Unveiled at Watches and Wonders 2026, the new Star Edition marks 60 years since one of Oris’s most important designs first signalled a new chapter in the independent Swiss watchmaker’s history.
At Watches and Wonders 2026, Oris turns to its archive with uncommon precision. Rather than staging a nostalgic revival for effect, the independent Swiss watchmaker has chosen to reintroduce one of its most historically significant designs with restraint, clarity, and confidence. The new Star Edition marks 60 years since the debut of the original 1966 model, bringing back a watch that reflected a pivotal shift in Oris’s approach to mechanical watchmaking.
The significance of the Star name goes beyond aesthetics. When the original arrived in 1966, it emerged during a transformative period for the brand and quickly came to represent a fresh sense of ambition, technical progress, and design identity. That legacy now returns in a form that feels both faithful and timely, appealing to contemporary collectors who increasingly value proportion, authenticity, and heritage with substance.
A Compact Return to Elegance
The new Star Edition stays remarkably close to the visual language of the original. It is housed in a 35 mm stainless steel case with a sleek barrel-shaped profile and smoothly integrated lugs, preserving the silhouette that gave the 1966 version its distinct character. In a market that has been steadily rediscovering the appeal of smaller, more elegant watch proportions, Oris’s decision to remain true to the original size feels especially well judged.
The dial continues that conversation with the past in a refined and disciplined way. Finished in silver, it features applied twin-baton hour markers, square-tipped hands, and period-correct wording including Star, Automatic, and 26 Jewels. An asymmetrical date window at 3 o’clock introduces a subtle edge to the otherwise balanced composition, while the vintage-style plexi crystal reinforces its distinctly mid-century sensibility. Paired with a black leather strap, the watch carries an understated elegance that feels far removed from trend-driven excess.
Why the Star Still Feels Relevant
The real strength of the Star Edition lies in how naturally it fits into today’s watch landscape. Across the luxury sector, there is growing appetite for watches that offer thoughtful design, wearable dimensions, and credible historical narratives rather than oversized gestures or superficial retro styling. The Star Edition answers that demand with quiet assurance. It does not try to exaggerate its past; instead, it allows proportion, detail, and story to speak for themselves.
That restraint is where the watch becomes especially persuasive. Oris understands that successful heritage pieces are not simply about reproducing an old design, but about reintroducing it in a way that preserves its meaning. The Star Edition feels less like a marketing exercise and more like a reaffirmation of the brand’s long-standing identity as an independent maker of purposeful mechanical watches.
Mechanical Substance Beneath the Vintage Surface
Inside the watch is the Oris Calibre 733, an automatic movement that brings contemporary reliability to a design rooted in history. It features central hours, minutes and seconds, a date display, and a 41-hour power reserve, giving the piece everyday practicality alongside its archival appeal. This balance between vintage character and modern usability is central to the Star Edition’s success.
Additional specifications reinforce its versatility. The case measures 11.10 mm thick with a 41.50 mm lug-to-lug span and offers water resistance to 5 bar. The stainless steel case back is engraved with a vintage Oris Shield motif, a detail that connects the watch directly to the brand’s heritage. Meanwhile, Super-LumiNova on the hands and indices adds discreet functionality without compromising the piece’s period character.
A Heritage Release Done Properly
What makes the Star Edition matter in 2026 is not simply that it commemorates a milestone, but that it demonstrates how archive-driven design can still feel relevant when handled with intelligence. Oris has not overworked the concept, nor has it attempted to modernise it beyond recognition. Instead, it has revived a meaningful reference point in its history and presented it with enough fidelity to satisfy enthusiasts while remaining accessible to a new generation of buyers.
Founded in 1904 in Hölstein, Switzerland, Oris remains one of the few independent Swiss watchmakers dedicated exclusively to mechanical timepieces. The Star Edition reflects that identity with clarity. Elegant, compact, and historically resonant, it is a watch that speaks to the enduring appeal of thoughtful design rather than transient spectacle. Readers wishing to explore the wider universe of the maison can browse the official website, discover more through World of Oris, explore the brand’s collections, or locate a boutique through the store finder. Available from May 2026 and priced at CHF 1,800, it stands as one of the brand’s most quietly compelling releases in recent years
