Introducing: The New Oris ProPilot Date: An Updated And Improved Version Of The Swiss Aviation Stalwart That Keeps Its Approachable Price

What We Know

The ProPilot has been a staple of the Oris lineup since 2014, and it’s the modern take on its original aviation watch, the Big Crown Pointer Date, that launched way back in 1938. Today, the Swiss manufacturer from Hölstein is bringing important updates to the model’s evolution, with the new ProPilot Date that offers a bevy of cool new textured dials, better hands, and a redesigned, sharper case and bezel that Oris says make it even easier to wear. And here’s the best part, Oris has done all that while keeping the approachable price point that’s a core pillar of the brand.

Let’s start with the new dials visible through the domed sapphire glass with anti-reflective coating. They’re textured in a way reminiscent of the Patek 5226 that recalls the fine-grain look and feel of a vintage camera body. The new Oris ProPilot Date leans into this aesthetic with textured dials in black, white (Oris calls it ‘chalk’), or green (‘moss’), that bring a newfound richness to the highly legible dial layout featuring a reworked dial ring with accented double hour markers at 12 o’clock. The applied Arabic numerals have also been updated, and the color-matched date is at 6 o’clock now and remains highly readable. The accent color on the black dial is red, while a handsome orange is used on the moss and chalk dials, which look fresh, contemporary, and hipster-cool at the same time.

On the black and white dial versions, the red and orange accents top each lumed index on the dial ring and are used for the ‘ProPilot’ and ‘Swiss Made’ scripts below the handset. The orange color accents on the green dial are used more sparingly, just above the 12 marker with the ‘ProPilot’ and ‘Swiss Made’ scripts in white to match the brand logo below twelve. The lume-tipped sword hands have also been updated to feature more metal and less lume, giving the watch a more refined look than the previous model, with black hands on the white and green dials and silver for the black dial. The sweeping seconds hand of the automatic watch is now lume-tipped to match the accent color of each dial: red on the black dial, orange on the white, and white on the green dial. 

The other major update here is the 41-millimeter case, which appears crisper and sharper with polished and satin finishes. The liberal use of brushing gives the case and the watch a purposeful look, and indeed, with 100 meters of water resistance, the ProPilot Date could take you just about anywhere on your daily adventures. The notched bezel also has a slightly new look, which Oris says better recalls the design of modern jet engines. The crown’s knurling has been amped up to be even more pronounced than before and continues that theme on the brushed case sides.  

The ProPilot Date is available on a stainless steel bracelet with the brand’s adjustable ‘Lift’ clasp, featuring new chamfered and beveled work that matches the case. The watch is also available on a suede leather strap, matched to each of the new dial colors, that features the ‘Lift’ clasp. The 20 millimeters lug width is easy to deal with and should provide plenty of options if you want to swap out the strap. The lug-to-lug length is 49 millimeters, which means it’s pretty wearable and shouldn’t hang over the sides of most wrists. 

The watch is priced at a seemingly reasonable CHF 2,150 on the bracelet and CHF 1,950 on the strap. One of the ways Oris achieves that price point is by using the solid, well-established Oris Calibre 733 movement to power the mechanics. It’s an Oris-finished version of the Sellita SW200-1, a rather ubiquitous staple of Swiss watchmaking, and it has proven to get the job done, with a 41-hour power reserve. Reliable and test-driven, to be sure. 

While the new ProPilot Date in the three colorways will be available beginning this month, there’s a special ‘Desert’ version launching in January that was unveiled at Dubai Watch Week. It features a beige dial, orange and white accents, and offers the new updated case in carbon and steel with PVD coating. Available on a hybrid rubber-and-textile strap, the Desert edition is priced at CHF 2,850. 

What We Think

The ProPilot has long been a standout contemporary watch from Oris, and these updates take things up a notch without blowing the budget. The new handset, while subtle in its changes, makes a major difference by elevating the piece’s quality and look, and the fresh dial colors and textures give it a very current feel. The case seems upgrading, and the 6 o’clock date window is much more attractive. It’s refreshing and a relief that Oris hasn’t upped the price of the ProPilot significantly with these not-insignificant updates. 

The Basics

Brand: Oris
Model: ProPilot Date
Reference Number: 733 7805 4164-07 8 20 04LC (Black dial on bracelet), 733 7805 4164-07 6 20 14LC  (Black dial on strap),  733 7802 8766-07 4 20 30GLC (Desert edition)
Diameter: 41 mm
Thickness: 11.7 mm
Case Material: Stainless steel, carbon, stainless steel with PVD coating (Desert edition)
Dial Color: Black, Chalk, Moss, Sandbeige
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Steel bracelet, suede leather strap, rubber/textile hybrid (Desert edition)

The Movement

Caliber: Oris Calibre 733
Functions: Centre hands for hours, minutes, and seconds, date window, instantaneous date, date corrector, fine timing device and stop-second
Power Reserve: 41 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 4 Hz (28’800 A/h)
Jewels: 26
Chronometer Certified: No

Pricing & Availability

Price: Metal bracelet CHF 2’150, Leather strap CHF 1’950, Desert Edition CHF 2’850
Availability: November, January (Desert Edition)
Limited Edition: No

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