A joyful annual tradition. This is how Oris describes its Hölstein Edition, this watch unveiled every year in June to celebrate its anniversary. In 2024, this “joy” is not necessarily obvious, as the watch adopts a monochrome black look, but the result is still very appealing…
The Oris house celebrates its 120th anniversary in 2024!
She may not have the aura of some of her Swiss counterparts, but Oris manufacture can boast a very rich history! 120 years after its creation, it remains today one of the “rare” independent Swiss watch companies and the only one based in the Waldenburg valley, 25 km south of Basel.
Even though we’ve already discussed it on Masculin.com, this 120th anniversary is the ideal occasion to delve back into Oris’s history. Everything started in Hölstein on June 1, 1904, when Paul Cattin and Georges Christian arrived in the Waldenburg valley to establish a new kind of watchmaking house. These enterprising and independent watchmakers had a simple vision: to combine the tradition of mechanical watchmaking with the most advanced tools of their time in order to produce high-quality pieces that have meaning. Their vision was to create watches that not only indicate time accurately and perform their function reliably, but also bring joy to their owners.
It should also be noted that Oris is often presented as a pioneer in terms of well-being and diversity for its employees. It was one of the first to build houses for craftsmen and their families, provide transport for those living in the north, in Basel, and take care of the canteens to ensure the happiness and health of all.
In the 1960s, Oris became one of the largest watchmaking companies in Switzerland, employing over a thousand people in Hölstein. Although, like many others, the brand faced the quartz crisis after 1969, it claims the development and production of 279 unique calibers. Toolwatches, pilot’s watches or diving watches, Oris is renowned for its reliable and robust timepieces, as evidenced by its iconic Big Crown, Aquis Date or Divers.
A watch with a black finish, a first for Oris!
It was in 2020 that Oris unveiled its first Hölstein Edition, an all-bronze Divers watch. Since then, every June 1st, the brand unveils a limited edition to celebrate its anniversary and delight collectors!
With this 120th anniversary as a watermark, the 2024 batch of this Hölstein Edition was particularly anticipated and it has to be acknowledged that the result lives up to expectations: Oris thus presents a “full black” version of its retro watch, the Divers Sixty-Five. This may seem trivial, but this black finish is a first for the brand.
The 40 mm stainless steel case, bezel, and crown are plated in black DLC. Showcasing a monochrome look, its hands and indexes, the dial text, and the date wheel are all the same shade, as is the rubber band.
This is also the first time that Oris has paired a bezel with a minute scale (rather than a 12-hour scale) on a Divers Sixty-Five with the in-house Calibre 400. This watch has a five-day power reserve, strong anti-magnetic resistance, and boasts water resistance up to 100 meters. The back of the case (plated in black DLC of course!) is engraved with the limited edition number and the iconic Oris Bear: the cute bear here is wearing a swimsuit and sunglasses, reminding of Paul Cattin and Georges Christian’s desire to put a smile on the faces of their watch owners.
As per the Hölstein Edition, this all-black Divers Sixty-Five will only be produced in 250 copies, available in Oris boutiques as well as at authorized dealers like Ocarat. Its price is set at 3900 euros.
