Introducing – Affordable & Elegant, The Redesigned Oris Artelier Complication

While Oris might be famous for its dive watches, such as the Aquis or the hype Divers Sixty Five, there’s another collection in the catalogue that is far from lacking interest; the Artelier range. Offering the same overall quality at an affordable price as the rest of the watches produced by the brand, the Artelier collection is a more elegant and complex (relatively-speaking) offering. For 2017, one of Oris’ defining movements is encased in a redesigned watch, the new Oris Artelier Complication.

With the original version of this watch, Oris was ahead of the curve, for two reasons. First of all, it launched “The Complication” back in 1991, at a time when the Swiss watch industry was slowly recovering from the troubles of the Quartz Crisis, and at a time when complicated watches, with a classic look were probably not really trendy. Secondly, with this watch, Oris helped pioneer the concept of affordable luxury. The watch offered a lot, both technically and visually, with a layout not dissimilar to that of a perpetual calendar, whilst still being quite affordable. “The Complication” was a statement, announcing the comeback of full mechanical movements and traditional complications.

It featured an automatic movement with day, date, moon-phase and second time zone indications and has remained in the catalogue since, although with several visual updates over the years. The most recent update is happening in 2017, bringing more modernity and a cleaner style to this signature piece. The layout of this new edition of the Oris Artelier Complication is the same as the previous model: time on the central axis (hours, minutes, seconds), date at 9, day at 3, second time-zone at 6 and moon phases at 12. This display is a specific module based on a reliable Sellita SW200 automatic movement (4Hz, 38h power reserve). The second time zone can be adjusted quickly using the pusher at 4 o’clock.

26 years after the first model, Oris gives the Artelier Complication a sleeker, lighter, more tapered feel in keeping with the classical design of the model. The case, still measuring a reasonable 40.5mm, shows slimmer and more tapered lugs, as well as a cleaner bezel. The watch feels more open and lighter than before, giving it a modern and urban look – especially when combined with the stainless steel bracelet.

The dial, features Oris’ guilloché-like pattern for the first time on “The Complication“. Indexes are applied on the dial, with hands matching their color. Two versions will be available, both with stainless steel cases – one with rose gold-plated hands and hour markers and a brown leather strap, and a second with blue hands and hour markers and a blue leather strap. On both, the metallic bracelet is proposed as an option.

The best part of the package offered by this Oris Artelier Complication concerns its price, which remains extremely reasonable considering all the functions displayed on the dial. Indeed, it will be available at CHF 2,050 / EUR 2,000 on leather and CHF 2,250 / EUR 2,200 on steel bracelet. More details on www.oris.ch.

Technical Specifications – Oris Artelier Complication

• Case: 40.5mm diameter – 21mm lug width – stainless steel, polished – sapphire crystal on both sides – 50m water resistant
• Movement: Oris Calibre 781, based on Sellita SW200 – automatic – 4Hz frequency – 38h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, date, day, moon-phases, second time-zone
• Strap: leather strap on folding clasp or stainless steel bracelet
• Reference: 01 781 7729 4031 (gold indexes) – 01 781 7729 4051 (blue indexes)
• Price: CHF 2,050 / EUR 2,000 on leather and CHF 2,250 / EUR 2,200 on steel bracelet