by Dana Li
Last week, Oris unveiled the new Waldenburgerbahn Limited Edition, a special edition of the Big Crown Pointer Date which pays tribute to Switzerland’s Waldenburg Valley. The Waldenburgerbahn (WB) railway ran through Holstëin, the birthplace of the brand, and was instrumental in connecting Oris with the rest of the world and bringing watchmakers into the region. Next month, the railway will be reopening after an 18-month long technological upgrade, allowing Oris employees to commute using a low carbon form of transportation and supporting Oris’s Emissions Reduction Programme.
“The WB was and is the lifeline of the valley. In the 19th century, it fuelled 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.” -Andreas Büttiker, CEO, BLT Baselland Transport AG.
I got to spend a few days with the watch and can definitely say that the piece does a great job of honoring the importance of the WB. The attention to detail and design choices capture the brand’s heritage while still bringing a modern feel.
First Impression
What struck me first about the watch was how light it was despite its stainless steel case and larger size. In addition to the case back that features an engraving of the WB, the watch itself also has various subtle references to railroads. The jet black dial and the white marker resembles those on watches that were made for conductors back in the day. To maximize legibility, many of these pieces often had white or black dials with contrasting markers. The dark, chocolate brown Cervo Volante strap also brings a nice, vintage feel to the watch.
Wearability
If you’ve read any of my previous Watch Spotlight articles, you’ll know that I dedicate a section to wearability, from the feel of the watch on the wrist and how it wears in various situations. This Oris WB checks the box on both thanks to its slim case proportions and design.
For a 40mm watch, I was pleasantly surprised at how nicely the watch wore on my wrist. It definitely wears as a bigger statement piece for me but was subtle enough for casual wear thanks to the black dial. The Cervo Volante strap needed next to no breaking in, which is always a nice bonus with a new piece. As I wore the watch throughout the day, I almost forgot it was on my wrist because of how comfortable the strap was. In addition, I loved how easy it was to read the time with a quick glance because of the dial's legibility.
How to Style the Watch
The Oris WB makes for a great everyday watch that you can wear easily with a t-shirt and jeans or with a more dressed up business casual outfit. The combination of the textured dark brown deer leather strap and the black dial also make it the perfect piece to wear with cozy fall looks. My personal favorite was wearing the watch over my sleeve and layering a tailored coat or with a dark-colored chunky knit sweater.
Specs
The Oris WB has a 40mm stainless steel case and features the Oris 754 automatic movement, which has a 38-hour power reserve. The watch will be produced in a limited run of 1,000 numbered pieces and each will come with a leather travel pouch and card holder.