In our book, Oris is a brand that is somehow (and dare we say criminally) overlooked in the broader world of Swiss watches. They constantly produce high-quality and interesting designs. We’ve written about a number of them (you can see those here), and I’ve found myself partial to the Big Crown and GMT-equipped diver lines. However, if you’re like me, you sometimes want something a bit more compact and dressier to slip on your wrist. That, friends, is where the aptly-named Oris Rectangular comes in.
Let’s just take a moment to soak in the boldness of that name: Oris Rectangular. No clever nomenclature, crazy alphanumeric naming, or deep cut callback to their catalog. Just call it what it is, and what you’re going to be asking for (if you’re looking for one) at the store. That takes a certain level of confidence in their watch that is refreshing. As well as underscoring the fact that it’s the only rectangular case in their catalog.
With the case size coming in at 25.5mm x 38mm, the Oris Rectangular has that classic tank look, with some Art Deco sculpting happening on the sides. The Art Deco look continues on to the dial, with indices and numerals that look much like they were ripped from that clean-lined age. For as much as it looks like a blast from the past, the Oris Rectangular is still full of modern materials, as is the movement inside. Here, it’s the Oris 561 doing the lifting, replete with an automatic winding rotor, instant date change, and a 38-hour power reserve.
While I like the fact that the rectangular case gives you a dress-watch shape we don’t commonly see (well, unless you’re rocking a Reverso), I think it’s particularly sublime that the Oris Rectangular has a number of colorful options. The yellow and dark green variants are probably the most restrained, while the blue and red versions are quietly intense. As for me, while I tend towards blue in most things, I would be hard-pressed to not opt for the red version, as that’s a solid pop of color to have peeking out from under a shirt cuff.
Then again, with it in red, I’d be fighting with my wife for it (her favorite color is red) as this particular case shape, and it’s sizing, means this is very much a unisex design. Just keep in mind, if you’re the type to swap out straps: the lugs here are 19mm. Not uncommon to find, but not as usual to see as 20mm. Me, I’d be tempted to get a second from Oris, perhaps in a contrasting color (red, white, and blue, here we come). As it is, on a single strap, the Oris Rectangular will run you $1,950. A bit pricier than the rectangular Timex I had back in high school, for sure, but definitely an excellent way to get that “one dress watch” for all your needs for many a year to come. oris.ch
Tech Specs from Oris
- References
- 01 561 7783 4061 07 5 19 15 (Yellow)
- 01 561 7783 4063 07 5 19 16 (Dark Green)
- 01 561 7783 4065 07 5 19 17 (Blue)
- 01 561 7783 4068 07 5 19 18 (Bordeaux)
- Case
- Material Multi-piece stainless steel case
- Size 25,50 x 38,00 mm
- Top glass Sapphire, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating inside
- Case back Stainless steel, screwed, see-through mineral glass
- Operating devices Stainless steel crown
- Water resistance 3 bar
- Interhorn width 19 mm
- Movement
- Number Oris 561
- Dimensions 17.20 mm, 7 3/4’’’
- Functions Centre hands for hours, minutes and seconds, date window, instantaneous date, date corrector, fine-timing device and stop-second
- Winding Automatic
- Power reserve 38 hours
- Vibrations 4 Hz (28’800 A/h)
- Jewels 25
- Dial
- Design White, anthracite, blue, bordeaux
- Luminous material Hands with Super-LumiNova®
- Indices Printed
- Strap
- Material options Leather strap in yellow, blue, dark green or bordeaux, all with stainless steel buckle and quick change system
- Retail
- Availability November 2021 Swiss retail price CHF 1’800
