Oris Holstein Edition 2025

Every year on the first of June, the independent Swiss watchmaker Oris celebrates its founding with a special, limited-production timepiece. This tradition gives the brand a platform to experiment, to create something unique for its most ardent followers. For 2025, the sixth installment in this series arrives in the form of the Hölstein Edition 2025, a watch that leverages the brand's robust ProPilot model as a canvas for a truly distinctive and playful execution. Limited to just 250 pieces worldwide, this release is a direct nod to the collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate the brand's quirky and independent spirit.



The story of Oris is deeply intertwined with its place of origin. On June 1, 1904, two watchmakers, Paul Cattin and Georges Christian, arrived in the serene village of Hölstein in the Waldenburg Valley of Switzerland. They purchased a local watch factory and named their new enterprise after a nearby brook. This was a deliberate move away from the traditional watchmaking hubs like Le Locle. Their vision was to merge the industrial efficiencies of the Swiss German-speaking region with the established craftsmanship of the French-speaking west. The goal was not to create inaccessible luxury, but to produce high-quality, reliable mechanical watches for a broader audience of working professionals and citizens.



This founding philosophy of industrial craftsmanship and honest value continues to define Oris over 120 years later. In an industry now dominated by large luxury conglomerates, Oris remains fiercely independent. This freedom allows the company to march to the beat of its own drum, to make decisions based on its own values rather than market trends or shareholder demands. The annual Hölstein Edition is perhaps the purest expression of this independence, a watch made not necessarily to meet a commercial target, but to bring a sense of joy and appreciation to the community that has formed around the brand.



The Hölstein Edition 2025 begins its life as an Oris ProPilot, a family of watches known for its aviation-inspired design and rugged functionality. The case, measuring a contemporary 41.00 mm in diameter, is crafted from multi-piece stainless steel. However, for this special edition, nearly every external surface has been treated with a black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) plating. This hard-wearing coating provides a deep, matte black finish that is both visually striking and highly resistant to scratches, giving the watch a stealthy, modern-utilitarian character.



This monochromatic treatment extends to the ProPilot's signature fluted bezel, a design element inspired by the turbines of a jet engine, as well as the large, easy-to-grip screw-down security crown. The case back is also black DLC-plated stainless steel, screwed down to ensure water resistance. It features a see-through sapphire crystal, offering a view of the movement within. Encircling this exhibition window are special engravings denoting its limited status, alongside a unique printed ring filled with Super-LumiNova®, a detail that adds another layer of intrigue in low-light conditions.



The dial of the Hölstein Edition 2025 is where the watch truly reveals its dual personality. In daylight, it presents as a clean and highly legible white surface. The applied Arabic numerals, along with the hour, minute, and seconds hands, are rendered in a contrasting matte black, ensuring instant readability. In keeping with the purist approach of many past Hölstein Editions, the date window has been omitted. This decision enhances the dial's symmetry and balance, a feature often appreciated by watch collectors who value clean design.



However, the dial's true secret is revealed when the lights go down. The entire white surface is coated with a powerful Super-LumiNova® compound. When charged, it emits a vibrant and uniform green glow across its entirety. This full-lume treatment transforms the watch from a study in black-and-white contrast to a beacon in the dark. It’s during this transformation that the edition’s most whimsical feature appears. A silhouette of the Oris Bear, the brand’s friendly and approachable mascot, becomes visible between the 3 and 4 o’clock markers, playing a game of horological hide-and-seek.



The Oris Bear has become a symbol for the brand's warm, unpretentious, and slightly unconventional character. Placing him on the dial for the first time, hidden in plain sight, is a move that speaks directly to the Oris faithful. It’s an inside joke, a feature that rewards those who are familiar with the brand’s culture. As Rolf Studer, Oris Co-CEO, suggests, it’s a playful touch that embodies the company's mission to create joy. It is a clear statement that while the watchmaking is serious, the experience of owning an Oris should be delightful.



Connecting the watch head to the wrist is a custom black textile strap. The woven fabric complements the case's tactical aesthetic, while a leather lining ensures comfort against the skin. The strap is secured by another piece of Oris innovation: the 'LIFT' clasp. This proprietary folding clasp, also finished in black DLC, was famously inspired by the buckle mechanism of a passenger airline seatbelt. It is a functional and thematic design choice that reinforces the ProPilot's aviation heritage while adding another conversation-starting element to the watch.



At the heart of the Hölstein Edition 2025 beats the Oris Calibre 400. This is not a third-party movement but an automatic calibre developed entirely in-house by Oris. Its introduction set a new benchmark for the brand and the industry segment it competes in. The movement was conceived to address the needs of the modern watch owner, focusing on reliability, performance, and long-term durability. It represents a significant investment and a powerful statement of the brand's technical capabilities.



