Luxury Swiss watchmaker Oris has moved its watchmaking into top gear by introducing a new collection made with its long-standing Formula 1 partner Williams – the Oris Williams collection that reflects the speed, power and technology of Formula 1. The new model’s 42mm brushed and polished stainless steel case retains its shape and form from the launch collection, however, its two-piece dial marks a shift in focus. Oris’s designers have evolved the look to make the watch feel even sportier and more technical.
The numerals on the minute track on the inner dial section are arranged horizontally to mimic the instrument panel of a Williams Formula 1 car, rather than on a curve that follows the shape of the case, as is common in watch design. That horizontal theme continues in the two Arabic numerals at 3 and 9 o’clock – the remaining numerals have been removed to give the watch a clean, streamlined look.
The part-skeletonized dial reveals a section of the anthracite automatic movement underneath, so the wearer can look into the watch’s mechanical engine. A milled circular perforation running around the dial enhances the technical feel. The central seconds hand is in Williams’s blue, as is the date marker below the date window at 6 o’clock, making it easier to pick the date out quickly when glancing at the watch.
Oris and Williams have enjoyed an immensely fruitful partnership since 2003. The relationship has spawned a series of sporty, technical, memorable watches that bring the power, glamour and focus on design of Formula 1 into a contemporary watch collection. The Oris Williams Engine, Date moves the collection up a gear.
The watch features an Oris calibre 733 in-house movement and is water resistant to 100 meters. The watch has a black skeleton dial with applied numerals and black hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova®. The watch is fitted with a rubber strap with a stainless steel folding clasp and is also available with stainless steel bracelet.
