Oris ProPilot 57th Reno Air Races Limited Edition

Oris is a darling amongst watch enthusiasts today.

With hits such as the Diver 65, Pointer Date, and Big Crown Pilot line headlining their collection, a slew of awesome special limited-edition models released annually, and a decidedly community-facing way of doing business rounding them out, Oris is appreciated — if not beloved — by beginner and tenured collectors alike.

The Big Crown is perhaps the maison’s most storied collection, with additions both vintage and recent that have become favorites in the eyes of the watch community. This particular Big Crown, a Propilot Reno Air Races Limited Edition, is unique for an interesting reason: The event that it celebrates, the 57th Annual Reno Air Race, never actually occurred — it was canceled upon the onset of COVID-19 back in 2020! Nevertheless, the watch is beautiful in its own right, and deserving of your consideration.

Housed in a 41mm, grey PVD-plated stainless steel case with a fluted bezel, a double-domed sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown, and an engraved, screw-down caseback, it features a matte black dial with lumed, white ‘Arabic’ indices, an outer minute track, an outer 24-hour track, an inner date track, and a lumed ‘sword’ handset with a blue-tipped GMT hand. Vintage-inspired but contemporary in execution, it makes for an excellent traveler’s watch.

Powering this brute beauty is the Oris Caliber 798, based on the Sellita SW-330. Automatic and featuring 25 jewels and a 41-hour power reserve, it incorporates an independently adjustable GMT hand for quick time zone changes. Paired to the watch is a black textile strap with a grey PVD-plated, stainless steel folding clasp. 

You certainly don’t need to be a pilot to appreciate this sleek, highly modern take on the pilot’s watch aesthetic — though it also wouldn’t hurt! Swing by Analog:Shift to take this one for a spin.

Like so many other Swiss watchmaking dynasties, Oris was nearly put out of business by the Quartz Crisis — the proliferation of cheap, mass-produced, battery-powered watches from Asia. But, much to the delight of mechanical watch devotees the world over, the company endured.

Founded in Hölstein in 1904, Oris quickly grew to become a horological powerhouse, employing some 300 people by 1911 across multiple facilities. By 1936, upon the opening of its own dial factory in Biel/Bienne, Oris was producing nearly all its own components in-house. In 1938 the firm debuted its signature Big Crown pilot’s watch, which forms the basis of the brand’s modern catalog. With its dealer network compromised by the Second World War, Oris survived by manufacturing alarm clocks.

The turning point came when the Quartz Crisis hit Switzerland in the late 1960s, by which time Oris employed some 800 people and manufactured 1.2 million watches per year, making it one of the largest watch manufacturers in the world. By 1970, in a bid for survival, the company joined the precursor to the Swatch Group and began manufacturing quartz watches. However in 1982, the company’s managing director and head of marketing took over the firm, rendering them independent once more. They abandoned quartz altogether by the 1990s.

In 2014, Oris introduced its first in-house mechanical movement in decades in celebration of 110 years of watchmaking. In 2020, they introduced the Calibre 400, a movement with a 5-day power reserve and a 10-year recommended service interval. Today the company makes professional diving, aviation, motoring and other adventure watches for enthusiasts at relatively affordable price points, while their support of conservation initiatives the world over continues to delight their highly dedicated fans.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.