The game of cricket may remain an eternal mystery to many of us, but there’s something charming about the enigmatic sport that comes through in its style. Our favorite Hölstein based watch brand, Oris, has managed to tease out some of this style for a new rendition of their classic Big Crown Pointer Date. Further still, the new watch tells the story of the Father Time weathervane at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, owned by Oris’ partner on this project, Marylebone Cricket Club. This isn’t the first time that Oris has produced an endearing design from a peculiar niche, resulting in a watch with a broad appeal that goes well beyond the world of cricket.
Cricket is a historic sport, with a deep presence across much of Europe, particularly in England’s capital of London. The Marylebone Cricket Club was founded in the late 18th century, and is the subject of the story behind this particular Father Time likeness, which appears on the caseback of the watch. The Club commissioned architect Sir Herbert Baker to design and build their Lord’s Second Grandstands, which was completed in the year 1926, behind schedule. Baker was known for his wide body of work in South Africa and India, but was a Kent native with fingerprints across Great Britain as well. In addition to the grandstands, Baker also designed the Grace Gates at Lord’s.
As an amends for the late completion, Baker presented Marylebone with a bronze weathervane in the likeness of Father Time, a figure representing the call of Time in cricket, and rendered here as a physical manifestation of that, seen stooping over cricket stumps. This likeness in bronze serves as the inspiration of this Big Crown Pointer Date, which sports a full bronze case measuring 40mm in diameter, paired with a white dial and gilt hands. On the caseback we’re presented with the same Father Time likeness, atop a weathervane.
As lovely as the story is, the focal point here is truly the dial and case. The printed hour and date indexes are presented beautifully, against the soft white backdrop, with a single application of color coming at the tip of the pointer date hand, which is a red saddle shape that frames the date around the perimeter of the dial. In total, this may just be the most elegant execution of the Big Crown Pointer Date to… well, date. And like their other special edition variants of this watch, the appeal stands up even to those unaware of cricket or the work of Sir Herbert Baker.
In honor of the date in which the grandstands were completed, Oris will produce 1,926 of these watches. The partnership with Marylebone Cricket Club is also an opportunity to express both parties’ commitments to sustainability. The watch will ship with a bronze bracelet, as well as a Cervo Volante leather strap made of sustainably sourced deer leather. The movement at use here is based on the Sellita SW200, modified for the pointer date complication, becoming the Oris 754. Use of this movement means the price will be set at $3,100. More from Oris.