Oris Updates Big Crown Pointer Date with Vibrant Colours and Alternative Movement

While many collectors’ thoughts will turn to pieces such as the Aquis, the Diver, or even the recently revitalised Pro Pilot series as always being Oris’ primary focus, the Big Crown Pointer Date remains the true cornerstone of the brand. And based on today’s releases at Watches and Wonders, that couldn’t be more true. At a glance, Oris has just announced new core collection additions, a new bracelet option, and a further roll-out of the Calibre 403. There’s a lot to unpack here, and if you’re a past, present or potentially future Pointer Date owner, Oris has something for you.

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date

Never a manufacturer to avoid embracing expressive colours and bold renderings, Oris comes to us with five new watches within the Pointer Date at two different price points. Starting with the three most eye-catching additions, a new yellow, blue, and lilac enter the 40mm lineup. Until now, the only configurations available at this size were the more conventionally traditional ones best identified by their large cathedral-style handset framed by the coin-edged bezels. Conversely, these dials offer universal appeal with softer numerals, pencil hands, and an overall more refined appearance; in other words, they are the ideal canvas for a splash of colour.

The trio in question are tastefully unconventional in execution, with the yellow leaning more pastel mustard, the blue giving a vibrant turquoise pop, and the lilac offering a surprisingly subtle versatility. Each dial also sees complementary colours on the pointer of the date hand in the form of a lighter yellow, mint green, and airforce blue, respectively. To underscore the universal daily watch potential of these colourful new entries, Oris has also added a new H-link design bracelet, a real evolution of the Pointer Date.

Behind the see-through casebacks, these new additions are powered by Oris’ more accessible, non-in-house calibre, the calibre 754. While Oris has spent the past five years rolling out their in-house Calibre 400–more on that in a moment– they’ve still maintained their use of Sellita-based movements. This approach speaks to Oris’s awareness of all collectors, as thanks to the movement being based upon the SW200-1, these three watches join the Oris collection as permanent additions at a retail price of CHF 2,000 (approx. £1,750).

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403

The themes set out by the previous trio continue into the following additions as they deliver on the colourful front, just in slightly different executions. Stepping into Oris’ in-house movement production, the other new Big Crown Pointer Date models are also 40mm in width but see an earthy green and a muted salmon-like terracotta dial colour join the ever-competitive collection.

Not as punchy as the Cotton Candy colours within the Diver collection debuted in 2021, and also not as subtle as the mysterious blue dial from the previous in-house powered Pointer Date from the same year, these colours are the perfect blend of familiar yet different.

The Oris 403 is at the heart of these two new watches, and their statistics always make for eyebrow-raising reading. The automatic calibre boasts five days of autonomy (that’s 120-hours for those keeping count), vibrates at 28,800 vph, provides high resistance to anti-magnetism, and comes with a ten-year recommended service interval with a ten-year warranty. Also made available on the newly announced super sporty steel H link bracelet as well as Cervo Volante leather straps, these two new in-house Pointer Dates start at CHF 3,600 on the leather strap and rise to CHF 3,800 on the metal bracelet (approx. £3,150/£3,225).

The Pointer Date has remained in constant production for almost 90 years and based on Oris’ of-the-moment sensibilities today, it’s not difficult to see why. On paper, one could argue that the essence of the Pointer Date is a little antiquated in its configuration, but based on Oris’ hot streak of executions lately, that argument simply falls apart.

While the bright colours of the Calibre 754 additions certainly will dominate headlines, the new bracelet will be the underlying, major quality of life win here for many collectors. Everyone knows by now how impactful strap changes can be, but previously the only bracelet option for the Pointer Date was a beads of rice style one that leaned heavily into the heritage of the model. On the other hand, this new H link bracelet reframes the model as an even more versatile option that is certain to appeal to old and new collectors alike.

More details at Oris.

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