Oris ProPilot x Bamford ProPilot Altimeter "Mission Control" automatic black dial textile strap 47 mm

An Extraordinary Collaboration

Since 2014, the ProPilot Altimeter has held a unique place: it is the first watch in the world to combine a Swiss Made automatic movement with a mechanical altimeter. Designed for those who live at altitude (pilots, hikers, mountaineers), it measures atmospheric pressure to indicate altitude, up to 19,700 ft (approx. 6,000 m), all with the legibility of an instrument panel (see “How it works” diagram, p. 8–9). As an independent company, Oris took on this technical challenge by mechanically separating the altimeter from the automatic rotor, paving the way for a true professional tool on the wrist.

With the “Mission Control,” Oris entrusts its iconic piece to the Bamford Watch Department (London) and pushes the concept “beyond borders”: a pop visual identity inspired by 80’s sneakers, a space-themed storytelling (Lieutenant Audley, a nod to Kubrick), and a launch during the Geneva Watch Days. The edition is limited to 250 numbered pieces, available immediately at launch (see cover and p. 2–3). The message is clear: technical innovation combined with the joy of wearing a characterful object, true to Oris’s philosophy and Bamford’s creative energy.

Pop Design and High Technology

Imposing with its 47 mm diameter, the ProPilot Altimeter “Mission Control” makes a spectacular statement on the wrist, but without heaviness thanks to its monobloc case in carbon fiber composite. Developed with the Swiss company 9T Labs (a spin-off of ETH Zurich), this pioneering material is lighter than titanium and stronger than steel, while offering a distinctive look, marked by organic patterns reminiscent of tree rings visible on each piece – making every watch unique.

The grey PVD-coated titanium bezel and screw-down caseback reinforce the technical character of the watch, while the black dial, a true cockpit, stands out with an altitude scale graduated in feet (up to 19,700 ft / 6,000 m). True to Bamford’s universe, the design adopts a bold chromatic palette: yellow, green, and red details inspired by the 80’s and pop culture, giving the piece exceptional legibility and a joyfully offbeat personality.

The hands, numerals, and indexes coated with Super-LumiNova® ensure optimal readability in all conditions, even at night or at extreme altitude. Finally, the black textile strap, lined with yellow and green leather and fitted with a grey PVD titanium folding clasp, completes this design that is at once technical, fun, and visionary, faithful to the spirit of Bamford Watch Department.

Movement and Altimeter Function

At the heart of the ProPilot Altimeter “Mission Control” beats the Oris Calibre 793, a reliable automatic movement offering a 56-hour power reserve. It drives the classic functions – central hours, minutes, seconds and a date window at 3 o’clock – but it is the integrated mechanical altimeter that makes this piece truly unique in the world of watchmaking.

The system is based on a patented screw-down crown at 4 o’clock:

• Position 0 (crowns screwed in): the watch functions like a standard automatic, water-resistant to 100 m.
• Position 1: the altimeter is activated, a red ring appears, measurement is ready.
• Position 2: calibration to local atmospheric pressure (control tower or barometric reference), indicated by a red arrow at 6 o’clock.

Once set, the altimeter displays in real time:

• Altitude via a yellow hand on the peripheral scale (0 to 19,700 ft / 6,000 m).
• Absolute atmospheric pressure via a red hand.

A patented innovation, protected by a PTFE humidity barrier, which allows the combination of a Swiss Made automatic movement with a mechanical altimeter, where all other watchmaking attempts had failed. This is the achievement that makes the ProPilot Altimeter a true professional instrument on the wrist, now reinvented by Bamford with an unprecedented aesthetic.