Another day, another collaborative limited edition. While they are getting to be a dime a dozen though, this time it’s definitely one worth taking a look at. In fact, it’s pretty hard to miss: the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date x Fratello Watches.
Oris was an early adopted of bronze throughout their main collection – at least over the past few years – and the patinating material’s done the rounds on their biggest sellers. Now they’re combining it with a beautiful red dial for a 40mm pilots’ watch that’s very much on my wishlist.
This isn’t the first time the Big Crown Pointer’s been draped in rich colours, with plenty of blues, a burgundy or two and that extraordinary mint green. It won’t be the last time either; the classic aviation piece suits them nicely.
Here Fratello has taken the red that’s previously only been on steel, combined it with a bronze case and then colour matched the pointer date function. It’s less a tweak, more a tasteful combination of what Oris already had available. I love it.
Otherwise it’s the Big Crown Pointer Date we all know and love, with its coin edge bezel, big, legible numerals and outer track date. It’s equipped with the same Oris 754 calibre automatic movement as the rest, with its 38-hour power reserve and it limited to 300 pieces worldwide. Compared to some other recent drops (the Laureato Ghost for example), that’s a generous amount without making it too common.
It’s priced at €1,950, which isn’t too bad either; it’s around the same price mark as the non-limited bronze models. For a lovely limited edition richly draped in red, I know where I’d spend the money.
Price & Specs:
Model: Fratello × Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date
Ref: 01 754 7741 3188
Case/Dial: 42mm diameter, stainless steel
Water Resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Calibre ORIS 754, (Sellita SW 200-1 base), automatic, 26 jewels
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 38h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, central pointer date
Strap: Taupe leather with bronze pin buckle and a grey NATO strap with bronze hardware
Price/availability: €1,950, limited to 300 pieces (250 pieces available at shop.fratello.com and 50 pieces available at Oris boutiques)
More details at Fratello.
