Oris Watches

Founded in 1904 by Paul Cattin and Georges Christian in Hölstein, Oris is one of the few sizeable Swiss watchmakers that remains genuinely independent — not part of Swatch, Richemont, LVMH, or Kering. The brand was once the world's largest pin-pallet watchmaker (an inexpensive escapement variant), pivoted to lever-escapement production in the 1980s, and has held a consistent affordable-mechanical niche since then.

The Aquis is the brand's modern dive-watch family, with 36mm to 43.5mm case sizes, ceramic bezels, and proprietary Oris-developed bracelet quick-change systems. The Divers Sixty-Five revives the brand's 1965 dive watch in vintage-aesthetic 36mm and 40mm cases. The Big Crown ProPilot houses the brand's pilot watches, including the Big Crown Pointer Date — a 1938 reference revival with an unusual centrally-mounted date hand. The Artelier covers dress watches.

Most Oris references use modified Sellita movements, but the brand has invested heavily in its own Calibre 400 family — five-day power reserve, 10-year service interval, anti-magnetic to 2,250 gauss — which has progressively replaced the Sellita base across higher references. Pricing runs $1,800 to $5,000.