Mike’s Thoughts On The Fratello × Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date Limited Edition
Earlier this week, we broke the news about our first ever Fratello × Oris collaboration in the form of the Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date. If you read the release, you’ll know this one is near and dear to me, so I thought I’d share some additional views on this limited-edition watch.
It was back in 2019 at Baselworld when I first saw the newest Big Crown Pointer Date models. I was truly impressed. As I’ve mentioned before, I really enjoy how Oris manages to keep its models fresh by adding color. But Oris doesn’t just run into the direction of trends by just adding the typical colors. Instead, they go in unorthodox directions that sound a little strange on paper but look incredible in person. The 40mm Pointer Date steel model with an oxblood dial was one such example.
Oxblood, burgundy, I’m a fan
Surprisingly, my love of the rich burgundy color on this Big Crown doesn’t stem from my adoration for red wine. I think it’s actually rooted in leather goods and particularly relates to shoes. During high school and college, Doc Martens hit it big and my favorite pair was a set of oxbloods. Later, I traded boots for dress shoes and recall a sweet set of “cordovan” tone Bally lace-ups that took me into countless business meetings when I lived in Detroit. These days, though, I relax with this color on a Stickley Spindle Morris recliner that just so happens to have deep burgundy leather.
Creating the original Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date…
You can see that I’ve always had a thing for oxblood, so why not just order the steel Big Crown and call it good? There were two main reasons. Firstly, I wanted a bronze watch. I have a metallurgical background and have dealt with copper far more than steel. The material means something to me. Secondly, I thought of how the case would darken and I envisioned it pairing perfectly with this juicy, dark red color. And while it wasn’t a reason to modify a watch, I also knew that this Oris was so well designed that I’d actually end up wearing it.
You’ve read how I was uncomfortable with modifying my Big Crown and that Oris wasn’t convinced either. We ended up doing what most partners do during a standoff and that meant bringing in a third party. Paul, our watchmaker, did the switch and sent it to me. I still remember opening the box and the feeling was electric. It was EXACTLY what I wanted. And then I wrote an article about it and people began asking how they could do the same thing. Would they have to buy two watches? Would Oris sell or send them an extra dial too?
…created a lot of questions that now have an answer!
Being a journalist has several perks and this meant I had the ability to ask Oris about getting a dial. It’s not something that everyone can do and while that’s too bad, it is what it is. But the happy ending here is that with this Fratello × Oris limited edition, we’ve solved the yearning for an oxblood-dialed bronze Big Crown Pointer Date. In my view, we’ve also improved upon my mod. Best of all, Oris is a spirited supporter.
The Fratello × Oris collaboration was a group effort
Getting the Fratello × Oris Big Crown Pointer Date just right wasn’t as easy as my 2019 modification. The process was far more exacting and thought inducing than you’d think. There were many designs under consideration and the debates were fierce. Font choices, the amount of writing, and color were all up for grabs. We wanted a solid case back and it had to be clean. Our logo was a must, but it couldn’t dominate. The straps had to work with the watch and that meant choosing leather, hardware, and stitching. Finally, we opted for unique, color-matching packaging.
We focused on the details
We watch folks are particular people and, therefore, I really appreciate the differences between my modified watch and the Fratello × Oris Big Crown Pointer Date. This new dial truly looks like it was made for this case. Mine is good, but this is truly better. I also think that on leather it has a classier vibe than mine, but it loosens up nicely on the nylon strap.
And kept the core DNA of what is truly an excellent daily watch
If you’ve never tried one of these 40mm Big Crown Pointer Date watches on for size, it’s a smooth operator. Like so many of our readers, I spend a lot of my time in a diver or a chronograph. Therefore, it was refreshing for me to pick up something different that falls under the catch-all “field watch” genre. Oris has managed to come up with such a gem because the watch fits a huge range of wrist sizes while not looking too large or small. The watch can handle just about anything due to its construction, but it’s not overly sporty. It just looks like a damn good watch that’s comfortable to wear.
Dial wise, I’ve long been a fan of the Pointer Date method because it allows the watch to maintain perfect symmetry. There’s no silly date window here and the extra hand brings a touch of sophistication. You don’t get that on a standard military-inspired field watch. The Fratello × Oris takes an already proven design, adds a gold minutes track, gold writing, and the watch just pops. All this adds up to a watch that will become a part of any owner’s normal rotation.
My final thoughts on the Fratello × Oris Big Crown Bronze
Finally, one thing to remember is that the Fratello × Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date is one of just three color options in the 40mm bronze range. The green 80th Anniversary model is available along with a regular production brown-dialed version. With our oxblood model, we think there’s now an exciting, albeit limited, alternative.
I’m proud to own #1 of 300 pieces. It was really exciting that something I created in my head, and later in real life, came to fruition in an upgraded form. It’s something I will carry with me for a long time. If you’re thinking about adding one to your collection and have questions, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments or feel free to reach out to us via email. In the meantime, feel free to head to our shop to take a detailed look at the new Fratello × Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date. If you do end up ordering one, I sincerely doubt that you’ll regret it.
