To Infinity and Beyond: the Oris x Bamford ProPilot Altimeter ‘Mission Control’

After reading the requirements from NASA to become an astronaut, I can confidently say that my dreams of going to space anytime soon have been indefinitely paused. There are a few requirements that I just don’t seem to fit. Among them, I need to hold a Master’s degree in a STEM field (I have a bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies); I need to meet a rigorous physical (nothing about me has ever been described as “rigorous”); and you need to have 20/20 vision (not the first time astigmatism has bitten me in the ass). While this realization has come to a shock for me – a man who has never worked out a day in his life and squints to read the McDonald’s drive-through menu – I can say I’m quite comforted in the fact that Oris and Bamford Watch Department have just released their ProPilot Altimeter Mission Control. So if I can’t do the job, I can at least look the part.

It’s safe to say that over the last few years, Oris’ stock has continued to rise. Couple that with Bamford’s proven track record to be an ideal collaborator and you have a match made in carbon-fiber composite heaven. For starters, the base watch of this reference is the ProPilot Altimeter, which has the distinct bragging rights of being the only watch in the world to house a Swiss Made automatic mechanical movement alongside a mechanical altimeter. And while this technical skill is undoubtedly what got Oris and Bamford’s proverbial wheels turning, it was the design of the ProPilot which also has proven to be the perfect canvas for a Kubrickian iteration, with its lime green and yellow accents along the dial and strap.

While it is, of course, a visually appealing watch that marries a bit of retrofuturism and a bit of 80’s sneaker cultural, all wrapped within within the existing design language of Oris, it is the performance and technical specifications of this watch which make it such a standout among both the Oris and Bamford line-ups. One will undoubtedly read about the carbon-fire composite, an ultra-light material that’s stronger than most metals, created in partnership with 9T Labs. Its use highlights the ruggedness of this reference, punctuated by the technical features, including the altimeter (in itself an engineering feat whereby the altimeter is decoupled from the movement to avoid interfering with timekeeping).

It’s important to acknowledge that the case is large, and somewhat imposing. It measures 47mm in diameter and 16.7mm thick. That’s actually a slight reduction in thickness, however, compared to the steel version of this watch. Along with the incredibly lightweight carbon fiber material (the watch weighs just 98 grams, impressive given its mechanical complexity) the slight case height reduction should equate to an easier wearing experience, at least for a watch of this type.

With a limited production run of only 250 pieces, the Oris x Bamford Watch Department ProPilot Altimeter Mission Control is available now via Oris’ website for $8,100. While some may find this an astronomical price to pay for a watch, its stellar mechanics and design make for an out-of-this-world offering from two of the stars of the watch universe (okay, I’m done now).

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