Oris is a highly respected Swiss watchmaking company that has been in business for over 100 years. The company takes its name from a nearby brook in Hölstein, where the brand continues to operate to this day. Founded in 1904, Oris has since grown into one of the world’s most well-known brands, and Oris watches place a primary focus on offering high-end mechanical timepieces for prices that are obtainable with most budgets.
If you aren’t already familiar with Oris, the brand’s catalog consists of four main categories: Diving, Culture, Aviation, and Motorsport. The most recognizable models include the Aquis, Divers Sixty-Five, Artelier, Big Crown ProPilot, and Williams, the latter of which Oris developed in collaboration with the Williams Formula 1 racing team. As you can probably already tell, Oris’s collection is quite large and varied, with a watch to suit nearly any wrist. Check out the Oris Artelier collection below.
Oris Artelier Collection
Key Features
– Traditional dress watch designs
– Elegant styling
– Emphasis on heritage and innovation
– In-house movements (select models)
– Numerous sizes and styles available
Click here for the answers to some common questions about Oris watches.
The Oris Artelier – An Exceptional Value Proposition
Today, Oris is committed to only producing high-quality mechanical timepieces, with many distinguished by a red rotor visible through the exhibition case-back. The brand’s quality is heralded as being on-par with some of the industry’s biggest names without commanding nearly as high of a price. If you invest in an Oris, you will get much of the same quality that many Swiss watch collectors expect without the hefty financial investment.
Oris watches are also not inexpensive by any definition of the term, but they are not nearly as costly as offerings from many of the brand’s competitors, such as Rolex, Omega, or Tag Heuer. If you’re in the market for an affordable Swiss luxury timepiece with excellent craftsmanship and an affordable price point, it is hard to beat an Oris watch.
A Lesson in Versatile Elegance
For the purpose of this review, we will shift our focus to the Oris Artelier – a collection of sophisticated dress watches that varies from simple, time-only wristwatches to those with more complicated functions, such as chronograph mechanisms, pointer dates, and even moonphase complications. The Oris Artelier series lives up to its intriguing name, with a selection of exquisitely styled wristwatches with elegant lines and mesmerizing dials.
The Artelier collection was first launched in 2003 and it has gained momentum among luxury watch enthusiasts over the years due to its exceptional craftsmanship and impressive movements. The lineup is incredibly diverse, with several case sizes, metal options, and bracelet styles. Below we take a closer look at some of the most popular and noteworthy Oris Artelier watches.
Oris Artelier Small Second Pointer Date
The pointer date is considered by many as Oris’s signature complication. It includes a dedicated hand that corresponds to a date track on the dial. This feature first appeared on Oris Big Crown watches during the 1930s and was later revived in 1984. The pointer date complication endures today and can be found on a number of different Oris watches, including several models in the Artelier collection.
The Oris Artelier Small Seconds Pointer Date features a continuous seconds register next to the 9-hour marker in place of a traditional centrally-mounted second hand, giving the Small Second Pointer Date its name. This edition of the Artelier is functional without sacrificing a clean, sophisticated design set.
You can find the Oris Artelier Small Second Pointer Date in a number of configurations, but for the sake of this review, we will focus on the ref. 01 744 7665 4051-07 1 22 73FC. While it is presented with a larger 42mm case diameter, the watch wears quite nicely on the wrist, thanks to redesigned lugs that lend themselves more easily to the bracelet. Collectors of a broad range of wrist sizes will find that this Oris Artelier watch fits comfortably on the wrist, and it also includes a domed sapphire crystal and an elegant silver guilloche dial that almost appears to radiate from its center.
At the heart of the Oris Artelier Small Seconds Pointer Date is the Caliber 744 self-winding movement (based on the SW220-1), complete with stop seconds and a date corrector. Thanks to the 38-hour power reserve, you can set the watch down before you go to bed, and it will still display the correct time when you strap it back onto your wrist the next day. In terms of value and luxury style, the Oris Artelier is an excellent option with a pre-owned price of around $1k.
Oris Artelier Date
The Oris Artelier Date keeps things clean and simple with a traditional date display paired with elegant hour markers and tapered hands. No fancy functions or registers here, just the date and time. With a domed sapphire crystal and the case’s curved lines, the Artelier Date fits nicely on most wrists and it makes the perfect accessory for both formal and casual attire. The collection features several case sizes and metal options. However, this review will focus on the 40mm ref. 01 733 7221 4053-07 8 21 79, which is crafted from stainless steel.
