What to know more about the Oris Pilot Watch collection then this updated 2023 guide to help you learn more.
As a manufacturer of premium watches built for specific purposes, Oris continues its tradition of delivering high-quality accessories by presenting a collection designed for pilots.
About Oris Aviation Watches
Oris aviation watches are known for being durable, reliable, and accurate.
They have straight-to-the-point designs that enable anyone to quickly read the time and date in a flash.
This simple but ergonomic design is especially helpful for pilots who only have a few seconds of focus to spare in looking at the time since they have a lot of things to think about.
People who love the complicated look of pilot watches are in for a ride with the wide collection of Oris aviation watches.
For those who want a reliable, basic watch, Oris presents watches with large numeral markers for easy visibility.
Oris Aviation Watch Collection
Oris aviation watches are available in four different series, namely the Big Crown, the Big Crown ProPilot, the BC3, and the limited edition Air Racing series.
Oris Big Crown
The Oris Big Crown series is, well, known for having large crowns which are easy to hold and turn.
They have a classic look with large Arabic numeral hour markers.
Most of them have an extra hand that acts as a date pointer while others have the usual day-date windows.
Features:
- Size varies from 25mm to 50mm
- Dates written on the outer rim of the dial
- Stainless steel case
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystals
- Leather strap
- Screw-down crown
- Hands and hour markers coated with Superluminova or Light Old Radium
- Automatic self-winding movement with 28’800 A/h, 4 Hz vibrations
- Power reserve of up to 38 hours
- Water resistance of up to 100m
Pros:
- Extremely legible watch face
- Strong lume brightness
- One-of-a-kind date pointer mechanism
- Wide size variety gives chance to those with smaller wrists to wear this wonderful timepiece
Cons:
- Large crown might annoy some users
- Date window is a bit small
- A bit pricey for its basic features
Price Range: $500 to $2,500
Oris BC3
The BC3 series is an Oris aviation watch which features simplistic designs with the sole purpose of enabling users to quickly read the time in a glance.
It has a solid-colored dial with large Arabic numeral hour markers and highly-legible day-date windows.
Features:
- Size varies from 40mm to 43.5mm
- Stainless steel case plated with black or grey PVD
- Available in a variety of dial colors
- Day-date windows at the 6 o’clock position
- See-through case back
- Strap available in leather, rubber, stainless steel, and textile variants
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystals
- Hands, numerals, and hour markers coated with Superluminova
- Automatic self-winding movement with 28’800 A/h, 4 Hz vibrations
- Power reserve of up to 38 hours
- Water resistance of up to 100m
Pros:
- Highly legible day, date, and time displays
- Excellent lume brightness
- Solid, durable build
Cons:
- Plain-looking bezel looks boring
- Large crown might annoy some users
- A bit pricey for its basic features
Price Range: $775 to $1,500
Oris Big Crown ProPilot
The Big Crown ProPilot series feature highly-functional timepieces designed for pilots who value both the aesthetics and features of the watch.
All watches in the series have large hands and big Arabic numeral hour markers which make reading the time quick and easy.
Some Oris aviation watches in this series feature basic day-date functions while some have chronograph functions, altimeters, GMT hands, 2nd time zone complications, and power reserve indicators.
Features:
- Size varies from 40mm to 47mm
- Day and/or date windows
- Stainless steel/titanium case
- Variants of leather, stainless steel, and canvas straps
- Hands and numerals laced with Superluminova
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystals
- Automatic self-winding movement with 28’800 A/h, 4 Hz vibrations
- Power reserve of 38 up to 240 hours
- Water resistance of 50m up to 100m
Pros:
- Some models have huge power reserves
- Twisting turbine pattern of bezel looks attractive
- Extremely legible watch face
Cons:
- Large crown might annoy some users
- Color of date window sometimes meld with the dial color, making it a bit hard to read
- Even the models with basic features cost more than your typical watch
Price Range: $1,100 to $5,500
Oris Air Racing Edition
The Air Racing Edition is one of the few Oris aviation watches made especially for a specific person.
This special series is dedicated to the Swiss aerobatic pilot Don Vito Wyprächtiger.
It features watches with large diameters and big Arabic numeral hour markers for a no-frills design which enables the wearer to quickly tell the time, day, and date in an instant.
Features:
- Size varies from 45mm to 55mm
- Day-date window at the 3 o’clock position
- Stainless steel case
- Choice of textile or stainless steel bracelet
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystals
- Seconds hand has a colored tip
- Hands and numeral hour markers coated with Superluminova
- Automatic self-winding movement with 28’800 A/h, 4 Hz vibrations
- Power reserve of up to 38 hours
- Water resistance of up to 100m
Pros:
- Strong lume brightness
- Large font sizes for better legibility
- Durable build for everyday use
Cons:
- Hard to find since only a limited number of pieces were made
- Limited designs to choose from
- It’s large and a bit heavy
Price Range: $1,850 to $2,050
Conclusion
Oris aviation watches mix functionality and aesthetics without deviating from the purpose of enabling anyone to easily tell the time and date in a single glance.
Overall, they’re fairly priced when you consider their durability and high attention to detail as seen on the suave feel of the watches.
If you want a highly legible watch with a durable build, the Oris aviation watches we’ve listed will surely fit your criteria.
