The Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition

Oris is no stranger to collaborations with environmental organisations of all sorts, as well as air rescue teams. The brand has also recently introduced special editions inspired by nature, playing on colours and textures to reflect the underlying partnership or the cause the brand is supporting with these limited editions. And the brand’s latest creation is no exception to the rule. With the new Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition, the brand marks the 10th anniversary of Botswana’s aeromedical rescue organisation – Okavango Air Rescue – with a limited edition version of its modern pilot’s watch equipped with one very special dial.

Founded in 2011 by Swiss entrepreneur Christian Gross and German-born Dr Misha S. Kruck, Okavango Air Rescue is an aeromedical rescue organisation located in Botswana to service a sparsely populated country with many remote communities. Each with their own speciality, they managed to make this rescue team a success. Gross is a conservationist and a businessman and had already established environmental organisations such as Animal Management Consultancy. Kruck had vast medical experience and had worked all over the world, including stints at International Red Cross and Rega, the Swiss air rescue service. Oris this year starts a partnership with Okavango Air Rescue, and to mark this new collaboration, the brand releases a new limited edition model with a bold, rather unique design.

The Oris Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition is based on the well-known Big Crown ProPilot, one of the brand’s core models and its vision of a modern, effective pilot’s watch. Other than the dial and the straps included in the set, the watch is identical to standard versions of this watch. This means a 41mm brushed stainless steel case with the signature turbine-like fluted bezel and the screw-in oversized crown. Robust and clean, the case is equipped with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal and is water-resistant to 100m.

The pièce de résistance is, without a doubt, the dial specifically created for this Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition. Contrary to standard models with simple dials focused only on legibility, this version of the Oris Big Crown ProPilot comes with a green dial with a texture that recalls the grasses of the Okavango Delta. Certainly polarising, it also separates this LE from the rest of the collection and gives it personality. For the rest, classic elements are still present, such as the applied and luminous Arabic numerals, the white-painted luminous hands and the date window sits at 3 o’clock.

Under the caseback with special engravings is the Calibre Oris 751, also known as a Sellita SW 220-1 with a specific decoration (incl. the brand’s signature red rotor). This movement is a larger version of the tried-and-tested SW 200-1, itself an ETA clone. Its larger diameter is adapted for modern watches. Otherwise, it retains the same specifications with a frequency of 4Hz and a 38h power reserve.

The Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition is worn on a green textile strap created by Erika’s Originals exclusively for Oris. An additional single layer NATO-like leather strap is also included in the leather travel pouch. This watch is limited to 2,011 pieces and is now available from Oris’ online boutique and retailers. It is priced at CHF 2,300 or EUR 2,150.

For more details and orders, please visit oris.ch.