SpotlightIn The Big Leagues: Introducing Oris’s Big Crown Hank Aaron Limited Edition Timepiece

Sports and watches have had a long association, but Oris’s latest Big Crown Hank Aaron Limited Edition timepiece is more than just a sports watch. The pilot’s watch from the Hölstein-based brand is a commemorative timepiece to celebrate a humanitarian and major league baseball player Hank Aaron. The first to break baseball legend Babe Ruth’s record despite the racism he faced, Hank Aaron became a symbol for people from impoverished backgrounds because of his perseverance, and his humanitarian efforts. Oris’s Big Crown Hank Aaron Limited Edition timepiece tells this legend’s story, honouring him in a meaningful and lasting way.

Hank Aaron And The Baseball Hall Of Fame

Hank Aaron started his professional career in the Negro Leagues in 1951, and was recruited to Major League Baseball soon after. Despite racial segregation and prejudice, Aaron proved himself by breaking records, and then setting more of his own. He is remembered for his humanitarian work through his Chasing the Dream foundation, a non-profit that has helped 800 underprivileged youth, and inspired many more.

“I am not concerned with how I am perceived as a baseball player. I am concerned with how I am thought of as a human being,” Hank Aaron said before his death in 2021. Photo credit: Getty Images

“I hope I have set a pattern in life, not only for my kids, but for all the people in the world: that if you try a little harder, no matter how large an obstacle might be, you can succeed.” Photo credit: ©LKozloffMD

Oris And The Horological Hall Of Fame

First created in 1938 with a large crown that made it easy for airmen to operate, the Oris Big Crown featured a fluted bezel gave the watch a distinct, rugged aesthetic. Big Crown Pointer Date watches have a date ring around the periphery of the dial, crisp Arabic numerals, cathedral hands, and a distinctive fluted bezel the collection is recognised for. Incidentally, Oris’s Roberto Clemente Limited Edition, released in 2020, was the first ever watch inspired by baseball, a sport that has captured the imagination of so many the world over. The Big Crown Pointer Date was the canvas for the Roberto Clemente watch as well.

The Big Crown Hank Aaron Edition

Oris’s Big Crown Hank Aaron Limited Edition timepiece features a dial in white, with blue and red accents. Arabic numerals are in red with a blue outline, while the minutes ring is in blue with a red outline, a colour scheme reminiscent of Aaron’s baseball uniform. The blue leather strap the watch is paired with comes with a double white stitching that evokes images of the edging on a baseball glove. The alternate Nato strap supplied with the watch is also designed in red, blue and white stripes.

Oris’s Big Crown Hank Aaron Limited Edition timepiece features a dial in white, with blue and red accents, a colour scheme reminiscent of Aaron’s baseball uniform. The blue leather strap with a double white stitching evokes images of the edging on a baseball glove

A commemorative caseback features an engraving of Aaron in his characteristic cross-handed batting posture, along with the limited edition number out of the total 2,297 watches in honour of his total career runs. The packaging box features the number ‘44’, which emblazoned Aaron’s uniform for most of his 23-year career.

The commemorative caseback of the Oris Big Crown Hank Aaron limited edition features an engraving of Aaron in his characteristic cross-handed batting posture

The packaging box features the number ‘44’, which emblazoned Aaron’s uniform for most of his 23-year career

The 40mm steel case features curved lugs that make it comfortable on the wrist, and the collection’s iconic fluted bezel. With a screwed in big crown, the watch is water resistant to 50m. The case houses the Oris 754 calibre, with timekeeping and date functions, and a date corrector.

The Oris Big Crown Hank Aaron Edition is a fitting tribute to all that the baseball legend stood for, on the field and off it. “I am not concerned with how I am perceived as a baseball player,” he had said before his death in 2021. “I am concerned with how I am thought of as a human being.”