ReviewThe Oris Artelier Date And Complication Are For The Young And Urban Watch Lovers

The idea that “change is the only constant”—a sentiment long associated with the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus—holds true in watchmaking too. It has always been a challenge for the brands to maintain a balance between retaining existing elements and innovating constantly, all without losing their core identity or loyal customers. Independent watchmakers Oris are well versed in it; at this year’s Watches and Wonders, they unveiled a minimalist, modern version of their earlier Artelier Date and Artelier Complication pieces, aimed at the young and urban generation of today.

Redesigned by the brand’s 24-year-old product design engineer, Lena Huwiler, both the Oris Artelier Date and the Oris Artelier Complication are cleaner, sophisticated versions of their former models, underscoring the need to change with time. Huwiler has let go of two sub-dials out of the four in new Complication watches, keeping the moon phase centre stage. The Date variants, too, appear clutter-free and contemporary, rightly appealing to the target group. Available in classic dial colours, these Oris watches are powered by automatic Swiss movements and come with a leather strap or steel bracelet. Here’s more.  

Oris Artelier Complication 

The Artelier Complication is available in three dial colours: midnight blue, chestnut (brown) and ivory (white). All three variants have a grained texture at the centre, surrounded by a smooth periphery for a nice contrast. They feature a moon phase sub-dial at 12 o’clock and a second time zone counter at six, with the Oris logo and the name ‘Artelier’ at three and nine o’clock, respectively. Undoubtedly, the moon phase is the highlight of this Oris watch, where the natural satellite of Earth comes alive against the starry backdrop, displaying the different states of the lunar cycle. The second prominent complication is the 24-hour indicator, of course. The applied faceted indexes—with the bifurcated words ‘Swiss Made’ at the bottom—and the complementing hands further add a touch of modernity to the dial. To aid legibility, the hour and minute hands are filled with a strip of luminescence.  

The Artelier Complication is available in three dial colours: midnight blue, chestnut (brown) and ivory (white)

₹2,73,000

Check Our Selling Price

They feature a moon phase sub-dial at 12 o'clock and a second time zone counter at six, with the Oris logo and the name 'Artelier' at three and nine o'clock, respectively

₹2,97,000

Check Our Selling Price

The see-through caseback with a mineral glass reveals the automatic winding with red rotor, beating at 28,800vph to deliver a 41-hour power reserve

01

It is housed within a 39.50mm multi-piece stainless steel case, measuring 11.80mm in thickness with a lug-to-lug of 45.50mm and is water-resistant to 30m. On top is a sapphire crystal, domed on both sides, with an anti-reflective coating inside. Inside beats the Oris calibre 782, powering the centre hands for hours, minutes and seconds, moon phase, second time zone and stop-second; adjustment can be made via the crown and a single pusher on the case flank. The see-through caseback with a mineral glass reveals the automatic winding with red rotor beating at 28,800vph to deliver a 41-hour power reserve. One can choose either a dark brown leather strap or a multi-piece stainless steel bracelet for one’s watch—both feature a butterfly clasp.  

Oris Artelier Date 

In comparison, the Artelier Date is a simpler watch with a date window at six o’clock. It is also available in three dial colours: dark blue, white (off-white) and chocolate black. Similar to the Artelier Complication, these time-and-date watches feature textured centres with smoother peripheries. The model with a white dial features a grainy texture, whereas the dark blue and chocolate black variants are decorated with a sunray-like pattern with alternating reliefs and recesses. In these watches, the Oris logo is placed prominently at 12 o’clock, while the word ‘Artelier’ occupies the space right above the date window. The indexes and hands follow the same design language as the Artelier Complication. 

The Artelier Date is also available in three dial colours: dark blue, white (off-white) and chocolate black

₹2,08,000

Check Our Selling Price

The size of the modern Artelier Date is reduced from 40mm to a more inclusive 38mm, with a thickness of 10.90mm and a lug-to-lug of 44mm

₹2,08,000

Check Our Selling Price

It is presented on a dark brown leather strap with a butterfly clasp or a multi-piece stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp

₹2,32,000

Check Our Selling Price

01

The size of the modern Artelier Date is reduced from 40mm to a more inclusive 38mm, with a thickness of 10.90mm and a lug-to-lug of 44mm. Other features including the sapphire crystal, water resistance and caseback are the same as in the Complication watches. At its heart is the Oris calibre 733, providing an energy reserve of 41 hours. This automatic movement beats at a frequency of 28,800vph, powering the time, date and stop-second functions. The Artelier Date is presented on a dark brown leather strap with a butterfly clasp or a multi-piece stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp.

The Oris Artelier Complication and Date in a nutshell

• Case: Multi-piece stainless steel, 39.50mm or 38mm; water-resistant to 30m
• Dial: Date: dark blue, white or chocolate black; Complication: midnight blue, chestnut or ivory 
• Functions and display: Date: date, stop-second; Complication: moon phase, second time zone, stop-second
• Movement: Automatic Oris calibre 782 or 733; 41-hour power reserve
• Strap: Dark brown leather strap with butterfly clasp, multi-piece stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp or butterfly clasp