The United States is firmly committed to baseball, and many Americans tend to think of the sport of cricket as just “weird European baseball” (if they ever think of it at all). However, cricket is actually far older than baseball, and with an estimated 2.5 billion fans around the globe, cricket also holds the title of being the world’s second most popular sport. To celebrate its role as the Official Timekeeper of Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, Oris has partnered with the historic Marylebone Cricket Club to create a limited-edition version of the bronze Big Crown Pointer Date as its first new release of 2024. Paying tribute to the famous weathervane known as “Father Time” that sits atop the clock tower overlooking the pitch on the Lord’s grounds, the new Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Father Time Limited Edition will be produced in a batch of 1,926 examples as a reference to the year (1926) that Sir Herbert Baker, the architect of Lord’s Second Grand Stand, gifted the weathervane to the Marylebone Cricket Club as an apology for the late completion of the project.
Similar to other limited-edition models, the new Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Father Time Limited Edition (ref. 754 7741 3161-Set) differs from the core-collection offerings when it comes to its dial, caseback, and included strap/bracelet options. Just like the standard-production 40mm bronze Big Crown Pointer Date watches, the new limited-edition Father Time version features a double-domed sapphire crystal surrounded by a thin fluted bezel, while a large signed winding crown at the 3 o’clock location screws down to the middle case in order to help guarantee what is ultimately a fairly moderate 50 meters of water resistance. However, while the standard-production bronze models are fitted with display-style casebacks that have flat mineral glass windows, the new Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Father Time Limited Edition features a solid screw-down stainless steel caseback that is adorned by an engraving of the famous Father Time weathervane.
The dial and hands of the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Father Time Limited Edition feature the same core designs as the standard-production watches, and the cathedral-style handset is identical to what you will find among the core-collection 40mm bronze models, complete with the small red accent that appears on the tip of the date-indicator hand. Additionally, although the dial features the same layout as the regular Big Crown Pointer Date watches, all four of the standard-production bronze 40mm models have dark-colored dials with white text (green, brown, bordeaux, or blue), and the new Father Time Limited Edition features a white dial with black printing, which helps to visually set it apart from its siblings. Despite being one of the most traditional and obvious colors, white dials aren’t actually all that common within the greater Oris Big Crown Pointer Date collection, and the brand seems to almost exclusively use lighter colored dials for its various limited-edition models.
Just like other limited-edition Oris watches, the new Big Crown Pointer Date Father Time Limited Edition comes as a set with two different strap/bracelet options, along with a springbar tool to help users easily swap back and forth between them. The first of the two included options is the same brushed bronze bracelet that can be found among the standard-production 40mm models from the collection, and it features a seven-piece link design that consists of two wider outer links that border five smaller rows of offset center links. The second option that comes with the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Father Time Limited Edition is a light brown two-piece leather strap that is crafted from sustainably-sourced deer leather by the brand’s Swiss partner Cervo Volante, and it features integrated quick-release springbars at the lugs and secures together on the bottom of the wrist with a matching bronze pin buckle.
Oris is hardly a stranger when it comes to making limited-edition versions of its fan-favorite models, and while some releases naturally resonate more with certain buyers than others, the brand almost always keeps any related markings or graphics confined to the caseback, which means that individuals who don’t personally relate to the design inspiration or partnership can simply enjoy the watches for their aesthetics. With an official retail price of $3,100 USD, the new Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Father Time Limited Edition is only slightly more expensive than the standard-production models that are fitted with bracelets, and a decent part of the $300 premium is likely due to the additional leather strap and included springbar tool. Realistically speaking, I imagine that most of the 1,926 available examples of this limited-edition watch will be purchased by individuals who also make up the 2.5 billion cricket fans around the globe, although I can also see some collectors opting for this version, simply because they enjoy the appearance of a clean white dial inside of a warm bronze case. For more information on the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Father Time Limited Edition, please visit the brand’s website.
