Like many generations of kids past and present, I grew up on the Muppets, and well, quite frankly, I’ve never outgrown them. They are one of those rare and fantastic so-called kids’ universes that really transcend age and time. However, when Oris first partnered with the franchise in 2023, I was skeptical.
Cartoons, superheroes, Muppets – there are plenty I love, and, of course, I also love watches. I’m just not sure I love the two together. Now, I’m fairly certain I’m in the minority. The Oris ProPilot X Kermit Edition seems to be an enduring fan favorite, later followed up by the ProPilot X “Miss Piggy.” The designs are by all accounts very simple and subtle, with Kermit’s face casually appearing in the date window and Miss Piggy only featured on the caseback. Still, something about them always felt a bit kitschy to me.
About a month ago, a teaser came through my inbox announcing a forthcoming Muppet model, and I slotted the information away. Like many of us can tend to do once we’ve been deeply ingrained enough in the watch world, I filed the announcement under the category, “this is not for me.” Let this serve as a good reminder to remain open and willing to change your preferences – to be surprised. When I finally got the full press release for the new ProPilot X Gonzo Edition, I started rethinking my position on these types of collaborations altogether. The creativity and attention to detail really blew me away.
A lot of brands talk about making horology more fun, but Oris actually walks the walk. We see this across the brand’s catalog, but it’s certainly most literal in models like the Muppets. With the new Gonzo edition, Oris has really pushed the envelope in a lot of ways. Even with a much bolder design, the depiction of the character himself remains subtle like we’ve seen in previous editions. Instead, Oris has really harnessed the essence of Gonzo and translated that spirit into the design of the watch. The result is a model that’s extremely playful – almost feeling toy-like or cartoonish in nature. Yet, in the watch world, we well know that a skeletonized dial puts on full display how intricate and complex these little timekeeping machines really are.
With each of the Muppet models, color has played a big role. For Kermit and Miss Piggy, single hues have become synonymous with the characters, but Gonzo is arguably more dynamic from the inside out – from his personality to his quirky outfits, mixing prints and patterns like checked pants and a chili-pepper shirt. I think Oris made a really smart decision in opting for the ProPilot X Caliber 115 as the base to reflect this dynamism of the character, in both color and form. Here, a lasered dial ring changes colors between blue, red, and yellow depending on the light, the power reserve hand is in the shape of a chili as a nod to Gonzo’s classic shirt design, and the power reserve indicates 10 “GREAT” days, recalling the character’s stage name, Gonzo the Great.
Oris continued to get creative with the way in which Gonzo himself would be rendered on the watch. In my humble opinion, this is the most creative execution yet, by a landslide. Hidden in the mainspring is a metal coil measuring 1.8 meters that stores the watch’s power, made visible by the skeletonization of the barrel at 12 o’clock. As the watch is wound, tiny etchings lasered into the spring’s edge come together to form Gonzo’s face. It then disperses again as the power is expended and the chili hand nears zero. For me, this really epitomizes the idea that serious watchmaking can go hand-in-hand with good old fashioned fun. Etching this crucial functional component without hindering its capabilities to achieve an aesthetic outcome marks a watchmaking first that was no small feat to achieve. Yet, the concept also illustrates that same childlike quality, one that feels reminiscent of a toy like slinky with a design printed on the side that’s revealed after the coil completes its climb down the stairs and sits at rest.
From the colors to the oversized 44mm proportions, the ProPilot X Gonzo Edition is a bold watch for someone whose personality is equally as daring and funky as Gonzo himself. Yet, the model still has a certain effortlessness to it with the titanium case and bracelet keeping things lightweight and the if-you-know-you-know reveal of Gonzo’s face when fully wound keeping things discrete. Whether you’re collecting the whole series or have been waiting for an especially unique interpretation within the Muppets line, this is it. The new ProPilot X Gonzo Edition is available now with a price tag of $10,500, which is about $1,000 more than the standard ProPilot X Caliber 115. For more information, head over directly to Oris.
