The New Oris Hank Aaron Limited Edition Timepiece Is a Lesson in Humility

Paying tribute to the humanitarian and baseball Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron, Oris has just launched a limited-edition Big Crown Pointer Date watch, created in the player’s honour. The Oris Hank Aaron Limited Edition watch is the result of a collaboration between the brand and The Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation, a US-based non-profit. 

Henry Louis ‘Hank’ Aaron, considered one of the greatest athletes in American sports, is known for his humility. Even though his flourishing career placed him under the spotlight, he never actively sought the attention. On and off the field, he suffered racism, but he fought it with grace and dignity; he is a veritable symbol of perseverance, strength, and social change through adversity. He is also considered one of the greatest players in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB). 

‍

In 1994, Hank and his wife, Billye, founded the Chasing the Dream Foundation, awarding millions of dollars in scholarships to youths with limited opportunities. The foundation helped over 800 kids access higher education, many going on to become athletes, musicians, doctors, scientists and, most importantly, educators. The Atlanta Braves will begin a special multi-day celebration of Hank Aaron’s life and legacy by the end of July. The Oris Hank Aaron Limited Edition is a part of that celebration; all previous winners of the award will receive one of the 2,297 specially crafted pieces.

‍

The watch is based on Oris’s signature offering, the Big Crown Pointer Date. It contains details that are a nod to Hank Aaron’s record-breaking career. Inspired by his famous baseball uniform, the watch features tones of blue, red, and white. The colour palette subtly reflects Aaron’s humble attitude, as seen in the blue-outlined red numerals; in the red-outlined blue minutes ring that runs around the dial; and in the blue leather strap, which is finished with white stitching, similar to that on a baseball glove. It also offers an interchangeable blue, red, and white NATO fabric strap and a strap change tool.

‍

The watch features the familiar Big Crown, with a smooth, ergonomic, round, 40 mm case in stainless steel. The dial is accentuated by a central pointer date hand with a red tip. The fluted bezel is reminiscent of classic pilot’s watches. The oversized crown was first added to an Oris watch in 1938 as a device for gloved airmen. The caseback has the engraving of a motif, representing Hank Aaron and his famous cross-handed batting stance that set him apart in the world of baseball. What’s more, the watch is equipped with Oris 754 movement and offers a power reserve of 38 hours. As mentioned earlier, the release is a limited edition of 2,297 pieces and each watch is delivered in a special presentation box. 

‍