| Quick specs Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition Price: CHF 2’400 | € 2.300 | $ 2,600 | approx. £ 1,900 Size: 40 mm Reference: 01 732 7736 4081 LS  |
A lot of brands desperately want to get a piece from the retro hype. Oris does so, successfully, with the Divers Sixty-Five and the Chronoris. And this is a truly vintage tribute: the Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition.
It is based on the first Oris pilot’s wristwatch from around 1917. The original round, brass-cased watch has a big crown, an aluminum dial and a pin-lever movement. It is more a pocket watch with a big crown and wire loops that were soldered to its case. This was common practice during the First World War as officers looked for practical ways of wearing watches.
The Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition is limited to 1917 pieces
The Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition with cuff strap, standard leather strap and the original Big Crown 1917
Not at all what Oris had previously thought, that the Big Crown from 1938 they discovered was their first pilot’s watch. A more different story then that deserved – in Oris’s opinion – a new watch.
The Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition is a very faithful reissue of the original. The 40-millimeter steel case even has the thin wire inspired lugs, a large crown and the curved round looks. The blued steel hands and the grainy structure of the silver dial with the original Oris-logo complete the historical design of the watch.
A nice addition as well is the adjusted caliber 732. It has a button at 2 o’clock. To set the time you should push it down, in keeping with a quirk of the original.
The Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition is an example of a reissue done right. It has got the necessary historical looks, but with the manufacturing standards of today. The Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition has an embossed case back with the original OWC (Oris Watch Company) trademark and is presented in a leather travel pouch. This includes an additional leather strap with twin rivets as per the original.
The Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition is limited to 1,917 pieces – a nod to the birth of the original.
technical data Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition |
| Reference: 01 732 7736 4081 LS (limited to 1917 pieces) |
| Movement: Oris 732 (base Sellita SW 200-1) | Automatic | Diameter: 25.60 mm | Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz) | Jewels: 26 | Hours, minutes | Power-reserve: 38 hours |
| Case & dial: 40 mm | Stainless steel | Bubble-curved anti-reflective sapphire crystal | Screwed stainless steel case back with embossed original ‘OWC’ Oris Watch Company logo and engraved limited edition number | Silver dial with printed numerals | Blued steel hour and minute hands filled with super-luminova | Water-resistance: 5 ATM / 5 bar / 50 meters / 165 feet |
| Strap: Brown leather cuff strap and additional leather strap |
| Price Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition: CHF 2’400 | € 2.300 | $ 2,600 | approx. £ 1,900 |
| Website: www.oris.ch |