Introducing the Oris James Morrison AoM Limited Edition

Oris has unveiled another watch in their series of timepieces inspired by jazz musicians. Hot on the heels of the Art Blakey limited edition, released just last month, comes the James Morrison AoM Limited Edition. This watch honors the great Australian multi-instrumentalist with a watch that also pays tribute the James Morrison Academy of Music, the jazz-centric school he founded in 2015.

Oris James Morrison AoM Limited Edition 

• Case Material: Stainless steel 
• Dial: Blue 
• Dimensions: 38mm 
• Crystal: Sapphire   
• Water Resistance: 3 bar   
• Crown: Push/pull     
• Movement: Oris 733 (Sellita SW200-1)
• Strap/bracelet: Leather 
• Price: $2100
• Reference Number: 01 733 7762 4085-Set
• Expected Release: Available now

The James Morrison limited edition seen here is a simple time only dress watch, with a dramatic blue “degradé” dial, gold tone hands, and Arabic numerals around the perimeter. The star of the show here is definitely the dial – it fades from a dark blue at the center to black at the edges. It’s a nice look, and gives the watch a darker tone than other dial effects Oris could have employed here, like a classic sunburst pattern. The use of gold in the hands is a great choice to balance the blue, and subtle applied dots appear alongside the stark white numerals around the dial. 

In terms of size, Oris has once again resisted the urge to bring their jazz inspired dress pieces up to 40mm, which I think they deserve a lot of credit for. This type of dress watch is really well proportioned at 38mm – it can be worn by a variety of wrists (both male and female), and with short lugs and gentle curves, should be comfortable all day long. The movement here is the Oris 733 (based on the Sellita SW200-1) and should prove to be reliable over the long term. 

All of the Oris jazz tribute watches include subtle tributes the musician involved with the project. Here, it’s James Morrison’s trumpet that takes center stage. The trumpet engraving on the caseback is the log of Morrison’s school, and eagle eyed readers and jazz musicians will notice that the counterweight on the second hand modeled after a trumpet’s finger hook. This is the kind of not-so-obvious design choice that I really like about this series of watches. It would be easy to create something that reveals, at a glance, what this watch is all about. But it’s far more challenging, and meaningful, to include a really under the radar design element that only true enthusiasts will recognize at first. There’s something undeniably appealing about knowing not everyone will be in on this watch’s little secret. 

The Oris James Morrison AoM Limited Edition is available now, and limited to 1,234 pieces. Oris.