Oris
Hölstein, Switzerland · Est. 1904
Founded by Paul Cattin, Georges Christian
Oris was founded in Hölstein in 1904 and is one of the few remaining fully independent Swiss watch manufacturers. The brand produces exclusively mechanical watches, using mostly third-party movements but with significant in-house development, and is strongly associated with diving, aviation, and motorsport.
- Founded
- 1904
- Headquarters
- Hölstein, Switzerland
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Aquis (2011) — Oris Aquis is the brand's core modern dive family: angular, tool-first, and broad enough to span standard Date, Calibre 400, chronograph, and special-edition models without losing its identity. Key references: 01-733-7789-4135-07-8-23-04PEB, 01-400-7790-4135-07-8-23-02PEB, 01-733-7789-4153-07-8-23-04PEB, 01-771-7793-4155-07-8-23-01PEB.
- Big Crown ProPilot — Oris Big Crown ProPilot is the brand’s pilot-watch family, grouping clean instrument dials, large-crown ergonomics, travel-ready editions, and modern in-house calibre pieces. Key references: 01-733-7805-4163-07-8-20-04LC, 01-733-7802-8766-07-4-20-30GLC, 01-793-7775-8724-Set, 01-400-7803-4781-Set.
- Divers Sixty-Five (2015) — Oris Divers Sixty-Five is the brand's vintage-inspired dive-watch family, reviving the look of a 1965 Oris diver with modern automatic movements, domed crystals, retro dials and broad strap options. Key references: Divers Sixty-Five 40 mm, Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph, Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy.
- Artelier — Oris Artelier is the brand’s more classical dress-watch and complication line, spanning in-house calibre pieces, calendar displays, and restrained everyday automatics. Key references: 01-113-7806-4057-07-5-22-96FC, 01-401-7812-4081-Set, 01-782-7811-4055-07-6-20-17FC, 01-733-7810-4055-07-6-20-17FC.
Timeline
- 1904 — Paul Cattin and Georges Christian found Oris in Hölstein, Switzerland, named after a nearby brook.
- 1938 — Introduces the Big Crown, designed for pilots to operate with gloves — a design still in production today.
- 1966 — Launches one of its first dive watches, beginning a long association with ocean exploration.
- 1988 — Management buyout restores Oris as an independent company, recommitting to mechanical-only watches.
- 2014 — Introduces Calibre 110, the brand's first in-house movement in decades — a hand-wound 10-day power reserve.
- 2020 — Launches the Calibre 400, a new-generation automatic with 5-day power reserve, anti-magnetic resistance and 10-year warranty.
- 2023 — Expands the ProPilot X line and launches ocean conservation limited editions as part of its Change for the Better sustainability programme.
- 2025 — Major year at Watches & Wonders: launches Big Crown Pointer Date 40mm in colourful new variants with Calibre 403, Big Crown 34mm, New York Harbor Limited Edition II, and the playful ProPilot X Miss Piggy edition. Celebrates the Divers Sixty-Five 60th anniversary.
- 2026 — Revives the Big Crown Pointer Date Bullseye dial design. Releases the Aquis Yangtze Jiangtun limited to 1,249 pieces for porpoise conservation. Launches a fully redesigned ProPilot Date collection.
Frequently Asked Questions about Oris
- Is Oris independent?
- Yes. Since a 1988 management buyout, Oris has been one of the few remaining independent Swiss watch brands, committed exclusively to mechanical watches.
- What is special about Calibre 400?
- Oris's new-generation automatic movement offers a 5-day power reserve, anti-magnetic silicon escapement components and a 10-year warranty — exceptional for its price range.
Other independent Switzerland watch brands
- Doxa — Le Locle, Switzerland
- Alpina — Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
- Tudor — Geneva, Switzerland
- Louis Erard — Le Noirmont, Switzerland