Jewellery & Watch News
Oris’ iconic Big Crown ProPilot receives a stunning nature-inspired makeover as part of the luxury watch brand’s latest collaboration with Botswana’s aeromedical rescue organisation, Okavango Air Rescue. The green dial of the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition mimics the grasslands of Botswana’s lush Okavango Delta, where the O.A.R. has been operating for 10 years.
The new Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue watch comes as part of Oris’ legendary “Change for the Better” campaign, a campaign that since 2010 has set out to bring awareness to several environmental and charitable causes through the release of limited edition Oris watches. This time round, the Swiss watch manufacturer sets out to bring recognition to Okavango Air Rescue, Botswana’s aeromedical rescue organisation run by couple Christian Gross and Dr Misha S. Kruck. The pair first moved to Botswana in 2011 and after realising the area’s medical infrastructure needed modernising, they founded the O.A.R. Independently funded and privately owned, the rescue service is made up of a team of doctors, pilots, nurses, paramedics and administration staff and a polyclinic, which together provides medical services and emergency airborne evacuations for locals and tourists visiting the country.
“In our neck of the woods, the prestige of a beautiful watch doesn’t mean much of course, but the association has been a real boost to our team. The watch will help raise awareness of what we do, which is hugely valuable to us as we look to build a sustainable model for the future. Our pilots love Oris pilot’s watches and it’s wonderful to see a piece with our logo on the case back!” - Christian Gross, Co-Founder of Okavango Air Rescue
To raise awareness of the O.A.R and to celebrate of their 10th anniversary, Oris have launched the new Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue watch. Limited to 2,011 pieces in honour of the organisation’s founding year, the design executes originality with a unique green textured dial. The colour was chosen not for its current popularity in the luxury watch industry but instead to evoke the colours and textures of the Okavango Delta, an area of Botswana covered by Okavango Air Rescue. The region is one of the world’s greatest masterpieces, marked by its status as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and the 1,000th site to be inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List. It covers more than 20,000km squared and is home to the ‘Big Five’ game animals: the lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros. You can also find giraffe, hippos, cheetah, crocodiles and many other species living here making it one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations.
The dial of the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition beautifully brings to life the untamed nature of the Okavango Delta with a gorgeous olive green centre and a faded darker forest green edge. The unique vertical texture also perfectly mimics the thriving nature of the grasslands and marshes. The rich green backdrop is then complemented with a bold red-tipped seconds hand and black and white hardware for the hours and minutes. Matching white Arabic numerals adorn the edges which like the hands are treated to a generous helping of glow in the dark Superluminova.
Turn the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue watch over and further tributes to the rescue organisation can be found. Screwed down in stainless steel, the back depicts an image of the O.A.R’s logo which see’s one of their aircrafts flying over the grasslands of Botswana. The case back helps ensure a water resistant rating of 100 metres and sits comfortably against the skin with the help of two straps, both delivered within the watch’s special edition packaging. The first strap matches the textured dial engineered from green textile and manufactured exclusively by Erika’s Originals. The second is an additional brown calfskin leather strap. Both are secured by stainless steel pin buckles.
The rest of the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition mimics previous Big Crown ProPilot watches with a 41mm satin-brushed stainless steel case equipped with the iconic coin-edged bezel, a screw in crown and domed sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment. Housed within is the Oris 751 automatic winding movement based on the trusty Sellita SW220-1 which delivers hours, minutes, seconds and date function, a power reserve of 38 hours and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
For more information on the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue watch and to get your hands on one of the 2,011 limited edition pieces, head over to the C W Sellors website here or get in touch with the team on 01335 453453.
Specifications: Oris Big Crown ProPilot Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition (01 751 7761 4187-Set)
- Case Size: 41mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Closed with special engraving
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Oris 751
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Jewels: 26
- Frequency: 28,800bph
- Dial: Green with Superluminova markings
- Strap: Green textile made by Erika’s Originals and additional brown leather
- Buckle: Pin
- RRP: £1,750
- Limited Edition: 2,011 pieces
