Yes, the larger skeletonized BigCrown ProPilot X came first, but that larger watch was, until now, the only truly non-traditional watch in the Oris catalog, a kind of odd-ball off to the side.

The lack of curvature on the ProPilot X Calibre 400 departs from the traditionalism of the Oris Pointer Date and The Divers 65. Scene from Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey The aforementioned luxury sports watches of the 1970s asserted these qualities, and the Oris ProPilot X Calbire 400 does the same. Straight lines and repetitive shapes create inorganic forms characteristic of a man-made, industrialized environment consisting of novel materials and devoid of historical reference points. If you know the sets of Stanley Kuberick films, then you have a sense of how creative minds of the late 20th century imagined the look of the 21st century.

Starting with the shapes, the ProPilot X Caliber 400 brings the spirit of retro-futurism, playful brutalism, and what I call techno-romanticism. In terms of vibe, style, and purpose, however, the Oris ProPilot X Calibre 400 could very easily sit in for a Royal Oak, an Overseas or a Nautilus, where no Rolex ever could.Įffectively it comes down to three things: (a) the futuristic shapes of the ProPilot X, (b) the bracelet being quite brilliantly aesthetically integrated into the design, and (c) the use of forward-thinking materials and technology.

The Oris Pro Pilot X Calibre 400 is fully titanium and attaches its bracelet via end-links to traditional lugs, a configuration you’ll find on every Rolex sport watch bearing a bracelet. Many luxury sports watches are made of steel and include an integrated bracelet, meaning that there is a bracelet link built into the case. L-R: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Vacheron Constantin Overseas, Patek Philippe Nautilus, Oris ProPilot X Calbire 400

Calibre watch review