ORIS Chronoris DATE

Be still, my beating heart! This retrolicious (did I just create a new word?) timepiece is the latest model to come out of Hölstein; returning almost 50 years after its first introduction.



Oris’s historical archives must be literally brimming with important timepieces with iconic designs, but few I imagine have quite the potential wrist-presence of the Chronoris; what a beauty!



This iconic watch is back by popular demand (of watch the geeks and collectors of the world) but can it knock the Divers SIXTY-FIVE off its spot as Oris’ most loved re-edition.

I see a slew of Chronoris iterations in the future, but for 2017 this is what we are starting with – a watch based on the 1970s Chronoris which debuted with Oris’s first in-house stop-seconds chronograph caliber.



Combining the word, chronograph with the brand’s name, the original Chronoris had a sleek case in keeping with 70s tastes. It had an orange seconds track that ran three quarters of the way around the dial and an orange central seconds hand.



Actually, for the 2017 version, that orange looks pretty red to me but the specifications do list orange as being used rather than red – am I color blind?

I digress; Oris’s teams of designers, engineers and watchmakers have reinterpreted those early 70s models to produce a retro-styled watch for today’s tastes.



Actually I haven’t got a Scooby Doo what the original Chronoris was really like but I know a good lookin’ watch when I see one.

The new Chronoris Date with its modest 39mm Stainless steel case takes its cues directly from the 1970s with its streamlined case, orange hour markers and central seconds hand, and multi-toned dial.



It is not and has never been a diver however it has an inner rotating timing bezel that is operable via a separate crown at 4 o’clock, allowing the wearer to time seconds, minutes or hours, depending on which hand the orange triangle is aligned to zero with.



Notice how the 4 o’ clock crown has its own grip with these lovely pronounced teeth while the winding crown is fluted. BTW water-resistance is as the Divers Sixty-Five, 100m, no complaints!

The Chronoris Date comes with either an distressed brown or black leather strap, or on a black rubber strap, or a grey NATO textile strap.



For the Stainless steel bracelet option, Oris’s designers returned again to an original design with a beautiful articulated bracelet with 15 links across.



Power comes from an automatic movement, Oris Cal. 733, based on Sellita SW 200-1, with date at 3 o’clock. Its Swiss retail price is 1600CHF on a strap or CHF 1800CHF on the metal bracelet.

Thoughts, any love? I should imagine a fair amount. ;)