Oris Pays Tribute to Their Hometown with a New Solid Bronze Chronograph

Watches, watch collecting, writing about watches, and just generally being involved in the world of horology on a day to day basis, it’s occasionally pretty clear that the industry as a whole can feel a little too serious at times. All of us are guilty – we obsess about date windows, measurements, the most subtle color choices, and, of course, pricing and value. That’s why when something comes along that’s genuinely fun, I personally really enjoy celebrating it, and I think that’s what we’re getting to a large extent with the latest release from Oris, the Hölstein Edition 2020 chronograph. This watch has been produced to celebrate the location of the brand’s founding, and has been cast in a radiant solid bronze (with a bronze bracelet, as well). And it has the Oris Bear on the case back. If that’s not fun, I don’t know what is.

Oris Hölstein Edition 2020

• Case Material: Bronze
• Dial: Gold-plated
• Dimensions: 43mm
• Crystal: Sapphire        
• Water Resistance: 100 meters
• Crown: Screw down                      
• Movement: Oris 771
• Strap/bracelet: Bronze bracelet 
• Price: $5,200
• Reference Number: 771 7744 3182
• Expected Release: Available now 

The Hölstein Edition 2020 is the first in a planned series from Oris that will feature limited edition watches named for the village where Oris got its start in 1904. This first entry in the series is this bronze version of the popular Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph. We’ve seen Oris use bronze as an accent on previous releases in the Divers Sixty-Five line, and the recent Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date extended the brand’s use of bronze to the dial. This new release is the next logical step, featuring a bracelet with links made from the same solid bronze as the case.

Because bronze is so soft, the production of the bracelet presented some unique engineering challenges. To maintain strength and overall build quality, the clasp, pins, and caseback of the Hölstein Edition 2020 are all stainless steel. These elements of the watch are “invisible” on the wrist, making the presentation of the Hölstein Edition 2020 really striking without sacrificing anything to a softer material. According to Oris, the all bronze bracelet seen here is a first in Swiss watchmaking, which is a pretty remarkable achievement. 

The dial is a straightforward extension of the case, but has just the right level of funk that you’d expect in a watch that’s part of the Divers Sixty-Five collection. Black subdials complement the gold tone dial nicely. Can we call this a bronze panda? Regardless of any eventual nicknames, it’s quite attractive. The stark white hour markers and hands with gold surrounds provide another level of contrast and visual interest. 

Oris is releasing this watch as a celebration and tribute, and they really want to drive home the idea that their ultimate pursuit as a company is to bring people joy. This is where the Oris Bear on the caseback comes in. It’s playful, fun, and not something you’re likely to see replicated by any of the big Swiss brands (Speedmasters featuring Snoopy on the dial notwithstanding). As Oris co-CEO Rolf Studer said in the press release announcing this watch, “People buy watches because they cheer us up. Our job is to give people a happy moment in their hectic day.” It’s a nice reminder that this hobby is at its best when those involved strive to simply bring a smile to someone’s face. Oris