Oris’s Fan-Favorite Pilot’s Watch Evolves into an Elevated Everyday Stunner

A list of small changes made a big difference.

Close-up of a textured light gray watch dial with silver numerals, black and orange hands, date window at 6 o'clock, and a fluted silver bezel.

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Oris conceived the ProPilot as a modern take on a pilot’s watch, bringing its long aviation timekeeping heritage into the twenty-first century.

Some subtle case refinements and an impactful dial overhaul are keeping the beloved approachable tool watch at the forefront of the genre.

Silver stainless steel Oris ProPilot wristwatch with textured light gray dial and orange accents on a matching metal bracelet. — The major news with the ProPilot overhaul is the new dial design, which enhances legibility through depth and texture.

Oris’s new ProPilot Date debuts as the flagship model for the Swiss watchmaker’s aviation-inspired, daily-wearing watch collection. The dial optimizes legibility by playing with depth and texture, and the case is designed to be a little sleeker and more wearable.

While the latter adjustments require a keen eye to notice, the former jump out at first glance. The new tiered and grainy dial positions the ProPilot Date between the progressive, angular ProPilot X series and the classic Big Crown Pointer Date collection.

Oris ProPilot wristwatch with olive green textured dial, silver numerals, date window, and matching leather strap. — The ProPilot Date debuts with three regular production dial colors and one special edition.

The titular date of the new design mirrors the placement on the ProPilot X, with a small rectangular window placed at six o’clock. A beveled frame leaves no visible gap between the dial and the date wheel, which is always a nice touch.

By contrast

The new PropPilot Date dial has a coarse texture designed to create a strong contrast with the smoothly finished and raised Arabic numeral hour markers. Legibility is paramount in pilot’s watches, and this solution is more visually pleasing than just making everything bigger or using bright colors.

Close-up of a stainless steel Oris ProPilot watch with a textured black dial, white numerals, red accents, and a date window at 6 o'clock. — The ProPilot Date dial has a coarse texture to contrast the smooth and raised hour markers.

The color palette for the debut assortment of dials is muted and understated. There is a black dial with metallic hands and hour markers, and red accents on the hands and raised minutes ring, a chalk white dial with black hands and hour markers, and bright orange accents and a moss green dial with black hands, white hour markers and a touch of orange at 12 o’clock.

Along with the raised hour markers and sunken date window, the ProPilot Date dial is given depth by an elevated outer ring. It contains a dash minutes track with rectangular hour markers capped with the respective accent color and a protrusion at each hour.

Silver Oris ProPilot watch with textured light gray dial, black and orange hands, and gray leather strap. — The ProPilot Date crown is slightly bigger than previous models.

Fans of the ProPilot should be pleased that it was updated with great restraint. The signature fluted bezel, reminiscent of a jet engine turbine, remains, with matching fluting on the caseback. The lugs are slightly more curved toward the wrist for a more fitted feel, and the crown is a touch larger for easier operation.

Save the date

The ProPilot Date is powered by a movement that should be familiar to Oris fans. The in-house caliber 733 can be found throughout the Swiss watchmaker’s dive watch collections, like in the Aquis Date, the Aquis Pro and the Divers Date.

It is a reputable automatic movement, based on the Sellita caliber SW200, with hacking, an instant date, date corrector function and 41-hour power reserve. Its decorative rotor is visible through the crystal exhibition caseback.

Back of a stainless steel Oris wristwatch showing the mechanical movement with a red rotor and sapphire crystal case back. — The Oris caliber 733 automatic movement is visible through an exhibition caseback.

The new ProPilot Date preserves all the key features of Oris’s beloved pilot’s watch — like the case shape, fluted bezel and hands — while presenting some pragmatic and refreshing visual updates.

Availability and price

Along with the three core dial colors, Oris also unveiled a limited edition ProPilot Date at this year’s Dubai Watch Week. Dubbed the Desert Edition, it features a case made of lightweight carbon fiber, produced using a 3D printing technique.

The dial is a khaki color reminiscent of sand, thanks to the grainy texture. It has black hands, metallic applied numeral hour markers and bright orange detailing. It comes on a black hybrid rubber and textile strap with a folding clasp.

Black Oris ProPilot wristwatch with textured beige dial, silver numerals, black rubber strap, and date display at 6 o'clock. — The ProPilot Date Desert Edition case is made from lightweight carbon fiber and gray PVD-coated steel.

All three regular production ProPilot Date references are available now from Oris and authorized dealers for $2,550 on a steel three-link bracelet and $2,350 on a suede strap.

The Desert Edition is a limited production, although a set number of units is not disclosed, and will be available in January 2026 for $3,500.

Silver stainless steel Oris ProPilot wristwatch with textured light gray dial and date window at 6 o'clock.

New Product

Specs

Case Size	41mm
Movement	Oris caliber 733 automatic
Water Resistance	100m

$2,550 at Oris

About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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