This edition of the Oris Artelier Date is powered by the brand’s Caliber 733 (based on the SW200), which boasts accuracy rating on-par with its competitor, the ETA 2824 movement. Oris’ signature red rotor is visible via the exhibition case-back. Waterproof up to 50 meters and boasting a 38-hour power reserve, the Oris Artelier Date is an excellent candidate for a classy everyday wristwatch. Listed at under $1k on the secondary market, this Oris watch will give you all the luxury and class that many collectors desire without breaking the bank.
Oris Artelier Chronograph
The Oris Artelier Chronograph series includes either a leather or metal bracelet option. Regardless of which version you choose, it’s safe to say that the Artelier Chronograph toes the line between a sports model and a dress watch. It’s an excellent choice if you’re in the market for a masculine take on the calssically-styled Oris Artelier. At either 40mm or 44mm in diameter, the watch also has an impressive stance on the wrist. If you’re in the market for an Oris for around $2k that makes a serious impact, the reference 01 774 7686 4051-07 5 23 70FC might just suit your style.
This Oris Artelier Chronograph boasts traditional chronograph features, such as prominent pushers on the side of the case and smaller sub-dials that register elapsed minutes and hours. The continuous running seconds register is placed just next to the 9-hour marker. In place of a sporty rotating bezel, the Oris Artelier Chronograph opts for a slim smooth bezel and an elegant 60-second track that circles just below the hour markers. As the chronograph hand sweeps around the dial, the Oris Artelier Chronograph transforms into a stopwatch. At the same time, the guilloche finish on the dial reminds the wearer that the chronograph is still a dress watch at heart. The watch offers water-resistance up to 50 meters with a domed sapphire crystal, while the mechanical chronograph movement operates on self-winding technology and includes a 38-hour power reserve, making it perfect for daily wear.
Oris Artelier Complication
The Oris Artelier Complication is one of the most fascinating editions from the collection that are featured in this review. It provides everything that any businessman or globetrotting individual could ever desire with a dual-time register, moonphase indicator, and both month and date registers. The three registers and moonphase indicator create perfect symmetry on the dial, with the moonphase displayed just under the 12-hour marker, the day at 3 o’clock, the date at 9 o’clock, and the dual-time display presented at 6 o’clock. A 60-second track intersects the registers and coordinates with the central sweeping hand.
The Oris Artelier Complication is more than deserving of its name, as this watch is truly one to be desired with many useful and intriguing functions included. It is available in either stainless steel, steel and rose gold, or steel and yellow gold, and offered with the option of either a black or silver dial and either a leather or metal bracelet. The series features a diverse collection of design sets and prices without sacrificing functionality, with prices averaging around $2k on the pre-owned market.
Oris Artelier Jumping Hour
Next on our list is the Jumping Hour edition of the Oris Artelier. This innovative wristwatch runs the Oris Caliber 917 movement (based on the SW 300-1), which includes a digital hour display at 12 o’clock via a Dubois Depraz 14400 module. Instead of a traditional, three-hand dial, the Jumping Hour opts for a unique dual-register dial topped with off-center minutes and seconds sub-dials along with a digital hour display. The dial of the watch is far from traditional. However, it’s hard to argue the practicality of the hour mechanism itself. At a glance, it’s bold and incredibly easy to read. The dial also features a stunning guilloche finish in a mesmerizing wavy pattern. With the asymmetrical placement of the hour and seconds hand, the Oris Artelier Jump Date is unlike most watches.
In true Oris Artelier fashion, the case features exquisite lines and water-resistance up to 50 meters. The Artelier Jumping Hour is on the larger size for a dress watch, measuring 40mm in diameter. However, the bezel’s shape, coupled with the domed sapphire crystal, gives it a slightly smaller appearance than its 40mm case diameter might otherwise suggest.
If you’re in the market for a unique timepiece, the Oris Artelier Jumping Hour might just fit the bill. It brings a different perspective to the dial without sacrificing the collection’s elegant styling. Secondary market prices average around $2500, and the watch also includes the collection’s standard 50-meter depth rating so that you can wear it without worry as you go about your day.
Final Thoughts
With tradition, dedication, and exceptional watch design, Oris watches prove that they are worthy alternatives to some of the most well-known luxury watches on the market. With several style options within the Oris Artelier series and affordable price points, the collection is certainly worth a closer look when considering your next luxury wristwatch purchase.
