The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary Edition celebrates a cornerstone model for Oris and one that can be arguably credited with saving the brand during the quartz crisis and allowing it to retain its independent status, which Oris enjoys to this day.

The choice of a bronze case against a green dial initially sounds like an odd combo, but in person it’s a pleasant surprise, and that view only gets better with time as the case starts to develop its unique patina and becomes truly yours.

History and emotion aside, if you’re one to think with your head and not your heart, it still presents much to desire. Not only does it have a smaller footprint on your wrist at 40mm translating to comfort, but also on your wallet.

Being a pilots watch, the cathedral hands, railroad minute markers, art-deco style font, and the red crescent tip of the pointer hand allows this watch to be as legible as its larger counterparts, all in an uncluttered and smaller package topped with a coin-edge bezel and domed sapphire crystal.

Yet, not all is perfect. Unless you’re in-the-know, there’s nothing to distinguish this anniversary edition from the other Pointer Dates in terms of case/dial marking. Personally, I would’ve enjoyed a solid engraved case-back, like that of the Carl Brashear Divers 65 models, rather than a display case-back through which there is little to see.

Lastly, the leather strap is quick to wrinkle, and the buckle holes easily erode and expand. Also, if you’re one to use the last buckle hole, the inner edges of the buckle have to scrape against the strap in order to reach it, inevitably damaging the leather overtime. However, a quick strap change is a rather painless fix.

Save for these minor cons, the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary Edition is a representation of Oris’ history in a tasteful package bringing a charming vintage aesthetic to a modern aviator’s watch.