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Watch lovers love to love Oris watches. (You follow?) And how can one not love them — the company offers incredible fit and finish in all-Swiss watches at prices that are impossible to beat. That’s been the Oris story all along, and the proof is in the pudding, as these are incredibly well made and good looking timepieces that hold their own alongside Omega, Rolex, and IWC at a fraction of the price. While those brands start around the $5,000 mark, Oris rarely crests above that mark. Many Oris watches cost between $2,000 and $3,000, and plenty are below that, too, making them one of the most approachable among established Swiss brands operating today.
Tracing its founding to 1904, the name Oris derives from the river that runs behind the factory. (Because Swiss watch companies have relied on hydropower since the late 1800s, it follows that where there’s a long-established watch factory, there’s probably a river.) As such, the name Oris encapsulates an essentially Swiss industrial ideal — one that’s tied to nature in a way that resonates with Oris’ outdoorsy inclinations, as well with the company’s support of environmental conservation through support of various conservationist organizations.
OrisOris has always been a brand that serious watch folks know about, but in recent years the company has elevated its prominence in a couple ways: First, by releasing smash-hit vintage-inspired models, especially their acclaimed Divers 65 watches. More recently, however, the brand announced its impressive Calibre 400 in-house movement powering a growing number of collection favorites at aggressive price points. Competing with the likes of Tudor and Nomos for bang-for-buck in-house movements, it offers a five-day power reserve, antimagnetic properties, a refined look and a 10-year warrantee.
Oris operates independently, and the absence of an overseeing holding company allows them to react nimbly to their customers’ desires. Oris has accessible and friendly people at the helm, and these people are in the field meeting customers, whether at trade shows small or large or at local watch nerd meet-ups. That intimacy is how Oris knows so readily what its customers want in a watch.
The Oris catalog is divided into four clear categories: dive watches, aviation watches and more traditional, non-sports oriented watches that primarily exist in the Artelier collection. It’s a rather deep and broad catalog, but one that’s also clearly delineated. The snappy guide below will have you finding the Oris that’s right for you in no time.
