Happy owner of a Bell and Ross model BR03-92 (which ruined my bank account when I bought it), it was five years ago my first purchase in terms of an automatic Swiss watch. I told to myself that for my 30th birthday, I wanted a second automatic watch, but not necessarily a model so expensive than the BR03.
One of the important criteria for my future acquisition was that the watch must have something to do with the aeronautics and feature a pilot style. I did some research on the Internet and my choice was at moment pointed towards a Hamilton Khaki Aviation.
But (because there is always a but) when I went to the watch store where I had bought the B&R, which is also a Hamilton distributor, I fell in love with something else. And yes, it was love at first sight… And you can’t control it!
What most attracted me at her (oh sorry, it, I speak about the watch, not about the saleswoman) that’s the red and white minute hand, which is meant to look like something from an aviation speed indicator. I totally forgot the Hamilton and I had only one idea in the head! Try this beauty! And of course, there is only one issue to this story… I left the shop with it!
But enough talking about this love story, let’s talk about the beast (or the beauty, as you want).
The Oris Air Racing Edition III is 42mm wide and crafted in steel, but as a limited edition, the case of this one is coated in black DLC. The round style case houses a mechanical caliber with automatic self-winding. The timepiece is limited to 1.000 pieces world-wide, and was created by Oris who is the main sponsor of the Swiss Air Racing team, which is the only Swiss team to take part of the Reno Air Race 2013. The Reno Air race is a plane races who take place regularly at the Nevada desert in Reno, USA
The dial and hands have a lot of SuperLumiNova, including the numerals of the day and date indicators – which is quite rare. The case is also water resistant to 100 meters and it has a sapphire crystal with and anti-reflection coating.
It’s my first acquisition from the Oris brand and probably not the last. The quality and the design correspond perfectly to my expectations for a watch priced below 1500€. And this one has the advantage with the black textile strap to fit perfectly with all my various clothing styles!
I hope you have taken some pleasure to read my review of the Air Racing edition III, as much as I have pleasure to wear this watch!
Guillaume J (Metz/France)