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Red Skies: Oris Coulson Limited Edition

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Red Skies: Oris Coulson Limited Edition

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The Coulson Group is a privately owned and family- run company founded as a logging company in 1960 by Cliff Coulson and based out of British Columbia. Today, the 450-employee team of people are led by the third generation of Coulsons to helm the organization, brothers Britton and Foster Coulson. The company has diversified since the founding and is now best known for their aerial firefighting division. They send aircraft and crews to fight wildfires all over the world using both fixed-wing and Type 1 helicopters. With their proprietary RADS-XXL technology, the group runs 24 hours a day to combat the wildfires that jeopardize natural environments, wildlife and the lives of people living in the affected areas.

Britton Coulson, co-president of the Coulson Group

The Coulson Limited Edition

Oris based the new Coulson Limited Edition watch on their successful Big Crown ProPilot and worked to incorporate the vision and values from each of the collaborators. As innovation is something both companies strive to achieve, the Oris team turned to Switzerland’s well-known ETH Zurich university (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) to create a case using a 3D printing process they developed. The process weaves together carbon fiber and a high grade polymer called PEKK to create an ultra light and very rigid material with a precisely defined material pattern. This original case is finished with a gray PVD plated titanium bezel that is fixed with a screw-down crown and caseback.

Its bright orange gradient dial captures the beauty and brilliance of the wildfires

The indisputable highlight of the new watch is the stunning dial that uses a gradient pattern from orange to broody maroon to capture the beauty and brilliance of the wildfires that the Coulson Aviation pilots bravely face down all around the globe. White hands and numerals stand out against the colorful background for instant legibility, with the date window positioned at six o’clock.

The movement is the automatic Oris Date Caliber 400 featuring a five-day power reserve due to the two large sequential barrels. This movement is highly antimagnetic and delivers the longevity and accuracy needed by pilots who may not see rest for many days in a row. The Oris Coulson Limited Edition is paired with a black textile strap that uses a gray PVD plated folding clasp and orange backing.

Oris Date Caliber 400 featuring a five-day power reserve

When asked about the partnership with Oris to develop a watch, Foster Coulson said, “We love the watch, not just because it looks great and tells the story of wildfires, but also because that carbon case is so innovative, one of our core values. Our pilots will be wearing it, and I know it’ll give them confidence. In our business, it’s not just about being on time, it’s about being in time.”

Raising Awareness

Oris is well known for their efforts to raise awareness to organizations that inhabit their “Change for the Better” mantra, in addition to their own innovations to remain a climate neutral company. This partnership with Coulson Aviation will shine a spotlight on the brave pilots that combat the growing problem of wildfires through aerial firefighting missions as well as their work with innovative partners to drive research and technology for both predicting and fighting wildfires. With this 1,000-piece limited edition timepiece, Oris has created something beautiful — both with their gorgeous watch and with their continued commitment to making the world a better place.

Oris Coulson Limited Edition

Tech Specs

Oris Coulson Limited Edition

Reference: 400 7784 8786-Set
Movement: Self-winding caliber 400; 120-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date
Case: 41mm; 3D printed carbon fiber with titanium bezel and caseback; water resistant to 100m
Dial: Orange; Super-LumiNova filled applied Arabic numerals and printed indexes
Strap: Black textile; gray PVD plated folding clasp
Price: CHF 4,200
Availability: Numbered and limited edition of 1,000 pieces