Harking back to their history in the 19th century when they started out in the Hölstein area of the Waldenburg Valley in Switzerland, Oris has created a watch that commemorates and pays homage to the famous railway which runs through it. It is because of this railway that Oris was able to bring their watch manufacturing to the world.
“The WB was and is the lifeline of the valley. In the 19th century, it fueled industrial development and the founding of numerous innovative companies, especially in the watchmaking and precision engineering industries. Oris, like the WB, stands for reliability, quality, and innovation,” says Andreas Büttiker, CEO of BLT Baselland Transport AG.
The timing of the watch release coincides with the reopening of the Waldenburg railway, which opens again this month after an 18-month renovation and upgrade.
The Waldenburgerbahn Limited Edition is limited to 1,000 pieces only, and is modeled after their iconic Oris Big Crown Pointer Date.
“We settled quickly on a design based on our Big Crown,” Oris states. “First introduced in 1938, and in constant production ever since, the timeless Big Crown is a vital piece of our history just like the Waldenburgerbahn.”
The Waldenburgerbahn Limited Edition has a 40mm stainless steel case, security crown, and caseback containing an engraving of the Waldenburgerbahn steam locomotive. The black dial within is protected by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Meanwhile, luminous indices along with a red-pointed central hand (which acts as a date pointer) offer a pleasant and striking contrast to the ebony surface. Powering all of these functions is an automatic Caliber 754 movement, which has a 38-hour power reserve.
Last but not least, the Waldenburgerbahn Limited Edition is outfitted with a handsome dark brown Cervo Volante deer leather strap with a quick-change system for easy swapping. Additionally, a leather travel pouch has been provided for storing the watch and keeping it dust-free. A cleaning cloth, printed with a map of Hölstein, will provide you with all of your cleaning and polishing needs.
