A compelling partnership in the watch industry often yields results that neither party could achieve alone. This is precisely the case with the new Oris x Bamford ProPilot Altimeter Mission Control, a timepiece that represents a confluence of Swiss mechanical prowess and British design audacity. This limited-edition watch takes one of Oris’s most technically ambitious creations and sends it on a conceptual voyage into the cosmos, courtesy of the creative minds at Bamford Watch Department.
The foundation of this collaboration rests with Oris, a brand that has carved out a distinct identity since its establishment in 1904 in the Swiss village of Hölstein. Fiercely independent, Oris has consistently focused on producing high-quality mechanical watches with real-world functions and a sensible approach to value. Their long-standing connection to aviation is exemplified by icons like the Big Crown, a pilot's watch named for its oversized crown that was easy for gloved airmen to operate. This history of practical innovation set the stage for one of their most unique achievements.
Courtesy of Oris
In 2014, Oris pushed the boundaries of mechanical watchmaking by introducing the Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter. It was, and remains, the world's only watch to successfully combine an automatic mechanical movement with a mechanical altimeter. While others had attempted this feat, the spinning rotor of an automatic movement always posed an insurmountable challenge. Oris, leveraging its independent spirit and engineering ingenuity, devised a solution, creating a true instrument for the wrist that appealed to pilots, mountaineers, and adventurers.
On the other side of this partnership is the Bamford Watch Department (BWD), founded by George Bamford. BWD made its name by offering bespoke customization services, transforming production watches into unique statements with bold colors, innovative coatings, and a distinctive design language. What began as a personal project evolved into a globally recognized design house, sought after for its ability to inject a fresh, contemporary, and often playful energy into established watch designs. Bamford’s collaborations are less about subtlety and more about making a confident visual impact.
The "Mission Control" edition is Bamford's take on the second generation of the ProPilot Altimeter, a watch that Oris had already significantly upgraded. The goal was to take this highly functional flight instrument and re-imagine it for a new frontier: space. The narrative inspiration is a self-proclaimed "space odyssey," a theme that allows for a futuristic and vibrant aesthetic. George Bamford's vision was to celebrate the watch's "crazy complication" and infuse it with an energy that felt both high-tech and excitingly retro.
Courtesy of Oris
Visually, the watch is immediately striking. The dial serves as a canvas of deep black, evoking the vacuum of space. Against this backdrop, Bamford has applied splashes of high-contrast lime green and electric yellow. These colors, which Bamford notes were inspired by the vibe of 1980s sneakers, are not merely stylistic. They serve a functional purpose, dramatically enhancing the legibility of the complex display. The vibrant green outlines the inner minute track and fills the broad hour and minute hands, while the yellow highlights the critical altitude scale on the dial's outer flange.
The dial layout itself is a masterclass in organized complexity. The primary time is indicated by large, lume-filled Arabic numerals at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 o'clock, with prominent hands ensuring readability at a glance. A discreet date window sits at the 3 o’clock position. Surrounding this is the main event: the altimeter scale. A yellow indicator hand points to the current altitude, measured in feet, on the outermost ring, while a red arrow at 6 o'clock indicates the corresponding air pressure. The entire arrangement is protected by a sapphire crystal that is domed on both sides and features an anti-reflective coating to minimize glare.
A core feature of this watch is its substantial yet surprisingly lightweight case. Measuring 47.00 mm in diameter, the case is crafted from a multi-piece carbon fiber composite. This is not the decorative carbon fiber often seen in watchmaking; it is an advanced structural material produced using a revolutionary technique called "additive manufacturing and moulding." Developed in partnership with 9T Labs, a spin-off of the prestigious ETH Zurich university, this process creates a material that is significantly lighter than titanium but stronger than many metals.
Courtesy of Oris
This innovative case construction offers several benefits. The reduced weight makes the large 47mm case surprisingly comfortable on the wrist, a crucial factor for a watch designed for active use. Furthermore, the manufacturing process imparts a unique, organic pattern onto each case, resembling the rings of a tree. This ensures that no two of the 250 limited-edition pieces are exactly alike. The case is complemented by a grey PVD-plated titanium bezel, case back, and crowns, which add to the stealthy, high-tech aesthetic.
