Bronze has been a dive watch material for a decade now. Panerai, Tudor, and a long list of microbrands have all used it to make a case that ages instead of just wearing out. Oris just brought it somewhere it hasn't been before in the brand's own catalog: the ProPilot line, its aviation-focused collection built around a 1938 Oris cockpit clock.
This is a working dealer's read on the new Oris ProPilot Bronze, what CHF 2,250 actually buys, and where it fits against Oris's own Big Crown ProPilot Big Date Bronze from a few years back.
The images in this post are AI-generated editorial illustrations based on the real Oris ProPilot Bronze reference. They are not photographs of specific watches for sale.
The ProPilot Bronze on the wrist. Black dial, applied Arabic numerals, date at 6 o'clock, and a turbine-inspired fluted bezel that's new to this case.
The Short Answer
The Oris ProPilot Bronze (ref. 01 733 7805 3164-07 6 20 22BRLC) is a 41mm bronze pilot's watch with a turbine-inspired fluted bezel, a stainless steel caseback with a see-through window, and the automatic Calibre 733 (Sellita SW200-based, 28,800 vph, 41-hour power reserve). It runs a black dial with applied Arabic numerals, a date window at 6 o'clock, and comes on a dark green suede strap with a bronze folding "LIFT" clasp. Case dimensions are 11.7mm thick and 49mm lug to lug. Water resistance is 100m. Retail is CHF 2,250 (about $2,500 to $2,750), and it's joining the permanent collection starting September 2026, not a limited run.
Why This Is a Bigger Deal Than It Sounds
Oris has used bronze before, most notably on the Carl Brashear Chronograph in 2018 and the Big Crown ProPilot Big Date Bronze the same era. But this is the first bronze case built on the current, redesigned ProPilot Date platform that Oris updated in late 2025 with the in-house-adjacent Sellita-based Calibre 733 architecture. That matters because it means the ProPilot Bronze isn't a nostalgia re-release, it's a genuinely current-generation watch getting the bronze treatment for the first time.
H3: The 1938 Connection
Oris's aviation identity goes back to a cockpit clock the brand built in 1938, and the ProPilot line has leaned on that heritage since it launched. The bronze model's screw-in crown is explicitly modeled on that 1938 piece's crown design, oversized and deeply knurled for grip in gloved-hand conditions, a detail that reads as functional rather than decorative once you know where it came from.
The turbine-inspired fluted bezel in bronze. Every edge is a place the metal will develop patina fastest, which is the point.
What Bronze Actually Does Here
Bronze is not stainless steel with a different color. It's an alloy, typically copper-based, that oxidizes on contact with skin, moisture, and air, developing a greenish-brown patina that's different on every watch and every wrist. Oris leans into this rather than fighting it: the dark green suede strap and the warm dial tone are chosen to complement a patina that will only get more pronounced with wear.
The trade-off is honest and worth stating plainly. A bronze case will develop a green-black tarnish in the case grooves and under the lugs if you don't wipe it down occasionally. Some owners polish it back to a fresh bronze shine periodically; most let it go and treat the patina as the whole appeal. There's no wrong answer, but it's a different maintenance relationship than steel, and buyers should know that going in.
The Movement: Calibre 733
The Calibre 733 is Oris's designation for a Sellita SW200-based automatic movement, running at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a 41-hour power reserve. It's not the in-house Calibre 400 that Oris uses in its higher-tier Aquis and Divers Sixty-Five references, and that's the right call at this price point. The SW200 base is proven, widely serviced, and keeps the ProPilot Bronze's retail at CHF 2,250 instead of pushing toward the 3,500-plus territory the Calibre 400 pieces occupy.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Movement | Calibre 733 (Sellita SW200-based) |
| Type | Automatic |
| Beat rate | 28,800 vph |
| Power reserve | 41 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Water resistance | 100m |
The caseback is stainless steel, not bronze, with a see-through window onto the Calibre 733. Keeping the caseback in steel avoids the patina complicating the seal against skin.
The LIFT Clasp: A Small Detail Worth Knowing
The strap is dark green suede, and the clasp is Oris's folding bronze "LIFT" mechanism, explicitly designed to reference an aircraft seatbelt buckle. It's a small touch, but it's the kind of detail that separates a watch built around a theme from a watch that just borrows a color palette. The clasp itself develops its own patina over time, at a different rate than the case since it sees less direct skin contact.
The bronze LIFT clasp, folding closed with the same hinge action as an aircraft seatbelt buckle. A themed detail that actually works mechanically, not just visually.
How It Compares to Oris's Other Bronze Watch
Buyers who remember the Big Crown ProPilot Big Date Bronze from a few years ago should know the two are related but distinct.
| Reference | Case | Movement | Complication | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProPilot Bronze (2026) | 41mm bronze | Calibre 733 | Date | CHF 2,250 |
| Big Crown ProPilot Big Date Bronze | 44mm bronze | Calibre 754 | Big date, oversized crown | Higher, discontinued from current lineup |
The new ProPilot Bronze is smaller, simpler, and squarely a permanent-collection piece rather than the more idiosyncratic Big Date model. If the oversized crown and big date display were the draw for you on the older piece, this isn't a direct replacement. If you wanted Oris's aviation styling in bronze at a more wearable size and a lower price of entry, this is the one.
Who Should Buy This
For a first bronze watch. CHF 2,250 is a reasonable entry point into bronze ownership without the commitment of a dive-watch-specific bronze piece, and the aviation styling reads well on a wider range of wrists than a chunkier dive case.
For an Oris collector who skipped the Big Date Bronze. This is a more wearable, better-proportioned take on the same material story, at a lower price.
Not for someone who wants zero-maintenance ownership. If the idea of a case changing color over time bothers you, stick with steel. That's not a knock on this watch, it's just not what bronze is for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Oris ProPilot Bronze?
It's a 41mm bronze pilot's watch from Oris's ProPilot aviation line, reference 01 733 7805 3164-07 6 20 22BRLC, featuring a turbine-inspired fluted bezel, a black dial, and the automatic Calibre 733 movement.
How much does the Oris ProPilot Bronze cost?
Retail is CHF 2,250, roughly $2,500 to $2,750 depending on exchange rates at time of purchase.
What movement is inside the Oris ProPilot Bronze?
The Calibre 733, Oris's designation for a Sellita SW200-based automatic movement running at 28,800 vph with a 41-hour power reserve.
Will the bronze case develop patina?
Yes, and that's intentional. Bronze oxidizes on contact with skin, air, and moisture, developing a greenish-brown patina unique to each watch. It can be polished back to a fresh shine or left to develop naturally.
Is the Oris ProPilot Bronze a limited edition?
No. Unlike many bronze watches, it's part of Oris's permanent collection starting September 2026, not a numbered limited run.
The Pre-Owned Angle
Bronze watches from established brands tend to hold their value reasonably well precisely because the patina makes each one slightly unique, which collectors respond to. As a brand-new permanent-collection reference, the ProPilot Bronze has no secondary market history yet, but Oris's broader catalog, covered in our Oris value guide and our Aquis vs Divers Sixty-Five comparison, tends to depreciate modestly rather than holding flat, which makes pre-owned Oris one of the better value plays in Swiss mechanical watches generally.