Oris High Mech Technology

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From Hand-made to High-Mech, Look for the Red Rotor as the Oris Brand Emblem

All you have to do to recognize that Oris is a leader in the world of mechanical watches is turn your watch upside down. The window on the case back gives a glimpse of the inner workings of Oris watches and displays the mechanical movement, which is at the heart of the timepiece.

Oris is deeply rooted in the fine tradition of Swiss watch makers. For a century, Oris has created its own movements at the Holstein factory. Every decade, Oris watchmakers create and refine new movements. Not only is Oris faithful to mechanics, but it also is leading mechanics into the future.

Unlike many of it's Swiss contemporaries, Oris does not produce a mixture of mechanical and quartz movements, every Oris men's watch as well as every Oris ladies' watch containes an automatic mechanical movement.

The current models – which incorporate the company’s pioneering innovations – are equipped with first-class mechanical automatic movements that are both of the highest quality and state-of-the-art. These models are what Oris calls High-Mech. These watches are highlighted by the High-Mech brand emblem of Oris – a red rotor in every automatic movement. It is this rotor that is the main innovation which enabled the progression from hand winding to automatic movement.

The Oris automatic watch is envied by all. Older versions are viewed as valuable collectors’ items and the newer versions are seen as modern-day masterpieces.
Still, the question remains – “What makes these mechanics so intriguing?”

Maybe it’s the fact that these Oris watches do not need a battery because the power source is the movement of the wearer’s arm. It’s also possible that these timepieces are interesting because their minute parts enable a bevy of functions. But most of us are simply fascinated by the incredible little machine made up of hundreds of tiny gears, pinions, screws, springs and jewels that operate in precise harmony right there on our wrists.

The only thing that makes such amazing feats of micro-mechanical engineering possible is the combination of advanced technology and the traditional Swiss craft. The mechanics involved in an Oris watch are based on the refined principle of a swinging escapement system that has an almost frictionless transition of power. The accuracy of the watch is ensured by the oscillation system with the rotor, the balance wheel and the fine hairspring. A lever and an escapement wheel connects to the heart of the system.

Through an exact transition system, the train wheels are able to transfer the power from the mainspring to the escapement.
The escapement, in turn, brakes or stops the train wheels and thus releases the power in regular intervals to the regulating system.

In a normal hand-wound watch, the mainspring is wound up by the winding stem which is connected to the crown. In an Oris automatic watch, the rotor takes care of this function.

It’s hard to understand how such a small and complicated movement, which has to function for a long time with the highest precision can be as strong and durable as Oris watches are.

The most delicate part of these watches is the pulsating heart of the hairspring with the oscillating balance wheel. The trumpet-shaped pins of the balance staff feel the full brunt of the oscillations. They are, therefore, protected by synthetic jewels that reduce friction and reduce the amount of wear and tear.

Shock absorbtion is achieved thanks to Oris’ use of the well-known Inabloc shock absorber.

The Time Zone is pleased to be an authorized dealer of Oris Watches. If you would like to purchase or have any questions about any Oris watch, or Oris High Mech technology, please feel free to call us Mon-Fri 10am-8pm EST at 866-909-8463.

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