relies on in-house made movements or not, (9) whether or not the brand makes movement complications, (10) steel grade, (11) build quality, (12) price range, (13) good resale value, and (14) market presence.
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Prices for Oris Watches
- Oris Aquis can be found $600 – $4,000 price range. Most of the Oris Aquis watches are however found in the $600 – $2,000 price range.
- Oris Divers can be found in the $1,000 – $2,000 price range.
- Oris ProDiver can be found in the $1,800 – $4,000 price range.
Oris Official Website
If you have any comments or questions please drop them below and I’ll be happy to answer them!
Hi!
Does the Oris 752 have any kind of magnetic Field protection?
I own a BC ProPilot AirRacing and have been searching the web for an answer but its a bit tricky to find.
Thank you, best regards Johan from Sweden
Hi Johan!
And a very warm welcome to swissdiverswatches.com.
Oris 752 is based on Sellita Caliber SW200-1, which in turn is based on ETA 2824 – which is a very solid, robust, reliable albeit a very generic workhorse movement.
Sellita has 26 jewels instead of ETA’s 25 jewels.
Otherwise it seems that Sellita movements and ETA movements are pretty much interchangeable with only minor mechanical differences setting them apart.
What makes a movement/caliber anti-magnetic is the hairspring. The hairspring needs to be made from a non-magnetic material, and the hairspring is the spring inside your movement that regulates the speed at which your hour-, minute-, and second hands move, thus determining the accuracy of your watch.
Rolex and Omega for example are known to utilize anti-magnetic hairsprings inside their movements/calibers.
To my knowledge, neither Sellita movements nor generic ETA movement utilize anti-magnetic hairsprings.
Therefore the answer to your question is most likely “no” – no, Oris 752 is not anti-magnetic – unfortunately.
I hope it answers your question and if you’ve got additional questions don’t hesitate to post additional comments.
Cheers!
Alexander