The Low-Down
Oris continues its successful run with the Swiss Air-Rescue Rega, with a very specific limited edition. The privately run non-profit organisation, which was founded in 1952, operates a fleet of 21 aircraft. Last year was particularly busy for them, as they organised some 16,000 missions and provided assistance to 11,00 people and repatriated 140 Covid-19 patients via jet ambulance. Oris honours the organisation with 21 Big Crown ProPilots, one for each vehicle in the Rega fleet.
IMHO
With 18 Airbus and AgustaWestland helicopters, Rega is well placed to support general and high altitude medical rescues and patient transfers across Switzerland. Their three Bombardier Challenger jets gives them a global capacity. And when it came to designing a watch to celebrate this fleet, Oris turned to the people who fly, crew and support these aircraft. The feedback? An ultra-legible design, minimal glare, a GMT and a pulsometer.
Given this laundry list of specifications, it quickly became clear that the Big Crown ProPilot was the best fit. The 41mm GMT is a modern pilot’s watch with a clean aesthetic and peak legibility day or night. Add a GMT, and a pulsation bezel insert onto the utilitarian gunmetal grey steel watch, and you’ve got an instrument that’s up to the task. The final touch is the caseback. There are 21 designs, each linked to a specific craft engraved on the back (complete with registration), and 100 of each model will be made. We’re willing to bet that a percentage of these watches will end up on the wrists of people who work on Rega fleet, but even if you’ve never been involved in a Swiss air-rescue, it’s a very cool bit of kit.
Tech Specs
Movement: Oris 798, automatic, 42 hours power reserve.
Case: Multi-piece stainless steel case with gunmetal grey PVD coating, 41mm, grey PVD-coated bi-directional rotating bezel with red ‘golden hour’ triangle and pulsometer scale.
Strap: Black leather strap with gunmetal grey PVD-coated stainless steel folding clasp with Oris-patented ‘LIFT’ system. Supplied with additional quick-change red rubber strap and clasp-change tool.
Availability: 21 models, each limited to 100 pieces, totalling 2,100 watches. Each delivered in a red Ventile® travel pouch; CHF 3100