Description

The ubiquitous chronograph, a staple of masculine watches, is frequently rendered illegible, its face crowded with dials or rendered a tuna-can-caricature of timekeeping when made big enough to give its registers some breathing room. Then there's the problem that most chronos look alike, distinguished only by black, silver or white face as backdrop for the standard three subdials chronograph layout. Yes, of course the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Chrono is visually and functionaly distinctive and exemplary in its crafting. But its near five-figures street price isn't in everyone's reach. If you want something masculine, distinctive, iconic, tasteful, mechanical and affordable with sports timing capability, the Oris Chronoris is for you.

The modern Chronoris is a modern update on Oris' motorsports-inspired, iconic 1970 Chronoris, still with the click-stop inner timing bezel and the stopwatch sweep second hand. For today's version, Oris enlarged the case a bit (now 40mm across w/o crown, up from the original's 37mm) for more wrist presence without putting a wall clock under your cuff. The thin orange click-stop bezel is there, along with Oris' trademark "big crown". The commodity Swiss automatic movement is Oris-modified. The new Chronoris adds a minute counter at 12 o'clock.

People bemoan '70s styling, remembering only the shag carpet, big lapels, gold chains and blow-dry hair on men. But they forget that '70s excess came later in the decade. Along with the clean and sweet 1970 Camaro, the early Shark Corvettes with thin chrome bumpers and flying buttress greenhouse, and the '70 Dodge Challenger, this Chronoris is inspired by design themes from when culture was on the bubble and confidence, optimism and exuberance were in perfect balance. The sleek truncated oval, two-texture brushed and polished case surfaces, and the uncluttered dial precisely graduated for timing functions puts you back in a time when people were still excited about going to the moon.

Oris commissioned an era-appropriate perforated black leather racing strap with brilliant orange edging and a deployant clasp. They include an alternate stainless steel bracelet along with the changing tool and spare pins to alternate looks at will. It's all wrapped up in a convenient and cool leather travel case. This is a man's watch that won't overwhelm your wrist, oozes cool, and don't be surprised if your wife or girlfriend lifts it now and then before you get a chance to strap it on in the morning. (via Oris)