Founder: The factory was
established in 1904 by Paul Cattin and Georges Christian.
Country: Holstein, Switzerland
History: The name of the
company was chosen because of a nearby valley that was named Oris. In just 7
years the company had over 300 employees. In 1928 the company was taken over by
Oscar Herzog after the death of Georges Herzog. By 1942, Oris began hardening
the brass movements in order to make sure that the watch remained intact and
accurate for years to come. The 601 movement was created in 1952 and is still
in high demand because of its precision. The company had a staff of 800 in
1961, making it one of the largest watch companies in Switzerland. The company was sold to the Swatch group in 1970 and
in 1996 the company became associated with Jazz due to its sponsorship of the
London Jazz festival. In 2003, the company signed a partnership with BMW’s F1
Racing Team. The company continues making affordable luxury watches and creates
them in racing styles and of course honoring famous musicians like Louie
Armstrong and Bob Dylan.
Ambassadors: Ralph Shumacher,
David Beckham, Keanu Reeves
Timeline &
Accomplishments:
• 1904
Company was founded
• 1942
Hardening of brass movements came into effect to ensure longevity
• 1952
The 601 movement was created
• 2003
Oris signed a partnership with BMW’s F1 Racing Team