The Oris Hölstein Edition 2020, Embracing the Beauty of Solid Bronze

ORIS | Oris

A Limited Edition Model Paying Homage to Oris's Founding Place and the History of Swiss Independent Watchmaking

EDITOR’S EYE
• Its warm, golden hue leaves a strong, yet understated, impression.
• This is a model that invites you to embrace even the patina that develops over time.
• The “Oris Bear” on the case back is utterly charming.

Oris has unveiled the limited edition “Oris Hölstein Edition 2020,” named after its home village, as a tribute to the Swiss village where it has been based for over 100 years and to the roots of Swiss independent watchmaking. Limited to 250 pieces, it is scheduled to be available exclusively at Oris Boutiques from late June 2020.

Text by OZAKI Sayaka | Edit by TSUCHIDA Takashi

The Oris Bear Engraved on the Case Back: A Symbol of a Warm and Honest Heart

On June 1, 1904, watchmakers Paul Cattin and Georges Christian founded the company in the Swiss village of Hölstein. The company was named Oris, after a local stream. More than a century later, Oris has become synonymous with Hölstein, contributing to the region through its watchmaking. In 2020, on its founding anniversary of June 1, Oris released the “Oris Hölstein Edition 2020,” named after its special home, in a limited run of 250 pieces.

This watch honors its roots in Hölstein, Switzerland, and the spirit of Swiss independent watchmaking. In its early days, Hölstein was an industrial area facing recession, located 25 kilometers north of Basel in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. However, by 1910, Oris had become the largest employer in the region and continued to grow. The economic crisis and the advent of quartz watches in the 1970s struck the Swiss watch industry with a double blow, but Oris persevered, regaining its independence in the early 1980s. It has continued to create beautiful, authentic, and practical timepieces that combine the craftsmanship of its founders with the strengths of mechanical engineering.

In 2020, this philosophy holds more significance than ever. Mechanical watches possess a unique beauty that the great poet John Keats called “a joy forever.” In these challenging times, with the COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps people need such “joy” more than ever.

This piece is based on the popular “Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph” released in the 1960s. The case, bezel, bezel insert, crown, and pushers are all cast from solid bronze, a first for the Swiss watchmaking industry. While bronze develops a unique patina over time due to natural oxidation, its strength is somewhat limited, hence the use of high-grade stainless steel for the pins, links, and case back. Despite its industrial aesthetic, the stainless steel case back is engraved with the Oris Bear, symbolizing Oris’s warm and honest heart.

Rolf Studer, Co-CEO of Oris, commented, “No one gets angry looking at this bear, do they? It encompasses so many emotions. We all project our feelings onto teddy bears as children. Watches can offer that kind of enjoyment, too. We want to provide a moment of joy in our busy lives.”