Jewellery & Watch News
Oris announces one of its biggest limited edition launches to date with a total of 21 new models designed in honour of the iconic Swiss Air-Rescue Rega. Meet the third and latest Oris X Rega watch, the Big Crown ProPilot Rega Fleet Limited Edition…
Oris have always been a luxury watch brand to try their hand at a bit of everything. They’re Williams F1 collection marks their passions for motorsport while their best-selling Aquis range epitomises their appetite for diving. What many don’t know however is that the world of aviation was one of their first motivations, starting their history developing pocket watches with cases decorated with Blériot-style aircrafts back in 1910 and launching their Big Crown watch shortly after with an oversized crown especially for gloved pilots. Since then, Oris have partnered with many leading aviation organisations including military units, display teams and rescue units including that of the Swiss rescue team, Rega.
Who are Rega?
If you’ve ever visited Switzerland, you’ve probably seen the bold red helicopters of Rega flying the skies. They are one of the country’s most trusted organisations remaining an integral part of the Swiss healthcare system with 13 helicopter bases and a fleet of state-of-the-art aircraft. Since their founding in 1952, they have covered all ranges of medical emergencies from road accidents to sudden illness, but they are most noted for their brave high-altitude mountain rescues. They currently operate 18 recue helicopters and 3 planes from a number of bases, all of which can cover anywhere in the area within 15 minutes. Alongside the fleet, there are also an important number of pilots, paramedics and emergency flight physicians.
The Covid-19 pandemic made Rega’s role within the country even more important and in 2020 alone, they organised more than 16,000 missions and brought medical assistance by air to 11,000 people. To this day, Rega remains a privately run, non-profit organisation and one that Oris has proudly supported since 2016. That same year, Oris launched its first Rega watch, the Oris Altimeter Rega Limited Edition and then again in 2018, their second instalment landed, the Oris GMT Rega. For 2021, the Swiss watch manufacturer is delighted to announce their third design in honour of the Swiss rescue unit, which as always is built to Rega’s specifications but makes history with a total of 21 different iterations to choose from.
The Oris Big Crown ProPilot Rega Fleet Limited Edition
Possibly one of Oris’ largest releases to date, the 21 new limited edition Oris Big Crown ProPilot Rega Fleet watches celebrate the 21 different aircrafts used by Rega including their 18 rescue helicopters and the three fixed-wing planes. Each aircraft is wonderfully commemorated on its own screw down case back where an image of the craft itself sits centre stage alongside its registration number. Every case back is a limited edition of 100 pieces, meaning there are 2,100 Oris Big Crown ProPilot Rega Fleet on offer.
Other than their differing case backs, the rest of the design is the same. As always, the overall aesthetic was conceived alongside members of the Rega team and as always, they wanted a clear, ultra-legible dial with no glare alongside a GMT function and a pulsometer feature which could serve as back-up to electronic machines that measure patients’ heart rates. The luxury watch brand delivered just that with the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Rega Fleet watch with a pure matte black dial adorned with Superluminova coated numerals and hands, scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass treated with anti-reflective coating, a bold red GMT hand and sloped 24 hour scale and a bi-directional bezel engraved with a pulsometer scale. The bezel also features a triangular marker in red to indicate the “the golden hour”, the critical first hour of any rescue mission.
The case of the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Rega Fleet Limited Edition measures to 41mm in diameter and promises a gorgeous gun metal grey PVD stainless steel finish and a 100 metre water resistance. Securing the design to the wrist is a choice of two straps, both available with the delivery of each limited edition, including a black calfskin leather strap with a red lining and a red rubber band. Housed within the case is the Oris 798 automatic winding movement with a 42 hour power reserve, frequency of 28,800vph and 25 jewels. The Swiss made movement also guarantees the effortless running of the hours, minutes, seconds, GMT and date complications.
If you’d like to learn more about the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Rega Fleet Limited Edition collection and order your own, head over to the C W Sellors website here or get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453.
Specifications: Oris Big Crown ProPilot Rega Fleet Limited Edition (798 7773 4284-Set)
- Case Size: 41mm
- Case Material: Gun metal grey PVD stainless steel
- Bezel: Bi-directional with pulsometer scale and “golden hour” marker
- Glass: Double domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw down
- Case Back: Closed with 1 of 21 different decorations
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Oris 798 automatic
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, dual time indication, date
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Jewels: 25
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Black with white Superluminova markings, 24 hour scale
- Strap: Black leather and additional red rubber
- Buckle: Folding
- RRP: £2,600
- Limited Edition: 100 pieces each
