Since 2019, Oris has taken to celebrating their founding date in June of 1904 with a special Hölstein Edition released each June. These are generally unique variations of an existing collection built in limited quantities. This year marks the sixth consecutive edition. The new watch is the Hölstein Edition 2025, and it’s built within the ProPilot collection, boasting a monochromatic white and black theme, including a trick lume dial that reveals a hidden detail when activated. Looking at prior Hölstein Editions, it’s clear that Oris is comfortable taking some risks with these designs, and this year, we’re getting another great example of that.
The ProPilot collection houses some of my favorite Oris designs, notably the absolutely insane 47mm Altimeter, a lightweight carbon case housing a mechanical altimeter compilation. It’s the best kind of insane, and the only 47mm watch I’d happily rock regularly. The ProPilot GMT is also criminally underrated, and a lovely expression of this unique, yet safe, design language. The Hölstein Edition 2025 takes things in a slightly different direction by taking things away, and bringing a laser like focus to the core strengths of the design, which is legibility.
The Hölstein Edition 2025 ditches the date in favor of a fully indexed lume dial that hosts black hour markers all the way around. The hands follow suit, creating a high contrast experience that allows for the dramatic scene in low light conditions. When activated, the dial reveals the likeness of the Oris bear between three and four o’clock, a nod to the brand’s fictional ambassador whose identity has become a vital part of the brand’s public image.
All of this is set within a 41mm steel case that’s received a black DLC coating, including the knurled bezel. Setting aside the bear, and even the anniversary theme, there’s a lot to love with this watch, and it makes a strong case for the existence of a time only ProPilot reference joining the regular production collection. I’d go a step further and say that a 39mm case size would also work quite well with this design, but that’s neither here nor there. If you liked the IWC ‘Black Aces’ watch, but couldn’t get over the depiction of a literal ace of spaces on the dial, this Oris will be the next best thing.
Oris is using their own caliber 400 with this latest Hölstein Edition, providing five days of power reserve, an anti-magnetic escapement, a 10 year warrantee, and a decent view through the exhibition back. The exhibition crystal receives a ring of lume at its perimeter, marking the special edition and year.
The ProPilot Hölstein Edition 2025 will be limited to 250 units, and is priced at $5,000. The watch is available directly from Oris.
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