Oris Chronoris

Oris released the Star Chronoris in 1970. In the years that followed, they produced models with different case and dial designs. This original Chronoris model was also Oris' first attempt at creating and marketing a chronograph. While that may sound like a relatively standard milestone for any watch manufacturer, it's actually quite remarkable since it came at the height of the quartz crisis.

The current Chronoris collection is like stepping back into the 1970s. Oris reintroduced this legendary timepiece in 2005, putting a modern spin on many of the classic features. Each watch has a distinctive oval case that hearkens back to the original models. Dials with red or blue accents further enhance the retro feel of these timepieces. However, while the older versions used manual calibers, Oris equips the modern editions with automatic movements.

Oris created a limited edition Chronoris chronograph in honor of the Williams Racing team's 40th anniversary. Only 1,000 copies exist of this timepiece. There's also a limited edition with red accents. This stainless steel watch comes on a leather or rubber strap, each limited to a run of 200 pieces.

The Chronoris chronograph has an oval case made of brushed stainless steel. It measures 40 mm in diameter and is water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft). Like all Oris watches, it features domed sapphire glass with an internal anti-reflective coating. Each case is mounted on a rubber strap, leather strap, or stainless steel bracelet. The Oris caliber 673 ticks away inside this timepiece. This movement is based on the proven ETA 7750.

There are central hands for the hours, minutes, and chronograph seconds, as well as a date at 3, a 12-hour counter at 6, and a minute counter at 12 o'clock. SuperLuminova coats the hands and indices with red tips. Another defining feature of this watch is its red tachymeter scale that wraps around three-quarters of the dial. Paired with a stainless steel bracelet, this model costs around 2,900 USD new. Oris sells the same watch for 3,300 euros (approx. 3,600 USD) on their website.

The Chronoris Williams 40th Anniversary Edition is technologically identical to the standard model but replaces red with the colors of the Williams Formula One racing team for the tachymeter scale and chronograph seconds hand. What's more, the case back is engraved with Williams' emblem instead of the Oris logo. You can purchase a mint-condition timepiece on Chrono24 for about 3,100 USD. The same watch has an official list price of 3,650 euros (approx. 4,000 USD).

The first three-hand Chronoris model was the Chronoris Date. This 39-mm watch is water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft) and comes with five different band options: stainless steel, rubber, NATO, and black or brown leather. What's more, you can also choose from a black or gray dial.

Oris equips each date model with the automatic caliber 733, which is based on the Sellita SW 200-1. This movement powers the central set of hands for the hours, minutes, and seconds, as well as the date display at 3 o'clock. There's also a distinctive inner ring that you can rotate to measure intervals of a minute or less. This function is operated using the additional crown. The inner ring's zero marker, the second hand, and the index tips add a burst of bright red to the version with a black dial. Furthermore, the hands and indices glow in the dark.

The case of the black edition is mounted on a dark brown leather strap or stainless steel bracelet. It sells for roughly 1,400 USD new, with official list prices of 1,550 and 1,750 euros, depending on the band (approx. 1,700 and 2,000 USD). Like the black model, its gray counterpart also has colorful accents, but in orange instead of red. Prices for a new watch on a stainless steel bracelet sit around 1,500 USD, while the version on a NATO strap demands some 1,300 USD. These two models have official list prices of 1,750 and 1,550 euros, respectively (approx. 1,900 and 1,700 USD).

Founded in the Swiss town of Hölstein in 1904, Oris originally specialized in the production of pocket watches. They began making wristwatches in 1925 by outfitting pocket watches with lugs and leather straps. In 1938, Oris introduced the very first Big Crown with a pointer date. That same year, they also opened their own dial and escapement factory. Their first automatic caliber followed in 1952. Known as the 601, this movement also features a power reserve indicator. The company eventually released their first diving watch with a rotatable bezel, a depth rating of 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft), and luminous indices in 1965.

As a result of the quartz crisis, their workforce fell dramatically from 900 to only a few dozen in 1970. Switzerland's largest Watch Group and precursor to the modern Swatch Group, ASUAG (Allgemeine Schweizer Uhrenindustrie AG), acquired the company that same year. Ulrich W. Herzog and Rolf Portmann bought the ailing company from ASUAG in 1982. In 1984, they righted the ship with the re-release of the Big Crown Pointer Date and have been heading in the right direction ever since.

Oris expanded its catalog by a number of collections throughout the 1990s and 2000s. New additions from this era include the Aquis, Artelier, and Divers.
Oris began making their own calibers in 2014, beginning with the caliber 110. Each new movement has built upon that original caliber.
Some changes took place at the executive level in 2016. Ulrich W. Herzog remains the vice president and now receives support from co-CEOs Claudine Gertiser-Herzog and Rolf Studer.