Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter watch, the first mechanical altimeter 2026

More than 75 years after creatingthe first Oris pilot's watch, the Swiss company has just announced the launch of the most innovative pilot watch in its history: theOris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter, the world's first automatic mechanical watch with a mechanical altimeter. The watch has been developed entirely byOrisand designed as a high-performance instrument for pilots, mountaineers, explorers and scientists working at altitude. It has a robust 47mm steel case housing an automatic movement.Oris, the Swiss mechanical barometric altimeter and barometer movement.

The very light altimeter needle, made of laminated carbon fiber, had to be designed so that its mechanism was small enough to fit into a wristwatch without losing its rigidity to avoid tolerances and inaccurate values. This makes it a hand seven times lighter, but 10 times firmer than a normal watch hand. In addition, it has been possible to protect the internal functioning of the watch from humidity when the altimeter is activated by means of a new adjustment of the latter and ventilation of the crown through a PTFE membrane that creates a vapor barrier. Both innovations have been patented byOris.

The clockOris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter has two crowns: a conventional crown at 2 o'clock to set the time, date and wind the watch if necessary (the automatic movement has a 38-hour power reserve). The second screw-down crown at 4 o'clock activates the altimeter. When screwed into 'Position 0', the mechanical altimeter is inactive and the watch is water-resistant to 10 bar (100 metres). The altimeter is activated by unscrewing the crown to 'Position 1', indicated with a red ring. When the crown is removed to ‘Position 2’, the altimeter can be calibrated. Once set, the watch shows the current altitude with a yellow indication and the air pressure with a red indication. The altitude scale is located on the outer ring of the dial; It can measure altitude up to 15,000 feet or 4,500 meters (Oris has made two models, one with a scale in feet and the other in meters). The air pressure scale is housed between the altimeter scale and the central dial. When the altimeter is not needed, the crown can be screwed down and returned to Position 0, once again sealing the watch case and once again ensuring its water resistance to 10 bar.

El Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter watchIt is the latest in the long line of pilot watches from Oris, dating back to the 1938 release date of the wristwatch.Big Crown Pointer Date. A pioneering watch, not only because of the large size of its crown, but also because of the pointer date function. During the following decadesOrisspecialized in the manufacture of watches for pilots, a tradition celebrated in recent years through the limited edition of numerous collections created to commemorate milestones in the history of aviation both from the historical point of view - as well as theOris Royal Flying Doctor Service, I remember the Australian aerosanitary assistance -, as current - the case ofOris Polly Vacher, in tribute to the British pilot who flew around the world in 2003.

Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter watch characteristics

Ref. No. 733 7705 4134 TS, Ø 47.00mm, with Scale in Feet
Ref. No. 733 7705 4164 TS, Ø 47.00mm, with Scale in Meters

• Oris Cal. 733 automatic mechanical movement, SW200 base with date window at 3 o'clock.
• Integrated Swiss barometric altimeter mechanical movement and barometer movement.
• Multi-piece steel case. Hermetic up to 10 bar/100m.
• Domed sapphire crystal and anti-reflective treatment on both sides.
• Screwed bottom.
• Screw-down steel crowns. Oris patented altimeter adjustment and crown vent, incl. a PTFE vapor barrier.
• Black dial with printed Arabic numerals treated with Super-LumiNova®, as well as the hour and minute hands.
• Altimeter needle made of laminated carbon fiber.
• Textile strap with steel folding clasp. Also available on a leather strap or bracelet.
• Available since September 2014.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• WhatsApp
• Telegram

Read next: Best watch strap | Best annual calendar watch | Best watch winder | Best black luxury watch