ORIS – mechanical watches with personality
Oris has been making mechanical watches in the Swiss village of Hölstein since 1904. The brand is known for doing things its own way and creating watches that combine Swiss watchmaking craftsmanship with functional design and an unpretentious approach to luxury.
These are watches with character. Made to be worn, appreciated, and to stay with you for many years.
The story of Oris
Oris was founded in 1904 by watchmakers Paul Cattin and Georges Christian. They took over a closed watch factory in Hölstein and named their new company after a nearby stream.
Their ambition was simple: to make quality mechanical watches at prices that made sense. Oris grew quickly and within a few years became an important part of the local community. Decades followed with the development of in-house movements, new technical solutions, and models that later became a core part of the brand’s identity.
When the quartz crisis hit the Swiss watch industry, Oris chose to stay true to the mechanical watch. After a management buyout in 1982, the company became independent again and decided to focus exclusively on mechanical watches.
Oris is still based in Hölstein and is today one of the few independent Swiss watch manufacturers.
Mechanics with meaning
The mechanical movement is the heart of every Oris. Here, traditional watchmaking craftsmanship meets modern materials, new ideas, and functions with a real purpose.
At Oris, it is not about making things complicated for complexity’s sake. A watch should be reliable, easy to read, and comfortable to wear. At the same time, it may well have colour, personality, and details that make it something special.
It is Swiss watchmaking with both feet on the ground.
Watches that make you smile
A mechanical watch does not have to be solemn. At Oris, watchmaking is also about the joy of good design, fascinating mechanics, and the small details you discover over time.
That idea is captured by Oris in the words “Make People Smile”. It is expressed in watches with personality, unexpected colours, and an approach to Swiss watchmaking that never takes itself too seriously.
At the same time, Oris works to run its business with consideration for both people and the planet. A watch should not only feel right on the wrist – it should also make sense in the world it becomes part of.
Oris’ collections
From modern dive watches and classic pilot watches to more technical and experimental models. Oris’ collections each have their own expression, but share the same mechanical foundation.
Aquis
Aquis is Oris’ modern dive watch. The collection is developed with a focus on function, legibility, and robustness under water, but the clean design makes the watches just as suitable on land.
An obvious choice for those who want a sporty, versatile watch that can be worn every day.
Divers
The Divers collection draws inspiration from Oris’ historic dive watches. Here, a relaxed vintage look meets modern materials and mechanical movements.
Divers Sixty-Five is among the collection’s best-known models and has clear design roots in the dive watches of the 1960s.
Big Crown
Big Crown was originally created for pilots and is easy to recognise by its large crown and distinctive date display with a central hand.
The model has been part of Oris’ history since 1938. Today, the Big Crown Pointer Date stands as one of the brand’s most distinctive watches – classic, functional, and with a personality all its own.
ProPilot
ProPilot is inspired by aviation instruments. The watches combine high legibility and a robust construction with a clean, technical design.
The collection is made for people on the move and feels just as natural in everyday life as it does when travelling.
ProPilot X
ProPilot X shows Oris from its more modern and experimental side. The collection has a bold, industrial design language, where materials, construction, and mechanics become a visible part of the design.
These are modern mechanical watches for those who want something you do not see on every wrist.
Find your Oris
An Oris is for those who appreciate mechanics, thoughtful design, and a watch with its own story.
Whether you are looking for a classic everyday watch, a robust dive watch, or a modern pilot model, you get a Swiss quality watch made to be worn – and to make you smile.
Henning Stæhr A/S is the distributor of Oris in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. If you are a retailer and would like to carry the brand, you are welcome to contact us.