Here's my choice as a first-time buyer of a watch from a watch brand. It's a difficult choice until you've taken the plunge, where I change my mind every day, even on the style of watch I'm looking for (field, diver, aviator?). This 40mm Oris Big Crown Pointer Date with a bronze bezel won out because it ticks many of the boxes that appealed to me: 1. the very beautiful cathedral hands; 2. the contrasting dial with the deep midnight blue and white Arabic numerals: surely one of the most contrasting on this model; 3. the gilt dial gives a very dressy look with the gold hands, and the matching logo and railway track; 4. the bronze bezel, matching the gilt, makes the watch even dressier; 5. the fourth hand pointer date function adds to its originality; 6. finally, this model was unanimously approved when I asked my family for their opinion. After a few months on my wrist, I'm still very satisfied with this choice. The watch is comfortable and very attractive to me. I changed the strap for a black leather Oris model with a folding clasp, which is more practical and attractive. Its 40 mm size fits my 17 cm wrist well. I also appreciate the precision of this watch, with a deviation of < 5 seconds per day. Finally, since it's a gender-neutral color that my wife also liked, I found her the same model in size 36, just to match... and to relieve her guilt. What I like less is the lack of contrast on the gold-colored date numerals against a dark blue background, which makes it difficult to read the date. I also don't like letting the bronze bezel oxidize, as I don't find it compatible with the dressy look. I reactivate its shine every month with lemon juice on a cotton swab.

I acquired this watch about 7 years ago by chance, after discovering it on eBay. It's a limited edition of 2,000 pieces, released in 2003, called Wings Around the World II – Voyage to the Ice. This watch was created thanks to Oris's sponsorship of Polly Vacher, an English aviator who completed a solo round-the-world flight between 2003 and 2004. Her flight, aboard a single-engine aircraft, was for charity, benefiting Flying Scholarships for the Disabled. She flew over every continent, as well as the North Pole and Antarctica. I own a two-tone model (steel and, I think, rose gold plating), which seems much rarer than the all-steel version. The watch pictured is not on its original leather strap. After several years of use, it finally gave up the ghost. I replaced it with this strap I bought on Etsy, which I think matches the watch perfectly. Technically, it's 12 mm thick, has a 40 mm case diameter (44 mm with the crown), and is powered by an Oris caliber 654, based on the ETA 2824-2 (probably modified only for date display via the hand). A superb watch that I've continued to appreciate over the years!

A watch that embodies both timeless elegance and practical functionality, sporting a vintage design inspired by iconic aviator watches of the past. The red/burgundy dial plays perfectly with the light, while the distinctively styled Arabic numerals and the railway are enhanced by cathedral hands and the "date pointer". Finally, a well-integrated date on a watch! The 40 mm case, the fluted bezel (repeated around the case back), the screwed "large crown" and a thickness of 12 mm with a domed glass make it a watch balanced between presence on the wrist and wearability. Here on a cork strap, I also wear it on its original leather, a "vintage" tropic or even a Milanese mesh that echoes its bezel. For me, it is the almost perfect daily watch.

What can I say about this watch? It is simply superb. Whether it is its fluted bezel, its hands, its subtle grey dial or its imposing crown, no lack of taste tarnishes the beauty of this charming Oris. I would add that I love the famous pointer date and that its deer bracelet is both beautiful and comfortable. Its 38 mm diameter seemed small to me but in fact it is in perfect harmony with the vintage style of this model. A discreet and refined watch.

Despite the price increase recently, I was able to get this Oris Big Crown Pointer Date at a good price almost 2 years ago and I'm still in love with it. The value for money is excellent! The fourth hand that indicates the day, the fluted bezel, the stained glass hands, this domed sapphire crystal that gives an incredible relief, this oversized crown, this blue-gray dial in short, this watch is full of details that I never tire of looking at. This is my first automatic watch and I've worn it every day since I got it.

Better than a reverso, this watch has 3 faces: -We start with the back of the case with a transparent back that reveals a rather classic movement but in front of which the emblematic red oscillating weight does its loops -And that's good, the loops, because once turned over, we have a real aviator's watch, classic but no less beautiful. The case is not too shiny, bitch above the lugs which is brushed, the fluted bezel makes it less boring than a smooth bezel. Cathedral hands like in the old days, and a crown not so big for my taste. -Finally, the fourth hand that proudly points to the date of the day, having the effect of a countdown to the end of the month, the long-awaited moment to put aside that what bought my next watch!

An iconic model of the brand, never out of the catalog since its creation in 1938, the Big Crown Pointer Date is recognizable by its large crown (to be easily manipulated by airplane pilots, which is good because I also often fly planes that I dive to more than 1m 😀) and its unique approach to the date complication via a 4th hand pointing to the day indicated all around the railway. This iconic model of the Swiss brand has been available in different diameters, dial colors, case materials (steel, bronze) or bracelets (leather, metal, etc.). This model is a limited edition in collaboration with the Roberto Clemente Foundation, created in tribute to this baseball hall of famer but also very involved in humanitarian causes (he died in a plane crash while participating in a humanitarian mission in Nicaragua in 1972). We therefore obviously find many nods to this legend in the watch: the date of 21 (his number) in gold (the color of his team's jersey), the silhouette of the player engraved on the case back or the color of the dial recalling and the double white stitching of the leather strap recalling a baseball. To be honest, I am absolutely not interested in this sport and did not know Roberto Clemente before discovering and falling for this model, I nevertheless greatly appreciated the Oris brand, for its positioning, its originality of design, its innovation (offering in parallel with models with sellita movements manufacture calibers with 5 days of power reserve) its strong commitments also (translated in their limited editions and their partnerships). I was particularly interested in this specific model, without finding the favorite version until then, it is now done!

A diameter of 36 mm associated with a bronze case and an original almond green dial, it didn't take more for me to fall for this Big Crown. I particularly appreciate the patina that the case takes over time; it gives it an even more retro tone. And its light green dial differentiates it from the other models in the range and goes really well with the bronze. The only downside: the leather strap is not suitable for small wrists.

A watch that I particularly like. A vintage spirit combined with a touch of modernity. Its bronze fluted bezel combined with its blue dial gives this Big Crown all its personality. Its 36 mm size is ideal. I liked the originality of the pointer date (date indication). An emblematic watch for the house of Oris. A piece of history on the wrist.

After much hesitation, I finally chose the bronze model with the brown dial. The bronze patinas differently depending on the wearer, which makes it unique. As a traveler, I love seeing it age at the same time as me through the adventures we experience together. Its look, halfway between a classy watch and an adventurer's watch, goes with any style of clothing. The dial changes from light brown in the sun to very dark in the evening. I really like the date display, which is less conventional than a simple window and is often used. The cathedral hands go really well with the rest. Its only flaw is the bracelet, which is rather fragile, as is often the case with Oris unfortunately.