Oris

Oris was founded on June 1, 1904 by Paul Cattin and Georges Christian in Hölstein, Switzerland. They purchased the recently closed Lohner & Co watch factory and named their company after a nearby brook. Starting with pocket watches, Oris grew rapidly and by 1911 was the largest employer in Hölstein with over 300 workers. The company introduced its signature Big Crown pilot's watch in 1938, featuring an oversized crown for pilots wearing gloves. In 1965, Oris released its first diver's watch. During the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s-80s, Oris struggled after joining ASUAG (predecessor of the Swatch Group) in 1970 and being forced to produce quartz watches. In 1982, Dr. Rolf Portmann and Ulrich W. Herzog executed a management buyout, restoring Oris's independence. The company then pivoted back to mechanical watchmaking, abandoning quartz entirely by 1992. In 2014, Oris celebrated 110 years with Calibre 110, its first in-house movement in 35 years. The Calibre 400, introduced in 2020, represents the brand's continued commitment to in-house mechanical innovation.