Oris - Announcing New Limited Edition Big Crown Pointer Date
Today, Oris and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) are proud to announce a new limited edition bronze version of the Big Crown Pointer Date to celebrate their partnership and highlight Oris’ mission to bring Change for the Better.
At Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, there’s a clock tower overlooking the pitch. Atop sits a weathervane, indicating just one of the many factors that affects the decisions players make during a game of cricket.
But it’s so much more than a weathervane. It’s known as Father Time, and it’s one of the most iconic images in world cricket – and in sport. Cricket fans all over the world identify it with Lord’s and with the spirit of the game.
As a proud partner of MCC and the first Official Timekeeper of Lord’s, Oris is delighted to have created the Father Time Limited Edition, a bronze watch that highlights both their formal role at the club, and also Oris and MCC’s shared vision to bring Change for the Better.
MCC is the world’s most active cricket club, the owner of Lord’s and the guardian of the Laws of the game. Like Oris, the club believes passionately in working for the benefit of its communities, both local to Lord’s and abroad. Together, they’re running a diverse program for change including educational, social and sports events for the local community. Last year, they also co-hosted an Oris Change for the Better Day, teaming up to collect polluting plastic waste from London’s streets.
The story of the Father Time weathervane began in the 1920s when Sir Herbert Baker, the architect of Lord’s Second Grand Stand, gifted it to the ground’s owners – Marylebone Cricket Club – to apologize for the late completion of the building project. The year was 1926.
Father Time, a cast iron figure measuring almost a metre and a half and seen stooping over cricket stumps, is a mythical character said to watch over the passage of time. It’s thought he represents Law 12.3 of the Laws of Cricket, held by MCC, which says that “After the call of Time, the bails shall be removed from both wickets.” This signals the end of the day’s play.
The new watch is based on their Big Crown Pointer Date, a signature design characterized by its oversized crown that has been in constant production since 1938 when it was introduced as a pilot’s watch. Its 40 mm case, fluted bezel and crown are made of solid, naturally ageing bronze, and it comes with both a bronze articulated bracelet and a light brown leather strap made from sustainably sourced deer leather produced by their Swiss partner Cervo Volante.
The new Oris Father Time Limited Edition features a caseback in stainless steel and engraved with an image of the Father Time weathervane and the limited-edition number. The watch is limited to 1,926 pieces to mark the year Father Time was gifted to Lord’s.
The watch is based on our Big Crown Pointer Date model. A signature design characterized by its oversized crown that has been in constant production since 1938. The Father Time Limited Edition is sized at 40mm and encased in bronze. It comes in a special display box with both a Cervo Volante leather strap and full bronze bracelet.