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Some watches claim to tell a story. Others boast an intricate legacy. For Oris, their newest release tackles something much larger: “change for the better,” with a little help from humanitarian organization Wings of Hope. The Swiss watchmakers have teamed up with the twice-Nobel Peace Prize-nominated non-profit for a set of exclusive timepiece releases — the Wings of Hope Limited Edition and the Wings of Hope Limited Edition Gold — designed to support the shared aeronautical mission of bringing medical aid to underserved and underprivileged communities worldwide.
Originally founded in the 1950s, Wings of Hope delivers medical supplies and support to over 65,000 in need annually, providing critical care for more than 50 countries in the process. CEO Bret Heinrich wants to increase both visibility and capacity for the organization and believes that the partnership with Oris is a huge step in the right direction. “Making the Wings of Hope watches available to an international audience is a great gift and will be a huge support to our brand identity,” Heinrich told Oris in an interview last month. “Broader familiarity with Wings of Hope will allow us to move faster in building relationships that we count on to be able to save and change lives.”
The timepieces themselves are a worthy representation of the cause. Drawing inspiration from the preexisting “Big Crown” style, both versions are powered by Oris’ Calibre 401 5-day automatic movement, with a 5-bar water resistance and power reserve of 120 hours. The standard model features 40mm stainless steel case and a Cervo Velante deer leather strap, while the 38mm gold model is fully encased in 18-carat yellow gold.
The Oris Wings of Hope Limited Edition Timepiece are available in limited quantities — 1,000 and 100 models for the standard and gold models, respectively — now at Oris’ webstore and select locations, and retail for $3,700 (standard model) and $17,00 (gold model). To learn more about the Wing of Hope mission, click here.
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