The watch features two prominent crowns, integral to its dual functions. At the 2 o'clock position is a screw-in security crown for setting the time and date. At 4 o'clock lies the screw-in altimeter crown. When unscrewed, it allows ambient air to enter the case, enabling the barometer inside to measure air pressure. This pressure reading is then translated into an altitude reading on the dial. A red ring around this crown serves as a visual warning to the user, indicating that the crown is open and the watch's 10-bar (100-meter) water resistance is temporarily compromised.
The case back of the watch is a solid piece of grey PVD-plated titanium, screwed down to secure the movement and maintain water resistance. It is specially engraved with the Oris and Bamford Watch Department logos, the limited-edition number, and a practical feet-to-meter conversion chart. This thoughtful detail reinforces the watch’s status as a functional instrument for professionals and enthusiasts who might need to make quick calculations in the field.
Courtesy of Oris
Powering the timekeeping functions of the Mission Control is the Oris Calibre 793. This automatic winding movement is a reliable workhorse, providing a healthy power reserve of 56 hours. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), ensuring smooth and accurate timekeeping. The movement’s functions include central hands for hours, minutes, and seconds, along with an instantaneous date corrector and a stop-second device, which allows the user to halt the seconds hand for precise synchronization.
The altimeter mechanism is a marvel of micro-engineering. It functions independently of the timekeeping movement. An aneroid barometer capsule, made of a flexible yet durable alloy, is built into the watch. As the user ascends, the ambient air pressure decreases, causing the capsule to expand. Conversely, as the user descends, increasing air pressure compresses the capsule. This minute expansion and contraction is translated through a system of levers to the yellow altitude indicator hand on the dial, providing a direct altitude reading up to a maximum of 19,700 feet.
Completing the watch's adventurous aesthetic is a robust black textile strap. This strap is not just a simple piece of fabric; it features a colorful leather lining in the same yellow and green hues found on the dial. This is a subtle touch that adds a layer of personality, visible only to the wearer. The strap is secured with a grey PVD-plated titanium folding clasp that includes a fine adjustment system, allowing for a perfect fit over a jacket sleeve or directly on the wrist.
Courtesy of Oris
The presentation of the watch is as unique as the timepiece itself. It arrives in a special box designed with the same bold, color-blocked aesthetic of black, yellow, and green, clearly marking it as a Bamford collaboration. Inside, the watch is accompanied by a zippered travel pouch, also branded with the Oris logo, providing a secure and stylish way to transport the timepiece.
The Oris x Bamford ProPilot Altimeter Mission Control is priced at $8,100 USD. Given its limited production run of 250 pieces, it is positioned as a special release for discerning collectors. The watch was made available in September, launched during Geneva Watch Days. It comes with a standard two-year warranty, which can be extended to three years for free by registering the watch with the MyOris program.
Case: Multi-piece carbon fibre composite and grey PVD-plated titanium; 47.00 mm diameter, 16.70 mm thickness, 55.00 mm lug-to-lug, 23 mm lug width; Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating; Screwed titanium case back with feet-to-metre conversion chart; Water resistance 10 bar (100 m).
Movement: Oris Calibre 793; Automatic winding; 56-hour power reserve; 28,800 vph (4 Hz); Functions include hours, minutes, seconds, date, and mechanical altimeter.
Dial: Black with yellow, lime, and red details; Altitude scale in feet on the outer ring; Indices, numerals, and hands with Super-LumiNova®.
Strap: Black textile strap with yellow and green leather lining; Grey PVD-plated titanium folding clasp with fine adjustment system.
Price: $8,100 USD
Reference Number: 01 793 7775 8724-Set
Notes: Limited edition of 250 pieces. The world’s only watch to combine an automatic mechanical movement with a mechanical altimeter. The case is made from an advanced carbon fiber composite that is lighter than plastic and stronger than steel.