Oris Big Crown X Cervo Volante: Fresh Colour, Fresh Perspective
5 min read
Oris' timeless classic, the incomparable Big Crown Pointer Date, gets a new viewpoint and a new colour thanks to a new cooperation with Cervo Volante, a Swiss sustainable deer leather maker.
A Season Of Transition
Oris' collaboration with Cervo Volante, a sustainable deer leather manufacturer, is a lovely example of the Swiss watchmaker's Change for the Better programme. Oris' reaction began over a decade ago, when they began collaborating with forward-thinking organisations and businesses who shared their passion for cleaning, repairing, and safeguarding the environment.
Collaborations have become a major component of their worldview, whether with conservation organisations like the Coral Restoration Foundation and the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, or with worldwide events like World Clean-Up Day. They grouped these environmental and sustainable projects under the umbrella of Change for the Better a few years ago.
However, looking out is only half of the story. They understand that change begins at home, which for them is Hölstein, a Swiss village in the lovely Waldenburg Valley. The founders chose this location with great care.
They founded Oris in 1904 on the same location they still occupy today, recognising the importance of nature in powering their business and inspiring their employees. Nature has played an important role in Oris watchmaking for over a century.
The stakes are high
Cervo Volante's traditional tanning procedures and sustainable deer leather are a natural delight. In Switzerland, over 15,000 wild red deer are culled each year. The operation is completely legal and necessary, as it is being carried out to manage deer populations and safeguard the Swiss landscape. However, the natural by-products of this process were ignored for years. Two entrepreneurs took it upon themselves four years ago to do something about it.
Oris’ View On Their Motivation
Cervo Volante was born at a climbing hall in Zürich, where he met Kadri and became friends. They used to chat about how much they both cared about the environment and how much valuable raw material, such as skins, was being thrown away. This led to discussions regarding "natural luxury" items, which led to the discovery of Cervo Volante.
Raw Material Speciality
Wild red deer leather is not a mass-produced item, and each piece is unique and has its own narrative. Their items have fascinating imperfections such as scratches, scrapes, stitches, and bumps in the leather. It's also one of the most environmentally friendly leathers available, with no animal breeding, factory farming, climate impact, or overfertilization of meadows. All of their leather is 100% vegetable tanned, without chrome or synthetic pre-tanning agents, by the two last remaining tanneries in Switzerland. These skins would be burned if they didn't utilise them, which would be a horrible waste.
Oris x Cervo Volante
Three Big Crown Pointer Date watches kick off the Oris x Cervo Volante collaboration. Each watch has an Alpine-inspired gradient dial and a sustainable deer leather strap. They include a cardholder and a purse made of the same material. However, they aren't limited, and this isn't a one-time offer. Dr. Kadri Vunder Fontana and Dr. Conny Thiel-Egenter, founders of Cervo Volante and Oris collaborators, say there's no better moment than now to work with waste material.
In a nutshell, these straps are allergy-free, long-lasting, and one-of-a-kind. They can also be worn with a clear conscience.It's a symbol of the urgency with which they must act to safeguard the environment. They adore the design, the colours, and Oris's environmental vision. Each watch is delivered with a travel pouch and card holder crafted in Cervo Volante deer leather.
This watch is priced at CHF 1850 (approx INR 1,48,941) and will be available from January 2022.
Oris will be collaborating with Cervo Volante more in the future, delivering Change for the Better together. We cannot wait to see what comes next!
