Oris (company)

The Oris SA is a Swiss manufacturer of mechanical watches upmarket based in Hölstein. The company's business is derived from Orisbach which opens in Liestal in the Ergolz.

History

Oris was founded in 1902 under the brand Lohner & Nägelin in Hölstein as community watch factory. 1903 brand acquisition Oris has been registered.

Paul Cattin and Georges Christian took over the company 1904. 1906 an assembly plant was put into operation in Holderness Bank. This was followed by manufacturing building, 1908 in Como, 1917 in Courgenay, 1925 in Herbetswil ( Galvanisierwerk ), 1925 in Ziefen and 1937 in Biel ( dials ). Oris produced until the sixties of wrist watches and alarm clock good quality for the lower - middle price ranges. Oris busy at peak times up to 1000 employees.

After the purchase in 1970 by the ASUAG Holding ( forerunner of today's Swatch Group) Oris watches presented always cheaper in large quantities ago ( 1.5 million watches 1974). The crisis of the Swiss watch industry in the late seventies, she met violent. Although Oris has adapted to the current market and cheap quartz watches produced, employees were dismissed and offices closed. For reasons of cost in 1981 to dispense with the production of its own movement blanks. The movement blanks were obtained within the ASUAG.

In 1982, the ASUAG wanted to close the Oris Watch Co. AG. A management buyout saved the company with 40 jobs as Oris SA. The renewed interest of the watch market for mechanical watches brought a new boom.

Current Positioning

Hallmark of the mostly based on ETA movements automatic watches is the visible through the glass floor painted red rotor and the term " High Mech ". Currently, the Oris watches are developed in Hölstein, assembled and tested for quality, but produced abroad. Meanwhile Oris re-employed 80 people worldwide (as of 2007).

Target group of watches for 900-3500 SFr. are men between 25 and 40 years. The turnover is estimated at CHF 40 million. Main market are Asia (47 %) and Europe (39 %) ( as of 2007).

Since 2000 the company has invested in new products and advertising to be known. The model "Master Diver" is waterproof to depths of 1,000 meters.

Oris Williams F1 Team is the sponsor of the. In honor of Ralf Schumacher and F1 teams a limited edition was launched. The watches of this edition include a carbon dial and the signature of Ralf Schumacher on the dial.

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