Oris Launch Artelier S with New 38mm Design

Recently Oris have been swinging for the fences with bold designs and bright colours with watches like the Kermit and Cotton Candy Divers. Now though, they’re taking things at a slower pace, focusing on elegant design with the new Artelier S collection. The Artelier name might not be one you’re super familiar with but it is technically an Oris core range, you just need to scroll past even the Rectangular to find the handful of watches that comprise it (on closer inspection those watches aren’t even being stocked at time of writing).

The new Artelier S offers a svelte look at the collection with a smaller 38mm case in stainless steel. It’s in keeping with the current trend we’re seeing across a huge number of brands of downsizing models back to vintage style, sub-40mm dimensions. It works particularly well for the Artelier S considering that it’s the closest thing Oris have to a dress watch.

A large part of that dressy aesthetic comes from the dial, which is very minimal and refined. It’s a very minimalist dial, although I mean that with respects to the fact that it’s very understated rather than the signature minimalist style of brands like Nomos Glashütte. It has thin hands, small indexes and only decoration (if you can even call it that) is the brand logo at 12 o’clock and “Swiss Made” inscription at 6. It really lets the sunray brushed dial, which is available in black or forest green, sing.

Beneath the surface of the Oris Artelier S is the Oris Calibre 733 automatic. With its 38-hour power reserve I don’t think it will surprise anyone to learn that it’s base Sellita SW200-1. It’s the same movement that previous editions of the Artelier used.

Presented on a leather strap, the Artlier S is priced at £1,600. It’s nice to see Oris tackle a different aesthetic for once, putting their usual tool watch vibe to one side and focussing on understated elegance. In that regard I really like the Artelier S as it’s something a bit different to what we’re used to and looks good. Although at the current price without an in-house movement, it won’t be my first choice for an accessible dress watch.