Oris Big Crown Calibre 473 - If only it was customisable

[@thegorn]

I want the crescent pointer, fluted bezel (not smooth) and the graduated dial with old school cathedral hands. Also the more stylised numerals.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Excactly! Customised to your specific specifications 🙌👍

[@CosmicPipe]

For me this watch is perfection. This is one of three watches out if all the watches I've ever encountered, that perfectly nails a specific feeling (one that I'm very fond of and Perpetually trying to attain and hold). They nailed every design point 10 out of 10 score. I love this one.

[@gianfrancocastronuovo9838]

The colour is wonderful, so pretty Italian Dolce vita style. Great for an aperitif on the seafront.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

I'm partial to a chilled Limoncello or alternatively an Aviation Cocktail. The latter would clearly fit with this watch.... 😃 Thanks for dropping by and hope you come back again 👍

[@christianehlers7893]

If this watch had been released with a black, silver or white dial, it would look like any other pilot style watch that overflows the market. Credit to Oris for being bold and putting something out there that colourwise is completely different from anything else available. This greenish blue dial has a lot of aestethic appeal to me and I'm torn between getting this one or go for the safer and more versatile, yet different from the rest, 403. The safer bet for you would probably be to pick up for instance a Longines Spirit 37mm, it has a great movement albeit automatic, and comes in black, silver and navy blue. And it's priced somewhat lover than the Oris.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

That’s the thing - go mainstream and you have a boring winner. Or go your own way with your own colours and you’ll have something less appealing but more special to those select individuals that appreciate. Haven’t tried the longines. Makikg a note to check it out… Thanks for sharing 👍😀

[@mattsa]

I bought the dark red/maroon with the cathedral hands, fluted bezel and the 754/Sellita movement. The basic movement made me pause but the striking personality of the watch overcame those concerns. Interestingly, I ordered the leather strap but it came fitted with the steel bracelet and added leather strap. I envisioned the watch as a sort of everyday field watch but the bracelet has turned it into more of a dress watch-and it works!

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Good choice 😀

[@ryanelectra225]

Great to see you show all the differences. Thanks

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@onebay]

Completely agree with the color critique. If it came in black or dark navy blue, I would have picked it up day one. I'll wait to see if more colors come out, but this watch (due to the movement) will always stay in the back of my head. Subbed.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Big thanks for the sub!! That’s really appreciated 😀 And also crossing my fingers for a couple of new dial options

[@henkwesselink2301]

I have the blue one. And this blue is not ment to be blue but is one of a series of 3. Forest green , mountain gray ici. And blue like the Briensersee See, seen from the schienige Platte in Berner Oberland.

[@markotoole7937]

Fantastic analysis of the two pointer date variations.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Thanks!!! Glad you enjoyed it 😀👍

[@zainrashidmian6332]

Great review. So much insight packed into a few minutes.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Glad you enjoyed it and found it useful 👍😀

[@colinbenfield326]

Fair assessment. Loved the pointer BC since the 90s but never bought one. And that Nomos speaks to me more. A navy dial might sway me though. The movement is a marvel I’ll give them that respect.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Oris are doing good stuff these days on movements and designs. I pop by their cases in stores more than I did ten years ago. Thanks for stopping by!!! 😀

[@colinbenfield326]

@@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch ten years ago people were nasty on the forums when it came to Oris. Now they have respect which is nice to see. Must be the teddy bear 😊

[@tq8310]

Excellent review. Though I may not agree 100% with your preferences, you're an outstanding reviewer. Thanks.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Thanks! That's what I'm aiming for - I'm under no delusion that I can be objectively correct. I say what I think and hopefully that gives some perspective that others find valuable. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. Hope to see you again 👍😀

[@Contredanse]

