Oris Watch Announces Deal with Independent Movement Maker
Thursday - 29 March 2012
The ETA movements for Oris watches will now be made by independent movement maker Sellita.
Oris had been using movements made by the Swatch Group, but had to find a new supplier following news that access to Swatch movements would be restricted for any Swiss brand not part of the group.
Sellita was founded in 1950 and specialises in mechanical automatic movements, developing and producing its own since 2003. The independent Swiss company describes its work as a combination of "the master of the watchmakers’ craftsmanship [and] rigid quality standards".
Many watch brands have found new suppliers or established in-house movements as a result of the Swatch Group decision, including Swiss brand TAG Heuer which has announced its movements will now be provided by Seiko. "We are the first company to announce in a transparent way that we are going to fit our movements with parts from Seiko, which are known as among the best," TAG Heuer's chief executive Jean-Christophe Babin told Reuters.
Oris had been using movements made by the Swatch Group, but had to find a new supplier following news that access to Swatch movements would be restricted for any Swiss brand not part of the group.
Sellita was founded in 1950 and specialises in mechanical automatic movements, developing and producing its own since 2003. The independent Swiss company describes its work as a combination of "the master of the watchmakers’ craftsmanship [and] rigid quality standards".
Oris has spent five years preparing for the switch over, choosing not to join the Swatch Group in order to keep using its ETA movements. Paul Thurlow, Oris UK sales manager, told WatchPro: "We are a fully independent company and we intend to stay so."
Many watch brands have found new suppliers or established in-house movements as a result of the Swatch Group decision, including Swiss brand TAG Heuer which has announced its movements will now be provided by Seiko. "We are the first company to announce in a transparent way that we are going to fit our movements with parts from Seiko, which are known as among the best," TAG Heuer's chief executive Jean-Christophe Babin told Reuters.
