What we like:
- Dial is a real head turner
- 3D Printed Carbon case is a winner
- Massive five-day power reserve
What we don’t like:
- Some may find it to be expensive
- The fingerprints easily show on the crystal
- Some may not appreciate the 3D-printed case
Overall rating: 7.75/10
Value for money: 7/10
Wearability: 8/10
Design: 8/10
Build quality: 8/10
2022 was a big year for the independent Swiss brand Oris. Amongst the brand’s major updates to some of its collections was the continued release of its limited edition timepieces based on ecological conservation. The last major release for Oris in 2022 was the Coulson Limited edition, a watch created from the latest partnership with Coulson Aviation.
Alongside creating luxury timepieces, Oris also works in a variety of different areas to bring “Change for the Better” for the planet and its people. Oris is also now independently certified as a climate-neutral company, with the watch brand working closely with other pioneering agencies to bring the change required to make the world a better place.
One of these agencies is Coulson Aviation, which Oris just recently partnered up with. Coulson Aviation is a family-run independent company based in Canada that sends out pilots, planes, and also much-needed equipment to areas of the world that are heavily affected by wildfires. The resources and help provided are split between the US and California for the Northern Hemisphere summer and for the Southern Hemisphere summer, Australia and South America. The vision of Coulson Aviation is to stop fires and assist firefighters on the ground, ultimately protecting life and the surrounding environment.
This collaboration between Oris and Coulson Aviation is a carbon fibre timepiece with a stunning vibrant orange dial reflecting the fires. The timepiece is based on Oris Big Crown ProPilot and embodies the daring spirit and innovation that fuels the fire of both companies.
The 41mm case is made from multi-piece carbon fibre, which features a grey-PVD-plated titanium fixed bezel. Innovation certainly runs through this watch, as the carbon fibre case features a patented 3D printing process that has never been used in watchmaking before.
Oris states that in regards to this process, “devised by Switzerland’s prestigious ETH Zurich university (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), it prints carbon fibre and a high-grade polymer developed in aerospace called PEKK simultaneously, weaving them together to create an ultra-lightweight, extremely rigid material. The process is so precise that you can fix the material’s pattern, where typically carbon fibre watch cases are random.” Oris has used this advantage of creating the pattern to create the effect of a brushed finish, as you would find on a metal case. By doing this, it adds depth and character to the case, which otherwise would be a matte finish.
The Oris Coulson Limited Edition timepiece shares much of its DNA with the Big Crown ProPilot Series as it features a similar case design, the half-fluted “turbine” bezel, and of course, the iconic oversized crown at 3 o’clock. Along with the bezel, screw-down crown, case back and movement, the total watch weighs in at only just 65 grammes!
Oris took design cues from the Big Crown Pro Pilot with its three-hander layout and large Arabic hour indices to make the Coulson Limited Edition a simple yet easily readable dial. The dial background is the stand-out feature of this watch. It is certainly beautiful, as it is not just a plain orange colour. The dial has a matte gradient finish which allows it to go from a bright orange on the bottom to a darker orange at the top of the dial. This gradient finish is a reference to the chaotic and vibrant colours that emit from wildfires.
The hour indices and hands perfectly complement the dial and are done in white, giving it the perfect contrast against the orange gradient finish. To round off the dial’s features is the date window at 6 o’clock. The date display is black, which allows the wearer to see it easily against the lighter-coloured features on the dial.
Oris has given the top-tier engine for this Coulson Limited Edition model with the Calibre-400 movement. This movement has put Oris to new heights with its performance specs. The Calibre-400 movement powers the three-hander layout along with the date function. The movement has a date corrector, fine timing device, and stop-second function while also being highly anti-magnetic. The Calibre-400 movement operates at 28,800 VpH (4hz) and will keep the watch running for five days (120 hours!). The timepiece does come with an open case back. However, watch enthusiasts may be slightly disappointed as much of the movement is covered, and what’s visible is the matte blasted three-quarter plates and the brushed skeleton rotor.
How does it wear on the wrist:
The first thing you will notice is how light this watch is; thanks to 3D-printed carbon fibre polymer, this watch weighs just over 65 grams. Most of the time I had this watch on, I had to check if I had a watch on. The dial is very eye-catching that pops even more under sunlight. The 3D-printed carbon fibre polymer sets the perfect background to make the fiery red/orange gradient dial pop. I must admit seeing this watch in person has more appeal rather than what I have seen in photos. So I highly recommended to try it out.
As mentioned earlier, the dial is super easy to read. The white Arabic numerals and printed hour and minute markers pop against the dial, making it super easy to read the time. The placement of the date window blends in with the case and the second’s hands; however, it is still easily distinguishable against the white Arabic hour makers thanks to the black date wheel.
Having a power reserve of 5-days is always a massive win. I could wear the watch on Monday, set it down on Thursday/Friday and come back to it again at the start of the week after for it to still be kept accurate time. Although with a stunning attention-grabbing dial like this, it certainly made it hard to part ways with it. The timepiece has a stitchless black textile strap on a PVD deployment clasp. Although this limits the activities that can be carried out with this strap (don’t want to be sweating too much now!), I found it comfortable for daily wear. It’s also a bonus that the strap is fully black, which further aids in driving attention to the dial.
The Oris Coulson Limited Edition combines all the metrics of a great timepiece. With innovative case design, impressive movement and now a stunning dial, this model is attention-grabbing whilst also being a reference to Coulson Aviation and the great work they do with firefighting and environmental preservation. The Oris Coulson Limited Edition is limited to 1000 timepieces and is available through authorised dealers.
Reference: 01 400 7784 8786-Set
Specification:
- Case: 41mm diameter
- Case Material: 3D printed carbon-fibre/high-grade polymer weave with titanium bezel with grey PVD coating.
- Dial: Orange/red gradient fire dial
- Crystal: Double domed AR sapphire crystal
- Water resistance: 10 Bar (100m)
- Movement: Calibre 400
- Power reserve: 5-days (120 hours)
- Bracelet/Strap: black textile with orange inside layer. Grey PVD coating folding clasp.
