ReviewThe Buck Stops Here: Introducing The Oris Big Crown X Cervo Volante Watches

The watchmaking business has always been quick to adapt to changes—whether it was the rise of quartz watches back in the 1970s to experimenting with new materials such as ceramic, titanium, sapphire and ingenious alloys of precious metals. The industry’s dynamism has always kept pace with the changing times and the need of the hour. And when one talks about that in the 21st century, perhaps the most important call to action is the implementation of sustainable business practices and ethical consumption vis-à-vis manufacturers and consumers. Watch brands have been quick to jump on this bandwagon and are doing their best whether it’s in terms of sourcing raw materials, recycling or upcycling, and even introducing changes at their manufacturing units in order to reduce their carbon footprint and give back to the planet in more ways than one. Oris have been among the brands that have been championing this cause for over a decade now when they started partnering with pioneering organisations and brands that shared the same passion and values for cleaning, restoring and protecting the planet. Collaborations, whether with conservation agencies such as Coral Restoration Foundation and the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, or with global events such as World Clean-Up Day.

These are now part of the brand’s identity and have become the central pillar around which all timepieces are created. In fact, a few years ago, Oris brought these sustainable projects under one banner—‘Change for the better’, and they have been going from strength to strength. Just a few months back we saw two new Aquis Date Upcycle models with dials made of recycled PET plastic trash found in the oceans, unveiled during Geneva Watch Days 2021. And recently, the brand have collaborated with sustainable deer leather manufacturer—Cervo Volante—resulting in the development of three beautiful Big Crown Pointer Date models, fitted with ethically-sourced leather straps manufactured at Cervo Volante’s facility in Switzerland. Let’s take a closer look at the watches and how this collaboration came about.

The Big Crown—one of Oris’s signature designs, was first introduced in 1938, and continues to inspire the collection today

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The watch is presented on a strap made of sustainable deer leather, and Oris will continue working with Cervo Volante, bringing sustainability to the forefront

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The hour markers and hands are filled with Super-LumiNova and the dial is protected by sapphire crystal

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The highlight here, apart from the big crown is the ‘pointer calendar’ function that indicates the date in a simple yet efficient manner

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Sustainable Values: Oris Team Up With Cervo Volante

Every year, around 15,000 wild red deer are culled in Switzerland, and this operation is entirely legal and necessary, highly regulated, and undertaken to manage the deer population and protect the Swiss countryside. One might question the practice but it’s necessary for wildlife management as red deer can damage forests that protect settlements from natural hazards. But for years, little was made of the natural by-products that this process yielded. In 2017, two entrepreneurs took it upon themselves to do something about this, and that’s how friends Kadri Vunder Fontana, a biotechnology engineer and entrepreneur, and Conny Thiel-Egenter, a biologist specialising in nature and wildlife preservation and habitat management, founded Cervo Volante. Their vision was to take the waste—specifically deer skins, and transform them into beautiful, hard-wearing and ultimately sustainable footwear and accessories, and their efforts have borne fruit.

Every year, around 15,000 wild red deer are culled in Switzerland, and this operation is entirely legal and necessary, highly regulated, and undertaken to manage the deer population and protect the Swiss countryside

On hearing about Oris’s ‘Change for the better’ campaign, they approached the brand and floated the idea of working together on a project, and the rest, as they say is history. Cervo Volante’s handcrafted products, low-impact methods and the vision behind utilising waste material is what attracted Oris to be part of this project. Their products also tell stories that typical mass-produced equivalents never could. For example, they keep imperfections that occur during the life of a deer in their skins, where many companies would discard them. Their skins are never the product of farming, and they never require chemicals or fertilisers. And if the skins weren’t used in this way, they’d simply be burned. Cervo Volante have also employed Switzerland’s last two remaining tanneries, both of which use 100-percent vegetable tanning processes. The Oris-Cervo Volante collaboration begins with three Big Crown Pointer Date watches. Each has a gradient dial inspired by Alpine hues—grey, blue and green—and a strap made of sustainable deer leather. They come with a pouch and a cardholder made of the same material. But they’re not limited, and nor is this is a one-time deal. Moreover, Oris will continue working with Cervo Volante, bringing sustainability to the forefront.

One might question the practice of ethical culling but it’s necessary for wildlife management as red deer can damage forests that protect settlements from natural hazards

In 2017, two entrepreneurs and friends Kadri Vunder Fontana, a biotechnologist and Conny Thiel-Egenter, a biologist specialising in wildlife management, founded Cervo Volante

Their vision was to take the waste—specifically deer skins, and transform them into beautiful, hard-wearing and ultimately sustainable footwear and accessories

Cervo Volante’s handcrafted products tell stories unlike their mass-produced equivalents. For example, they keep deer skins with imperfections, while many companies would discard them

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Oris Big Crown Pointer Date x Cervo Volante

The Hölstein-based company began making pilot’s watches in the 1910s, when a burgeoning aviation industry was witnessing major innovations, thanks to industrialisation. The Big Crown—one of Oris’s signature designs, was first introduced in 1938, and continues to inspire the collection today. The highlight here, apart from the big crown is the ‘pointer calendar’ function that indicates the date in a simple yet efficient manner. The new Big Crown Pointer Date watches come in 38mm stainless steel cases with dials in grey, blue or green. The hour markers and hands are filled with Super-LumiNova and the dial is protected by sapphire crystal both on the front and the caseback. One gets a glimpse of the Oris 754 automatic movement that features the brand’s signature red rotor, and packs in a power reserve of 38 hours. This in-house calibre is also sustainable and can be serviced for years to last generations.

Featured here is the Big Crown Pointer Date model that comes in a 38mm stainless steel cases with a green dial

One gets a glimpse of the Oris 754 automatic movement that features the brand’s signature red rotor, and packs in a power reserve of 38 hours

Oris Big Crown

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The watches are presented on deer leather straps and are also retailed in pouches crafted from the same material. In fact these straps are great options for people with sensitive skin as they are allergy-free, sustainable and unique. And most importantly, they can be worn with a good conscience. For Cervo Volante, this project is a symbol of the urgent action that’s needed to protect our environment, and the company feels that partnering with Oris was the right call in this direction since both are committed to creating a more sustainable environment for future generations.

While watchmaking has been Oris’s forte, they haven’t shied away from taking responsibility of cultivating more ethical and sustainable trade practices to improve their efficiency, and supply chain management. Last year, the brand were certified as a climate-neutral company and the new partnership with Cervo Volante, focusing on eco-friendly leather straps is yet another sustainable effort that will have a long-lasting, positive impact on the future of the watchmaking industry.