High-quality horology meets adventurous design with this new Oris Big Crown model! For Geneva Watch Days 2025, they’ve taken an old favourite and brought it back, but better than ever!
When it comes to grandiose horological complexity, Oris might not be the first name that springs to mind. The brand has long positioned itself as the watchmaker for “today’s world citizen,” crafting timepieces for the independent, everyday hero. While they’ve occasionally ventured into higher-end territory, the brand with the Bear has always championed modest elegance — designing pieces that are as professional as they are playful.
With that in mind, Oris’ latest showing at Geneva Watch Days carries the same spirited flair. Yet beneath the peppy exterior lies a serious commitment to mechanical engineering, as they bring back one of their classic in-house movements.
Meet the Oris Big Crown Calibre 113, now housed in the brand’s most iconic case and paired with a joyful new colour palette. First created in 1938 for gloved airmen, the Big Crown series distinguished itself with its round, ergonomic case, oversized crown, and the now-familiar Pointer Date complication. Over time, it has assumed true icon status, becoming one of Oris’ most recognisable designs.
At first glance, this latest edition carries the same Big Crown silhouette established by the brand so long ago. The stainless steel case measures 43mm across, 50.5mm lug-to-lug, and 13.5mm thick — striking a fine balance between presence and wearability. While 50.5mm may sound long on paper, I doubt even my smaller wrist would feel the least bit intimidated, especially given the playful aesthetic. The oversized crown remains, a proud nod to its pilot’s watch origins. This funky horological package also brings 50 metres of water resistance and Oris’s brushed-and-polished H-link bracelet, which tapers comfortably and reinforces the watch’s everyday versatility.
The dial, however, is where this watch truly sets itself apart. A textured mint-green backdrop forms the canvas, animated by rose-pink accents across the small seconds at 9 o’clock, the patented non-linear power reserve at 3, the railroad minute track, and the central pointer hand with its pink arrow tip. Applied indices, silver-toned hands edged in black, and Super-LumiNova bring clarity to the layout, ensuring strong legibility even within the lively colour scheme.
Beyond its bold aesthetic, the Big Crown Cal. 113 showcases an unusually comprehensive set of functions. Unlike a typical calendar watch, it features a rare business calendar that displays the day, date, week, and month — all managed through a single crown. The day sits just below 12, the date at 6, while a 52-week scale and corresponding months circle the periphery of the dial. This scale is tracked by the central pointer hand, allowing the wearer to read the week of the year alongside the more familiar calendar indications. Gold and white accents punctuate the display, providing contrast and ensuring this information-rich dial remains both functional and engaging.
At the heart of it all lies the eponymous Calibre 113 responsible for delivering the full business calendar in a layout that feels both elegant and practical. First launched in 2017 as part of the Oris 100 series, this hand-wound movement has been revived for the Big Crown line. Besides the business calendar, the on-paper stats for the Cal. 113 are perhaps its most crowning feature; The watch runs at 3Hz (21,600VpH) and offers an extraordinary 240-hour, or 10-day, power reserve. This reserve is tracked via the bright pink subdial at 3 o’clock, which uses expanding intervals along its arc to provide finer resolution as the mainspring winds down.
Through the exhibition caseback, the Cal. 113 reveals a finish consistent with its earlier iterations, featuring broad vertical brushing across its large plates and bridges. It’s not a hand-engraved ornate work of art, but it shows off what it’s got whilst reflecting Oris’ pragmatic, yet still playful, approach to serious watchmaking
My Thoughts
Every time I’m tasked with writing about an Oris, I know two things for certain: I’m going to like the watch, and I’m going to use the word ‘playful’ far too many times. But that’s just part of Oris’ charm — taking life lightly while still approaching watchmaking with a seriously precise hand. So don’t let the bright colours or whimsical character fool you! Oris is fully capable of producing watches that feel complete in every sense — case in point, the Aquis Great Barrier Reef IV I reviewed not long ago.
At AU$12,600, it may not be the everyday choice for most collectors, but Big Crown Calibre 113 is unusual, and it embraces that fully — which is what I love about it. Defined by the scale of its movement and an incredibly rare business calendar complication, the Oris manufacture still finds time to imbue the dial with a joyful colour palette scarcely seen in timepieces rooted in practical purpose.
That combination is precisely what makes it an Oris: modest elegance married to mechanical creativity. From a distance, it reads as a classic (albeit colourful) pilot’s watch, but up close, it reveals layers of technical intrigue, and is a compelling revival of one of Oris’ most impressive movements and a delight for anyone who enjoys watches with a little personality.
Reference: 113 7800 4057-07 8 21 06
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 43mm case diameter x 50.5mm lug-to-lug x 13.5mm thickness
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Dial: Green with pink accents
- Movement: Manual wind Cal. 113 with business calendar (day/date/week/month), small seconds, & power reserve indication complications
- Power Reserve: 240h (10 days)
- Beat Rate: 3Hz (21,600VpH)
- Water Resistance: 50m (5bar)
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp