What We Know
We’re in the thick of baseball season, and Oris has pulled a doubleheader, of sorts. Yesterday brought us the new Hölstein edition, and today we’re getting a new baseball-themed watch. Oris is the official watch sponsor of the New York Yankees, and this year, they’re releasing a special watch to support one of the team’s all-time legends, Lou Gehrig.
The newest Big Crown Pointer Date is a special watch supporting the Lou and Eleanor Gehrig Family Foundation. The watch, in 40mm-by-12.2 mm stainless steel (with a 48.2mm lug-to-lug), is certainly inspired by the colors of the Yankees. The silver dial is surrounded by a black date ring with the “4” in blue (for Lou Gehrig’s number), a blue minute track that matches the blue surrounding the hour markers. They’ve used a combination of Arabic numerals and stick hour markers for a sporty look.
The movement is the Oris Caliber 754, with a 41-hour power reserve and automatic winding. It’s delivered with a NATO strap in Yankee colors and a brown double-stitched strap that looks like a baseball glove. The caseback is engraved with a portrait of Lou Gehrig and the watch’s number within the production total.
There are 2130 pieces available, one for each of the consecutive games he played across 15 seasons, before his death in 1941 at the age of only 37. The retail price is CHF 2,400. Oris says that they will contribute to the work of The Lou and Eleanor Gehrig Family Foundation.
What We Think
The Pointer Date is probably Oris’ most iconic model and a callback to a time when dozens of brands were making this type of watch. Now, Oris is one of the few that remain and probably the best at it, especially for the price. The color combination works well here too—when you know the inspiration, it’s obvious, but it’s not overly sporty and can be worn in a variety of circumstances. For a brand that consistently finds meaningful causes to build around, honoring Gehrig alongside their Yankees sponsorship feels like a natural extension.
The Basics
Brand: Oris
Model: Lou Gehrig Big Crown Pointer Date Limited Edition
Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 12.2mm
Case Material: Multi-piece stainless steel
Dial Color: Silver
Indexes: Printed
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 50mm
Strap/Bracelet: Brown leather strap with white double-stitching and stainless steel buckle. Also supplied with blue, white, and grey NATO fabric strap with stainless steel buckle and strap change tool
The Movement
Caliber: Oris Caliber 754
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, pointer date
Power Reserve: 41 hours
Winding: Automatic
Pricing & Availability
Price: CHF 2,400
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: 2,130 numbered pieces, each watch is delivered in a special presentation box and with a specially stamped baseball card
For more, click here.
