Introducing: The Oris Artelier S — Purity In Watch Design
The Artelier collection is seldom spoken about in the Oris enthusiast community. Considering that the Aquis, Big Crown, and Divers Sixty-Five range regularly grace the Fratello site, it’s surprising that the Artelier receives such little airtime. I asked Oris co-CEO Rolf Studer why that is, and he answered that the Artelier mostly gains appreciation in its home nation of Switzerland. Will these two additions to the Artelier collection breach the borders and gain appreciation outside the homeland? Let’s find out.
When I spoke to Studer about the Artelier collection, it was at the same time that I was buying an Artelier model of my own, the Calibre 112. I later sold this watch during my house move but immensely enjoyed its qualities. The Artelier is a classy yet contemporary take on traditional watch design. Oris scales back the dial to only the essential indications for the new releases. The chosen colors in deep black or forest green reflect the Waldenburg Valley, which hosts Oris’s Hölstein headquarters. Combined with the thin bezel, the span of the dial optically increases to showcase the subtle sunburst finish. Despite the expansive dial, the stainless steel case is 38mm in diameter with a svelte profile.
Oris Artelier S
The retro aesthetic continues with the super soft calf leather strap in either black or brown. The suede-like inner lining is smooth but provides a subtle grip. To affix the watch to your wrist is a steel folding clasp with the Oris signature. Powering each edition of the Artelier S is the Swiss-made mechanical Oris caliber 733. This is the automatic Sellita SW200-1 derivative without the date function and the signature Oris red rotor visible through the exhibition case back.
The slim hands have a subtle taper yet still contain a filigree-thin line of Super-LumiNova. Despite the hour and minute markers keeping tight to the outer edges of the dials, the minute and seconds hands comfortably reach the scale. The close overlap of indications ensures that setting and reading the time is not compromised by the minimalist approach to watch design.
Final notes and pricing
The Oris Artelier S is a simple yet effective wristwatch. The low-profile and compact case makes the wearing experience comfortable and sleek. It’s a pleasingly retro look in an elegant steel case. Both the green and black editions of the Oris Artelier S have a 38-hour power reserve and a price tag of £1,600. You can learn more about the Artelier S on the Oris website here.
