In a field often defined by monochrome precision, the ORIS x Bamford ProPilot Altimeter ‘Mission Control’ arrives as a vivid, uncompromising statement, blending high-utility Swiss engineering with a rebellious, pop-culture-infused aesthetic.
This is a collaboration built on the bedrock of genuine technical innovation, elevating Oris’s legendary ProPilot Altimeter—the world’s only watch to seamlessly integrate an automatic Swiss mechanical movement with a fully functioning mechanical altimeter—into a bold, limited-edition collector’s piece.
The genesis of the ‘Mission Control’ is one of space odyssey and retro cool, directly inspired by the vibrant colour palette of 1980s sneaker culture, a signature of the Bamford Watch Department’s playful design language. This watch is engineered to be as legible as it is eye-catching.
The black dial is ignited by contrasting yellow, lime, and red detailing, ensuring the central timekeeping hands and the crucial altitude scale, which measures up to 19,700 ft on the outer dial ring, remain instantly readable under any conditions. Furthermore, the indices, numerals, and hands are treated with Super-LumiNova for supreme visibility, with the classic lime-green glow contrasting with the deep black of the dial.
Housing this intricate mechanism is a cutting-edge single-piece carbon-fibre composite case. This material choice is purely functional, being lighter than titanium yet significantly stronger than steel, ensuring the watch’s durability without making its substantial 47mm diameter feel cumbersome.
Adding to its individuality, the composite process gives each of the 250 limited-edition cases its own unique natural pattern. The case is completed with a grey PVD-plated titanium bezel and case back, which thoughtfully features an engraved feet-to-metre conversion chart.
The dual-crown system highlights the watch’s instrumental complexity. The crown at 2 o’clock manages standard time and date setting, while the crown at 4 o’clock is the patented control system for the mechanical altimeter.
When unscrewed, a built-in PTFE vapour barrier protects the Oris Calibre 793 automatic movement—with its healthy 56-hour power reserve and quick-set date function—from moisture intrusion while allowing the altimeter’s aneroid capsule to vent and operate.
The entire ensemble is secured to the wrist with a black textile strap lined with striking yellow and green leather, fastened by a grey PVD-plated titanium folding clasp with a fine adjustment system. This high-flying, collectible tool watch is available for £6100, and with only 250 pieces produced, it is designed to be recognised from earth, or indeed, from space.
