The new Oris Artelier Complication is the latest interpretation of one of Oris’s defining movements Few movements epitomise the spirit of innovation and creativity that has made Oris one of the world’s most recognised and celebrated watch companies so well as the Complication. This year, it returns in a modernised version of the Artelier to inspire a new generation of mechanical watch enthusiasts.
The Complication was first introduced in 1991 at a time when the Swiss watch industry was slowly recovering from the troubles of the Quartz Crisis. Believing in the long-term future of intricately designed and beautifully crafted traditional movements, Oris had decided in the mid-1980s to only make watches with mechanical movements. The Complication was a bold statement of intent and put a marker in the sand for the whole industry. It featured an automatic movement with day, date, moon phase and second time zone indications. This suite of useful yet romantic functions made the watch an essential tool for stylish, sophisticated international travellers. It has been part of the Oris collection ever since.
The Artelier became a series of timepieces aimed at lovers of traditional watchmaking and classic design, and helped communicate Oris’s continued commitment to the watchmaking values passed down through the generations, since the company was founded in 1904. Today, 26 years after the original Complication, Oris has introduced it into a new version of the Artelier. Oris’s designers updated the Artelier collection, giving it a sleeker, lighter, more tapered feel in keeping with the tastes of contemporary Oris customers. The new watch also has an elegant, Art-Decoinspired guilloché dial that pointed to Oris’s deep admiration for the art of traditional watchmaking. This is the first time that the new case shape and dial pattern have been married with the Complication. The result is a watch that combines day, date, moon phase and 24-hour second time zone functions with a beautifully designed, hugely versatile watch.
There are two versions, both with stainless steel cases – one with rose gold-plated hands and hour markers and a brown leather strap; and a second with blue hands and hour markers and a blue leather strap. In both, the moon phase is in two colours, giving the watch a romantic feel. In keeping with Oris’s philosophy, the Oris Artelier Complication has been designed for use in the ‘real world’. The second time zone can be adjusted quickly using the pusher at 4 o’clock, a useful function that will be appreciated by travellers.
The Complication is one of the most important movements in Oris’s history. Likewise, the Artelier is one of our most important designs. Bringing these two together creates a watch that epitomises Oris’s profound respect for traditional watchmaking as well as the company’s contemporary approach to watch design. – Oris Chairman, Ulrich Herzog
The Oris Artelier Complication creates a new benchmark in the Oris collection and perpetuates one of the independent company’s greatest movements for a new generation of watch lovers.
Technical specifications
Reference: No. 01 781 7729 4051 LS, Ø 40.00mm • Automatic mechanical movement Cal. 781, based on Sellita SW 200-1, with subdials for the date at 9 o’clock, the day at 3 o’clock and a 24-hour second time zone at 6 o’clock. Moon phase window at 12 o’clock • Multi-piece stainless steel case, crown and pushers for setting second time zone, day and date. Water-resistant to 5 bar • Sapphire crystal domed on both sides and with anti-reflective coating inside • Screwed case back with transparent mineral glass • Silver guilloché dial with applied blue painted hands and indices. Hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova® • Dark blue leather strap with stainless steel folding clasp. Also available with stainless steel bracelet • Swiss retail price CHF 2,050 on leather strap and CHF 2,250 on metal bracelet