One of the headline features of the Calibre 400 is its impressive 120-hour, or five-day, power reserve. This is achieved through the use of twin mainspring barrels. This extended running time means the watch can be taken off on a Friday and put back on Monday morning without needing to be wound or reset, a practical convenience for those who rotate through a collection of watches. Its accuracy is also notable, regulated to run within -3 to +5 seconds per day, a tolerance that surpasses the strict standards required for COSC chronometer certification.



Oris engineers also paid close attention to the primary nemeses of mechanical movements: magnetism and wear. The Calibre 400 is constructed with over 30 non-ferrous and anti-magnetic components, including a silicon escape wheel and anchor. This gives it a high degree of resistance to the magnetic fields we encounter daily from electronics, which can wreak havoc on a watch's accuracy. After exposure to a powerful 2,250 gauss field, the movement deviated by less than 10 seconds a day, far exceeding the requirements of the ISO 764 anti-magnetic standard.



To enhance long-term reliability, Oris re-engineered one of the most common points of failure in an automatic movement: the rotor's ball-bearing system. Calibre 400 replaces this with a low-friction slide bearing system where a metal stud runs through a lubricated sleeve. This simpler, more efficient design reduces wear and tear, making it a key reason why Oris can confidently stand behind the movement with such a robust warranty.



That confidence is demonstrated by what Oris calls the "New Standard." Any watch equipped with the Calibre 400, including the Hölstein Edition 2025, comes with a 10-year warranty upon registration with the MyOris program. Furthermore, the recommended service interval is also set at 10 years. In an industry where 2-year warranties and 3-5 year service intervals are common, this commitment to longevity and customer peace of mind is a significant differentiator.



From a technical standpoint, the movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), providing the smooth sweep of the central seconds hand. This version of the Calibre 400 is a no-date execution, featuring central hands for hours, minutes, and seconds, along with a stop-second function for precise time-setting. The view through the sapphire case back reveals the movement's modern, industrial finishing, which prioritizes function and durability over elaborate, traditional decoration.



The complete package of the Hölstein Edition 2025 is a watch of compelling contrasts. It is at once a serious, mission-ready pilot's watch and a lighthearted, whimsical object. The tough, monochromatic exterior gives it a brooding and purposeful look, while the glowing dial and hidden bear reveal a playful soul. It’s this combination that perfectly encapsulates the Oris spirit: taking the craft of watchmaking very seriously, but never forgetting that the ultimate purpose of a mechanical watch in the 21st century is to provide enjoyment.



The watch is a testament to the journey Oris has been on. From its beginnings as a maker of accessible timepieces for the masses to its current status as a celebrated independent brand with significant in-house manufacturing capabilities, the core values have remained. The Hölstein Edition 2025 is a direct communication to its fans, a piece that is more than the sum of its parts. It’s a wearable piece of the brand’s culture.



This limited edition is a collector's proposition by design. The unique combination of a black DLC ProPilot case, a no-date configuration, and the one-time-only full-lume dial with the secret bear ensures its exclusivity. The individual numbering out of 250 further solidifies its status as a special release, destined for the wrists of those who have a deep appreciation for the path Oris has chosen to take.



The Oris Hölstein Edition 2025 is priced at $5,000 USD. With only 250 pieces available globally, demand is expected to be high. The watch will be made available in June 2025, coinciding with the brand's anniversary date. It can be purchased through Oris Boutiques, the official Oris eShop, and a select network of authorized retailers who have access to the brand's online sales platform. Given the history of past Hölstein Editions selling out quickly, prospective buyers will need to be decisive to secure one of these special pieces.



Case: Multi-piece stainless steel with black DLC plating; 41.00 mm diameter; 11.90 mm thickness; 49.00 mm lug-to-lug; Domed sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating; Screwed see-through sapphire case back with black DLC plating and special engravings; 10 bar (100 m) water resistance.

Movement: Oris Calibre 400; Automatic winding; 120-hour power reserve; 28,800 A/h (4 Hz); Centre hands for hours, minutes, seconds; Stop-second function; Highly anti-magnetic; 10-year warranty.

Dial: White full Super-LumiNova® dial that glows green in the dark; A silhouette of the Oris Bear is revealed between 3 and 4 o’clock when illuminated; Matt black applied numerals and hands; No date.

Strap: Black textile strap with leather lining; Oris-developed folding ‘LIFT’ clasp with black DLC plating.

Price: USD 5,000.00

Reference Number: 01 400 7803 4781-Set

Notes: Limited edition of 250 numbered pieces. The sixth annual Hölstein Edition, celebrating the company's founding on June 1, 1904. Case back features a printed ring filled with Super-LumiNova®.