The Oris Father Time Limited Edition is a Cricket-Themed Bronze Big Crown

Given its complexity and often lethargic pace, cricket is not a sport that pops up in the crosshairs of watch brand alliances. However, in 2022, Oris struck an alliance with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), becoming the first official timekeeper in the club’s history. Celebrating this three-year partnership, Oris and the MMC have collaborated on a special bronze edition of the Big Crown Pointer Date. Christened Father Time in honour of the iconic weathervane placed on top of the clocktower overlooking Lord’s Cricket Ground, the watch chosen for the occasion is also an icon in the brand’s history. Presented in a 40mm bronze case with a matching bronze bracelet, the Oris Father Time is a limited edition of 1,926 pieces commemorating the year the weathervane was gifted to Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Father Time, the weathervane at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, is a mythical figure watching over the passage of time. Donated to the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1926 by architect Sir Herbert Baker to make amends for the late completion of the Second Grand Stand at Lord’s, Father Time is a life-size cast iron figure revered by cricket fans worldwide. The figure on the weathervane is a cloaked, bearded man holding a gold scythe over his shoulder as he removes the bails from a wicket. Many attribute his significance to Law 12.3 of the Laws of Cricket, which states, “After the call of Time, the bails shall be removed from both wickets“, effectively signalling the end of the day’s match. As the official timekeeper at Lord’s Cricket Ground, Oris is allowed to post its logo on the clocktower of the Mound Stand under the Father Time weathervane.

Released in 1938, the Big Crown Pointer Date was initially designed for pilots and characterised by its oversized crown, allowing pilots to manipulate it without having to remove their gloves, and its red-tipped pointer hand indicating the date. But it is also iconic in the brand’s history because it was the mechanical model that kept Oris afloat during the quartz crisis. Oris introduced a bronze version of its Big Crown Pointer Date in 2019, a material that underscores the watch’s attractive vintage aura. Appearing again in 2022 with an impressive full bronze bracelet, the new Father Time model is also presented with a bronze bracelet and an additional brown leather strap made from deer leather.

Sharing identical specifications to the two models cited above, the 40mm case is made of a special bronze alloy that will patinate over time but not turn green. To avoid hypoallergenic reactions, the caseback that comes in contact with the wrist is made of stainless steel. Featuring the hallmark coin-edged bezel and the extra-large screw-down fluted crown, the dial is protected by a domed sapphire crystal, and the water-resistance of the case is 50 metres.

The dial is white with the date track on the periphery, indicated by the red crescent-tipped central hand, a layout patented by A. Hammerly in 1915 before date windows became popular. The use of stylised typography for the large Arabic numerals and cathedral-style hands are textbook old-school pilot watch. For enhanced legibility, the numerals, the light green indices on the minutes track and the hour and minute hands are treated with beige Super-LumiNova.

The classic Big Crown Pointer Date is not equipped with the brand’s in-house developed calibre 403. Instead runs on the Oris calibre 754, a robust, reliable and easily serviceable movement, the calibre is based on a Sellita SW200-1 automatic with a 38h power reserve. It’s modified internally for the date complication and the signature red bidirectional rotor. You can’t see the movement because the steel caseback is closed and decorated with an engraving of the Father Time weathervane and the limited edition number 0001/1926.

As mentioned, the watch comes with the articulated bronze bracelet with a folding clasp and a light brown sustainably sourced deer leather strap made by Cervo Volante with a bronze pin buckle. The presentation box is decorated with the Father Time logo and includes a tool to change the strap.

Availability & Price

The Oris Father Time Limited Edition Big Crown Pointer Date is limited to 1,926 pieces, which is now available and retails for CHF 2,950. For more information, please visit www.oris.ch.