Oris Artelier Date 38mm: Contemporary Redesign of a Classic Dress Watch

The Oris Artelier Date has long been a staple in the brand's dress watch collection, offering a classic time-and-date presentation. While Oris is perhaps best known for its robust dive and pilot watches, the Artelier line has consistently provided a more formal alternative. Now, the Artelier Date has undergone a significant redesign, embracing a more contemporary aesthetic aimed at a younger generation of watch enthusiasts.

A Fresh Perspective: The Design Philosophy

The redesign was entrusted to Lena Huwiler, a 24-year-old product design engineer at Oris. Her vision for the new Artelier Date was to create a more compact and versatile timepiece with a sharper, urban personality. The result is a watch that retains the elegance of its predecessor while adopting a more modern and dynamic character.

Case and Dimensions: Slimmer and More Versatile

The most noticeable change is the reduction in case size from 40mm to a more universally wearable 38mm diameter. This new sizing, combined with a slim profile of just 10.9mm and a lug-to-lug measurement of 44mm, ensures the watch sits comfortably on a variety of wrist sizes. The multi-piece stainless steel case is meticulously polished, giving it a gleaming finish that catches the light beautifully. A domed sapphire crystal adds a subtle curvature, softening the overall silhouette and introducing gentle distortions at the edges, which enhances the watch's visual appeal.

Dial Details: Texture and Depth

The dial of the new Artelier Date is where the contemporary design really shines. Available in three distinct colors—dark blue, white, and chocolate black—each dial features a striking textured pattern at its center. The blue and chocolate references boast a series of graphic sunrays emanating from the center, with alternating reliefs and recesses that create a rich sense of depth and dimension. The white dial, which leans toward an off-white hue, features a swirling medallion pattern instead. Surrounding the central medallion is a smooth, slightly domed chapter ring that provides a clean contrast and houses the newly designed hour markers. These indices are wedge-shaped, faceted, and polished, with their tips reaching into the central medallion, ensuring excellent legibility. The hour and minute hands are blunt-tipped, mirroring the shape of the indices, and are filled with a thin strip of luminescent material for low-light visibility. A date window at 6 o'clock is integrated harmoniously, with a disc that matches the dial color for a seamless look.

Movement: Reliable Swiss Automatic

Powering the Artelier Date is the Oris calibre 733, based on the Sellita SW200-1. This reliable automatic movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4Hz) and offers a power reserve of 41 hours. It features a customized red rotor, visible through the mineral glass caseback, and includes central hours, minutes, and seconds with a hacking function, along with the date display.

Strap and Bracelet Options

The new Artelier Date is offered on either a dark brown leather strap with a butterfly clasp or a stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp. While the straps can be changed, they do not feature a quick-release or interchangeable system. This may be a consideration for those who like to switch straps frequently, but it does not detract from the overall versatility of the watch.

Pricing and Availability

The Oris Artelier Date 38mm is set to be available from April 2026. The price is CHF 1,750 on a leather strap and CHF 1,950 on a stainless steel bracelet. This positions the watch as an accessible entry point into Swiss luxury dress watches, offering a compelling combination of contemporary design and reliable mechanics.

Technical Specifications

• Case: 38mm diameter x 10.9mm thickness x 44mm lug-to-lug; multi-piece stainless steel, polished; domed sapphire crystal with AR coating inside; mineral glass caseback; 30m water resistance.
• Dial: Dark blue, white, or chocolate black; textured sunbeam motif on blue and chocolate, swirling pattern on white; smooth peripheral chapter ring; wedge-shaped, tapered indices, polished; square-tipped hour and minute hands with Super-LumiNova; square-tipped central seconds hand; tone-on-tone date window at 6 o'clock.
• Movement: Oris calibre 733 (base Sellita SW200-1); automatic; 28,800vph; 26 jewels; 41-hour power reserve; hours, minutes, seconds (hacking), date.
• Strap/Bracelet: Stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp or dark brown leather strap with butterfly clasp.

Conclusion

The redesigned Oris Artelier Date 38mm represents a thoughtful evolution of a classic dress watch. By reducing the case size, introducing textured dials, and refining the overall design, Oris has created a timepiece that appeals to both traditionalists and a younger generation seeking a modern, versatile watch. With its reliable automatic movement and attractive pricing, the new Artelier Date is a compelling option in the dress watch segment.