A star is (re)born

On the 60th anniversary of the Oris Star, we’re delighted to introduce the Oris Star Edition. With its 35.00 mm barrel-shaped case, plexi-crystal top glass and retro detailing, it’s a tribute to one of the greatest watchmaking stories ever told.

Pulling the levers

In 1965, Oris succeeded in reversing a punishing Swiss law that prevented watchmakers from innovating. With it gone, Oris was free to innovate and in 1966 introduced its first lever escapement watch. Marking this new high, we called it the Oris Star.

Beyond the law

Oris’s actions changed the law for all Swiss watchmakers, forever. Brands could now experiment and drive watchmaking forward. It was a line in the sand moment, sparking the industry we see today. It’s a joy to celebrate it with the Oris Star Edition.

The letter of the law

In 1965, a young lawyer working for Oris changed watchmaking forever. This is his story.

The Swiss Watch Statute

In the 1930s, Switzerland passed a law to protect the watch industry. But in time, it prevented healthy competition, limiting innovation. Like so many, Oris found itself on the wrong side of this law and prevented from developing new technologies.

Pulling levers

The law meant Oris could only use pin-lever escapements, which by the 1950s had been bettered by lever escapements. The young lawyer Dr Rolf Portmann was hired in 1956 to reverse the statute. It took him almost a decade, but in 1965, he won the case.

The star rises

Oris was now free to innovate with new technologies. In 1966, we developed our first lever escapement movement, a quantum leap forward. And now a new watch design was needed to house it. We called it the Oris Star. 

A hero for all time

Dr Portmann’s decade-long effort changed Oris’s fortunes. But it also changed the whole industry. Brands were no longer suffocated by the old law. Dr Portmann would later acquire Oris and run the company. Today, he’s our Honorary Chairman. A hero.

Technical Details

Reference Number

01 733 7813 4151-Set

Case

Multi-piece stainless steel case. Plexi, domed. Stainless steel, screwed, special engravings.

35.00 mm

Size

5 bar

Water Resistance

17 mm

Interhorn Width

Movement

Centre hands for hours, minutes and seconds, date window, instantaneous date, date corrector, fine timing device and stop-second

41 hrs

Power reserve

Caliber

733-1

Dimensions

Ø 25.60 mm, 11 1/2’’’

Winding

Automatic winding

Vibrations

28’800 A/h, 4 Hz

Dial

Grey

Strap

Leather

Warranty

2 years

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