I just found your video and it perfectly explains why, even though I like the Big Crowns with the in-house movements, I can't convince myself to buy one. Oris just didn't make the design decisions that would have made this a perfect do-it-all watch. I agree with some of your suggestions. In fact, it extends to their ProPilot X line as well. TL;DR - Make changes so that the watch is more versatile in more situations, up the dial quality and lume so that it actually reflects the asking price. 1) Make the date pointer hand a crescent, but not like the crescent in the counter-balance of the Seiko presage series. Just a shallow crescent in a reversed triangle akin to what they have now for their other Big Crowns. Retain the red tip. 2) Use a dial that is grey-black to increase versatility. I don't mind if there's a slight sunray effect, but matte is also fine. 3) Applied markers, the current dial feels cheaper than it should be for a watch at this price. 4) Significantly better lume, because at this price it should glow better than a Seiko Prospex at $1k! 5) This is where I have to disagree with you: keep the polished and brushed parts the same. It looks good for me this way. Keep the crown the same way as well, no issue for me here. 6) Keep the same handset, I prefer these over the cathedral hands in the existing Big Crown line. 7) Same case shape, diameter, lug to lug. 8) 20 mm lug width please, none of this 19mm stuff that makes it hard to purchase a performance strap that is rubber underneath and leather on top (my preferred type of strap). 9) The manual wind should NOT be thicker than the automatic! I don't understand why the 473 watch is thicker than the 403. Take the power reserve out and thin out the watch! 10) Water resistance at 5 bar is fine, but 10 bar would make this a great contender for an everyday piece that you can dress up or down! The watch is nice as-is, but with these changes I would buy it in a heartbeat.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Thanks - glad my perspective was useful to you 😀 And thanks for taking the time to contribute 👍

[@valkyrst620]

100% agree. It's extremely frustrating that there is no bracelet for the watch. Ditto for the Wings of Hope.

[@yleexot]

I choose no insect on the strap. And I am not particularly critter-averse. Yep, it bugs me. Har. Appreciate the thoughtful video!

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Wow. I did not ANTicipate this comment. Personally I would have taken a strap with another beetle on it. Maybe Ringo or Paul….

[@wisamal-hakim5531]

Neat watch. Neat review. I agree with almost all your points. I feel this is more in line with the vintage aesthetic I think that’s what a pointer date, cathedral hands, fluted bezel, size and numeral font lean toward in my eyes. But even if you change all these to the more modern options it’s just a little confused. For me. I like it but I don’t love it. I love the date complication on the Nomos metro neomatic. That’s the one I’ve really been pining over. Clear aesthetic. Beautiful Bauhaus minimalist stripped back. Great hands, numerals, crown, care, wire lugs, use of colour etc.

[@alexandreblanchet8856]

I have first watched this video weeks ago and I came back to it because I find myself in the same situation with the same watch. I get that a more traditional colour option would probably make this appealing to a wider audience but, I cannot help but think that it would also make the watch boring. So many other watches converge on the same basic design choices, There are obviously reasons for that and versatility is certainly one of them. Yet, assuming that people interested in this Oris 473 probably already have at least 2 or 3 other watches, one has to wonder why versatility is so importante here. This may be related to collecting philosophy rather than evaluating one watch in isolation, but it seems to me that versatility should first and foremost be a characteristic of a watch collection rather than a crucial quality of one watch. At the same time, I may be writing this because the Oris is growing on me.

[@tonyvera-cruz6422]

I love the OBCPD's and have two 40mm OBCPD's. And I agree with your opinion too. Inasmuch as I like the Oris "Go your own way", I'm really split with the recent 403 and 473. There's a lot work getting the vintage small seconds lay-out. But with a teal dial makes it look like dirty dozen piece for pool party rather than the field. And why a 19mm lug width? At the risk of sounding like a traditionalist, it would be nice to have the caliber 473 and 403 in the 38mm case with a fluted bezel, old font in a more subdued color. But that's my opinion.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Agree with the case sizing, and also, I totally forgot about the lug width. I can live with 21 mm but 19 is just annoying

[@PizzaHomie]

I absolutely love the old font as well

[@jeroennishikigoi1164]

I like the watch allot! Love the dailcolor

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

It is a cool watch and super that you like it. Me, I’m boring and want a darker dial. 😂😂

[@jeroennishikigoi1164]

@@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch would be nice if they where like 1500,-

[@void1984]

I have an old Certina Pointer Date model. Pointer data watches can be upgraded with a rotating bezel with week days. That's very cool, I've seen that, but I couldn't get one, yet.

