Oris Pointer Date Movember Review: A Classic From Oris

The Oris Pointer Date is now the third Oris that’s been featured on my website. Like I’ve said before, Oris is the face of affordable luxury. For watches under $2000, you should be thinking: “How close is it to the fit and finishing of an Oris?”. For watches over $2000, the idea is: “How much more am I getting compared to an Oris?”. It’s a true benchmark and bridges the oxymoronic phrase – Affordable Luxury. 

The Oris Pro Pilot Pointer Date Movember Edition here is no different. That was a mouthful – pause. The Oris Pointer Date has always been on my radar. It’s a mixture of a few different styles and design. It’s almost like someone took a classic type A flieger and sprinkled fairy dust all over it. The result of which is Oris’ take on a modern pilot watch with vintage inspirations. Oh and someone decided against a date window and came up with the pointer date. Arguably the Pro Pilot’s piece de resistance. 

Oris Pointer Date What’s the history?

On paper, it would look like Oris took a classic flieger design and did a modern vintage-inspired spin on it. The nowadays “Pro Pilot”, was Oris’ first ever watch release, back in 1938. These were called “Big Crown” back in the day, and was designed to allow pilots to easily adjust their watches while wearing gloves. 

Fast forward to the mid-1980s, Oris reintroduced the “Big Crown”. This time however, with an additional function, the Pointer Calendar, which now we know is as the Pointer Date. Safe to say since then, Oris has been on a tear in the affordable Swiss category. While their prices are starting to creep with their new Oris Cal 400, as an independent brand in face of all these other large corporations, they’re something special. 

Case & Bezel:

The 40mm case is extremely slender at only 11.2mm in height. Accounting for how the lugs gradually slope downwards (instead of an angle), the Pointer Date demands wrist presence, without feeling slim and dainty. 

One of the more prominent features of the Pointer Date is the polished coin-edge bezel that partially sits inside the case. The mid-case has a small cutout where the bezel meets the case, creating a small ledge that makes the bezel inside, and above the case at the same time. It’s a simple design element that adds that much more depth to an otherwise boring flieger-style case. 

The same coin-edging is found on the caseback, which speaks to Oris’ attention to detail and the idea of continuity. On the Movember edition of the Pointer Date, you get a closed caseback with your typical Oris heritage shield, but this time, with the text “Oris Movember Edition”, and the signature mustache logo. 

As the lengthy name might suggest, the Pointer Date features a big ol’ crown. Again, it was designed to allow pilots with leather gloves to easily adjust the time back in the early 1900’s. Nowadays, it’s more of a design nod to the past. Practically-wise, it’s an amazing feature. The crown is easy to grip and operate, doesn’t dig into your wrists, and the action is amazing. I could spend hours just moving the date pointer around. 

Dial & Hands

The Movember edition sports a matte black inner dial, with large printed numerals and gilt text. The same gold paint is applied on the cathedral style hour and minute hands, which does two things:

1. They stand out from the otherwise “plain colored” dial – increasing legibility 
2. Increases the warmth of the watch – less “toolish” 

Legibility on the Oris Pointer Date Movember Edition is second to none. Seriously at the quickest glance I’m able to tell the time, regardless of where I am, light or dark. Having handled a few field/pilot watches in the price range, lume is always a weakness. Don’t get me wrong the Pointer Date doesn’t have Seiko Sumo lume, but it’s pretty damn good. The hands especially is packed with luminescence. 

Now, the Pointer Calendar, the whole point of the watch. Instead of a date window, the Pointer Date has the “pointer date”, which is the fourth hand on the watch, featuring the same gold painting and a red half-crescent tip. All 31-days of the month, painted in white, form the outer most part of the dial. It’s essentially a traditional date calendar that’s been taken out of the watch. I had originally through it was just another “gimmick”, but it’s just as practical as a date window. 

What I really love about the Pointer Date is I get to interact with my watch more. I get to spend the extra couple of seconds identifying where the pointer is pointing to. Sometimes, I even look at other dates, past or present, either to look forward to what’s coming, or reminiscence about the month I’ve had. 

Strap Options

The Oris Pointer Date Movember Edition comes on two straps. The first is a thick and supple dark brown leather strap with the mustache engraved where the strap meets the lugs. With the gilt layout of the Movember Edition, this leather strap is the perfect pairing. If leather straps are not your thing, Oris was kind enough to include a second strap, a Movember edition seatbelt nato strap. 

Comfort & Wearability

The Pointer Date Movember Edition on my 6 inch wrists wears nicely. The 11.2mm thin case allows the watch to sit flat on my wrist, and the there’s no caseback protrusion! The way the lugs slope downwards hugs my skinny wrists and is an overall pleasant wearing experience. The Pro Pilot, however, does suffer from the “all dial” syndrome, making it look large on the wrist. 

Is it the Pro Pilot wearable for those with 6-inch wrists? The answer depends on how you like your watches to look on you. If you don’t mind it looking large on your wrists, you’ll be fine. Again, it wears perfectly fine, it just looks big. 

In terms of wearability, the Pro Pilot can be worn for almost all occasions. With the leather strap, it pairs really with jeans and a t-shirt. At the same time, it slides under your cuff if you’d like to wear it as an office daily. 

Personally, I find the Pro Pilot too large on my 6 inch wrists. I’m used to 38mm and below, and while I can occasionally accommodate a 40mm case, the “all dial” prevents the Pro Pilot from being a permanent resident of my watch box. 

Should I Buy the Oris Pointer Date? 

If you’re in the market for a pilot watch that isn’t a traditional flieger from the Germans, then the Pro Pilot is a great alternative. Obviously there are a few more affordable alternatives – Seiko Alpinist, Hamilton Khaki Field/King, Orient Defender at less than $200. Honestly, if you’re just looking for a field-style watch with Arabic numerals, I’d be looking at the more affordable alternatives. 

The Pro Pilot Pointer Date is a staple, with its own unique aesthetics and the Pointer Calendar. It’s one of those watches that you’re buying THE watch, not the watch type. If you’re in love with the Pointer Date, then any other alternatives would just be a quick fix. You’ll end up coming back to the Oris Pointer Date.

Closing Thoughts on the Oris Pointer Date 

Aesthetics: It’s a piece that you won’t mistake for anything else. It’s packed with practicality and history, a true staple in the Oris catalogue. 

Comfort: Sits nicely on my six inch wrists but loses points for being all dial. I bought it to try but ultimately too large for me. 

Price: At USD$1,760, it’s not a bad entry fee into an affordable luxury watch brand. The Pointer Date is definitely one step above your Hamilton Khaki’s and Seiko Alpinists. 

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