Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition Review: Vintage Pilot Charm
When Oris announced the Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition, they weren’t just releasing another heritage reissue. They were resurrecting their very first wristwatch from 1917 – a pocket-watch conversion with an oversized crown for pilots. Limited to 1,917 pieces, this reference (01 732 7736 4081-Set LS) is a love letter to early aviation timekeeping, but with contemporary execution. As a daily-wear reviewer, I’m less interested in the romantic backstory and more in how it survives a real week on the wrist: lug-to-lug comfort, legibility at a glance, and whether that domed sapphire crystal catches every reflection.
I spent seven days with the Big Crown 1917, wearing it from morning coffee to late-night dinners, through rain and desk-diving. The verdict? It’s a charming, characterful piece that demands a certain mindset – and a certain wrist size. Let’s break down every millimeter.
Manufacture History
Oris was founded in 1904 in Hölstein, Switzerland, and has built a reputation for accessible, high-quality mechanical watches with a focus on aviation and diving. The Big Crown 1917 pays homage to the brand’s first wristwatch, a pocket-watch conversion with an oversized crown designed for pilots to operate with gloves. This limited edition celebrates that pioneering spirit.
Movement
Inside beats the Oris Caliber 732, a manual-wind movement based on the reliable Sellita SW210-1. It runs at 28,800 vph with 17 jewels and a 38-hour power reserve. While not COSC-certified or in-house, it’s a workhorse that’s easy to service. The movement is visible through the sapphire caseback, with perlage and blued screws adding a touch of elegance. Winding it each morning is a tactile pleasure – the large crown offers excellent grip.
Specifications
- Case Diameter: 40mm
- Case Thickness: 12.5mm
- Lug-to-Lug: 48mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Crystal: Domed sapphire
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Lume: Super-LumiNova on hands and numerals
- Strap: Brown calfskin leather + additional textile strap
- Clasp: Pin buckle
Wrist Feel
At 40mm wide and 48mm lug-to-lug, the Big Crown 1917 wears surprisingly compact for a pilot watch. The short, downturned lugs hug the wrist, and the 12.5mm thickness is well-proportioned. On my 6.75-inch wrist, it sits flat and doesn’t overhang – a relief given the vintage proportions. The included brown calfskin strap is supple out of the box, with quick-release spring bars that make swapping to the second strap (a textured textile) effortless. The pin buckle is simple and secure, though I wish it had micro-adjustment for temperature changes.
Weight is a pleasant 62 grams without the strap, so the watch feels light and unobtrusive. The domed sapphire crystal creates a slight distortion at extreme angles, but it adds to the vintage charm. The large onion crown (8mm) is a joy to wind – tactile and grippy – but it does dig into the top of my hand during push-ups or when wearing a tight jacket. That’s the trade-off for authenticity.
Accuracy
Over a week of daily wear, the Cal. 732 averaged +6 seconds per day, well within Sellita’s spec. Winding it each morning became a ritual, and the 38-hour power reserve means you can skip a day if you forget. No surprises, just reliable mechanical performance.
Occasions
The Big Crown 1917 is best suited for daily wear, dressy casual, and even formal settings thanks to its silver dial and blued hands. It’s not a sport watch – 50m water resistance means you can wash your hands but not swim. It’s a companion for the office, a dinner date, or a weekend stroll.
Wrist Presence
3.5/5 – The vintage styling and domed crystal draw attention, but the 40mm case and muted dial keep it from being a statement piece. It’s a quiet nod to history, not a shout.
Reference Variants
This limited edition (ref. 01 732 7736 4081-Set LS) comes with a silver-white dial, black Arabic numerals, blued steel hands, and a small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. It includes a brown calfskin strap, a textile strap, and a leather travel roll. The non-limited version (ref. 01 732 7736 4081-07 5 20 18) has a similar dial but without the extra strap and box.
Family References
The Big Crown 1917 is part of Oris’s Big Crown family, which includes the popular Big Crown Pointer Date with its distinctive date hand.
Other Notable Oris Models
- Oris Divers Sixty-Five
- Oris Aquis Date
- Oris ProPilot X
Similar Watches
- Longines Heritage 1918 – Similar vintage pilot aesthetic with a large crown and small seconds.
- Hamilton Khaki Pilot Pioneer Mechanical – Hand-wound pilot watch with a 38mm case and vintage feel.
- Stowa Flieger Verus 40 – German pilot watch with a clean dial and manual movement.
Homages
- Seiko SNK809 – Affordable automatic pilot-style watch with a similar dial layout, though not a direct homage.
- Laco Flieger Pro 39 – German-made pilot watch with a manual movement and vintage cues.
Investment Value
MSRP was $2,500. Pre-owned prices range from $1,800 to $2,200. The trend is stable – limited editions from Oris rarely appreciate significantly, but this one holds its value if kept in mint condition. Buy it for the history and the wearing experience, not as an investment.
Service Interval
Oris recommends service every 5 years. An authorized service costs around $350, but independent watchmakers can service the Sellita-based movement for less.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent legibility with high-contrast dial and cathedral hands
- Comfortable 40mm case with short lugs
- Two included straps with quick-release for versatility
- Tactile winding experience with oversized crown
Cons
- Large crown can dig into hand during activity
- Only 50m water resistance – not a swimmer
- 38-hour power reserve requires daily winding
- Domed sapphire crystal creates glare in bright light
Final Verdict
The Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition is a beautifully executed tribute to the brand’s first wristwatch. It wears smaller than its specs suggest, offers genuine vintage charm, and the manual-wind movement is a joy to operate. If you have a wrist under 7 inches and appreciate historical design, this is a keeper. Just be prepared to wind it every morning.