[@cedarcanoe]

I am sure plenty more dial colors will follow soon

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Very likely and I certainly hope so

[@wayneheeley2167]

Did you end up buying it? I’m planning on buying the calibre 403 soon as my casual daily wear - the dark blue dial is more versatile and I’d rather have an automatic moment. Apart from those 2 factors the two models are very similar.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Nope... 😊

[@KennethWebb8822]

I had the pointer date and flipped the watch within 2 weeks. Didn’t connect with it at all. I have a khaki field and though I am not wearing that one often, it will always be in my collection

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Hamilton for the win! 👍😂

[@michaelfierman3256]

Excellent review! I'm quite enamoured by this movement, and yes I definitely want the sword hands. The reason I don't own one of the countless variants of this model is the cathedral hands which i really do not care for. I do love the leather strap with the deployant, but I too would prefer a grey dial. If something like that appeared i'd buy one...should I get a reasonable discount. I subscribed and look forward to further reviews!

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Thanks for the sub. It's hugely appreciated. As for Oris, it's probably blasphemy but I would love to see a "configurator" option - at least for this model. I mean, up until recently you could always switch dials on a datejust so why not on this Oris?

[@michaelfierman3256]

@@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch so I have already seen this watch brand new on two different grey dealer websites at substantial discounts! Like $1000 off retail on one of them ! 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@adamscottv]

40mm, green dial, cathedral hands, crescent date hand, steel case, fluted bezel, brown leather... but they don't make it, just the 38 for whatever reason. I agree though, why not let people customize? Laco has a customization tool and the watches are less expensive. They're assembling watches anyway, why not assemble the parts from someone's spec? Makes sense to me.

[@bz02]

I also wish 473 could have a version with all the numerals and without the small seconds, like the old model. I love the Pointer Date for being a watch with date but without date window, so that everything is concentric. Somehow, I feel, for better or worse, the small seconds break that cohesion. I think we nitpick specific watch only because when we saw the possibility of perfection in it, and perfection is just so rare. For me, that watch is the Longines Spirit. How I wish it has a version that is 37mm, in stainless steel, has a green dial without 5 starts, and no date windows. But here is the funny thing: Pagani has it-except it’s not a Longines Spirit.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Agree on your points - It's a search for illusory perfection 😃

[@heathwoodruff6975]

Great video

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Glad you enjoyed it 😃

[@Simonverse]

The dial is a bit too "flat" to me. I hope they have applied hour markers (with lume) for some depth. Also, the hour hands need a little more width.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Agree on the dial colour. Gradation, sunray, something, anything. Thanks for sharing 😀🤜

[@randyfrecker]

I have the navy “ink” 403. I like the look but wish Oris offered a 19mm bracelet.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

19mm really? 20 mm is my sweet spot because of strap options….

[@randyfrecker]

@@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch These Oris watches have 19mm. I'm wishing Oris made a 19mm bracelet so I could put it on my Big Crown Pointer Date 403 because there aren't many 19mm options.

[@randyfrecker]

@@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch I wish the 403 and 473 had 20mm but both have 19mm.

[@nenadcubric2663]

❤❤❤473

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

❤️

[@jeremyhunter1459]

I love Oris and the manual wind 110. But I just cannot pull the trigger on the 473. That blue is just so ugly!

[@johnepic2422]

The price point is a bit steep. The lume is not enough. and it takes 8 minutes to wind up this thing. I like the design though.

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Totally forgot about the winding time. This one and the IWC mark XX have the same initial problem. 😂

[@alecchipman]

Mine only took a minute or two.

[@ericlevine3897]

It takes about a minute to fully wind…. No big deal

[@stuartbrand5617]

I liked the grey but the number 4 just puts me off.

[@PizzaHomie]

I love the 4!

[@adjutant]

remember when the pointer date used to have beautiful textured dials. i dislike the modern super flat and cheap-looking designs

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

True that. Flat often = Boring. 👍

[@me-cq7wv]

Give it time. Look at the call 400

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

Yeah... but I want it now before I get distracted by another watch 😂

[@edrader]

50 ATM and screwdown crown. who does that?

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

In a 15mm thick watch no less….. 😂

[@timchan334]

There are just too many better options at that price point

[@Mike.thiswatchthatwatch]

It is a field, where there a ton of options.... 😀