A Closer Look at the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403
Friday - 04 March 2022
For the first time, Oris equips its in-house Calibre 403 movement into the heart of a collection timepiece.
The Dubai Watch Week last year, where 45 different luxury watch brands came together to show off their latest novelties, was the perfect opportunity for Oris to unveil its Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403 model. Ever since 1938, this iconic pilot’s watch has become part of the fabric of the red rotor brand, but to mark a new chapter in its story, Oris experts have outfitted it with a new in-house engineered automatic movement. To exemplify Oris’ confidence in manufacturing its own expertly developed movements, the watch comes with a 10 year warranty. The Calibre 403 supplies a solid five-day power reserve and first appeared in the 250-piece Holstein Edition 2021. Now it powers the first collection watch in the brand’s current catalogue. It suffices to say that if you’re on the move, away from home (without your watch winder), and you want to alternate this watch with something sportier during the day – the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403 watch will keep accurate time whilst away from the wrist thanks to its ability to build up an impressive power reserve.
But there’s more. The Oris pilot’s watch, complete with its oversized crown, is dressed in a deep blue hue for displaying the time legibly as you pair it with office attire or navigate the skies with it. The watch’s original pointer date complication is as present as ever, helping uphold the Big Crown Pointer Date watch’s distinguishable elegance and its first-class style.
“New standards in Swiss automatic movements…”
The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date watch has been in constant production for over 80 years now. Its new movement is part of the Swiss watch brand’s Calibre 400 series and demonstrates new standards in Swiss automatic movements. When the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Holstein Edition 2022 was released last year, it was offered only in limited edition form, exclusive to just 250 pieces worldwide. Today, the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403 watch is a serial production model. The 2021 edition did mark a significant model for the Big Crown Pointer Date series since it came in a beautiful entrancing deep blue dial. In that same vein, this new Calibre 403 edition presents the time in the same dial shade and comes once again in a smaller case size compared to more traditional and larger Big Crown watches of the past.
This compact size recalls pre-war Big Crown watches, measuring a very manageable 38mm diameter. Another departure from the broader original offering is the replacement of its familiar coin-edged bezel which now see a smooth flat polished bezel, giving the timepiece an overall more contemporary style. Look closer into the dial and you’ll note that the cathedral-shaped hands of the older models have been replaced by sword-shaped hands that appear simpler and crisper in style. Other subtle differences can be seen in the luminous Arabic numeral hour markers, a red triangular tipped pointer date hand, and more noticeably, a small second sub-counter that resides at 6 o’clock.
Nestled inside the centre of this Oris Big Crown Pointer Date watch is the new Calibre 403. A home-grown movement that provides a reliable 5-day power reserve whilst performing at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The movement was developed by CEO Beat Fischli and his team and features; a twin-barrel movement (to take care of its lengthy power reserve), 30 non-ferrous components, and a silicon anchor and escape wheel. This deals with the damaging effects of magnetic fields, whilst its COSC tolerances are rated at an impressive – 3 / +3 seconds per day.
The deep blue Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403 watch features a sapphire crystal glass exhibition feature on its caseback to show off the performance of the new in-house manufactured movement. The same material is also used for the domed front of the model’s 50-meter water-resistant stainless steel case. This elegant two-handed watch with a small second sub-counter and peripheral date complication is both classically elegant and timeless. Designed to suit the tastes of young and mature Oris lovers, as well as new or experienced collectors - the watch brings some subtle contemporary elements into the traditional design of this highly sought-after pilot’s watch. The design is fitted on a black leather strap with an Oris-engraved stainless steel pin buckle.
If you’d like more information on the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403 watch, you can call a member of our sales team at Jura watches on 01335 453453 or purchase the watch directly from us here.
Technical specifications of the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403 watch
- Case: 38mm – stainless steel –polished and brushed – 50-meter water resistance – plain flat polished bezel – domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – oversized crown – sapphire exhibition caseback
- Dial: Rich blue – Super-LumiNova-coated Arabic numerals – red triangular pointer Date hand – small second sub-dial at 6 o’clock – periphery date scale
- Movement: Oris Calibre 043 – 5-day power reserve – automatic – 28,800 vibrations per hour - -3 / +3 seconds per day – hours, minutes, small seconds, pointer date – stop seconds device
- Strap: Black – leather – stainless steel pin buckle engraved with the famous Oris logo
- Reference: 01 403 7776 4065-07 5 19 11
- Price: £2,600
