Oris was founded in 1904 in Holstein, Switzerland, a relative newcomer to the ancient tradition of Swiss watchmaking. Oris Watches quickly acquired a fine reputation as a producer of high quality watches and clocks. By the 1960s, Oris Watches was among Switzerland's 10 largest watch producers with a staff of more than 800.
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luxury watch brands found on TheTimeZone.com do not allow authorized dealers to sell their watches online with a shopping cart or even display a price, but we would be happy to take your call Mon-Sat from 10am-8pm EST whether you are interested in purchasing a watch, or just want to know a price or ask a question.
In 1970 Oris, now a publicly traded company was acquired by ASUAG Holding, now the Swatch group, when they became the majority shareholder. Oris Watches, perhaps in a classic case of applying a square peg to a round hole was redefined by its new master as a producer of inexpensive quartz watches, a strategy that would prove to be a failure.
Unfortunately for the Swiss, Japanese brands like Citizen Watches and Seiko Watches had become as well known for their quartz watches as the Swiss brands were known for mechanical watches. It wasn't until years later that Swiss watch brands like Swiss Army watches would make inroads into the quartz watch market.
In 1982 in a management buy-out, Dr. Rolf Portmann and Ulrich W. Herzog gained control of the foundering, but still intact watch company and began the process of returning Oris Watches to its proud origins.
Ironically, as Oris returned to what it calls 'High-Mech', its first big market for its traditional mechanical Swiss watches, was also the source for the cheap quartz watches that had rocked the Swiss watch industry so profoundly: Japan!
Japanese consumers in the 1980s, flush from Japan's explosive economic growth, and grown tired of the day's often gimmicky quartz watches, flocked to Oris' beautiful handcrafted mechanical timepieces and Oris Watches was reborn as a global leader in fine-quality mechanical watches at competitive prices.
Today, Oris Watches inspire a certain passion among its many enthusiasts. Oris designs are inspiring and distinctive, yet are affordable. Oris has successfully maintained its reputation as a top notch Swiss watchmaker, but has remained within reach of the common man.
The Time Zone is proud to be an authorize dealer of Oris Watches and invites you to view our online selection. Please feel free to call one of our watch consultants with any question Mon-Sat from 8:00am to 6pm MST (10:00am-8pm EST) at 866-909-8463.
