I won’t pretend to understand cricket, except to say I know enough to realize that it’s a sport with a reach that’s unfathomably large to a simple American such as myself. Today, Oris is introducing the Father Time Limited Edition, a collaboration between the Holstein brand and its partner, Marylebone Cricket Club. The new limited edition is much like the Oris Pointer Date we know and love, featuring a 40mm bronze case, but updated with a clean white dial.
The story starts at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, where a weathervane stands high atop a clock tower. On top of that weathervane sits Father Time, stooping over cricket stumps and watching over the sporting affair. Father Time was given to Marylebone in 1926, and he’s stood atop the grounds ever since, becoming an instantly recognizable figure at one of the most important cricket clubs in the world.

The symbolism of the figure derives from Law 12(3) of the Laws of Cricket: “After the call of Time, the bails shall be removed from both wickets.” So, there’s Father Time, removing the bails from the wickets above Lord’s.

As for the watch itself: It’s a 40mm Oris Pointer Date cast in bronze. It comes on a seven-link bronze bracelet and an additional deer leather strap with bronze buckle (note the deer bug branded on the inside with antlers…like a deer). There are printed Arabic numerals underneath the domed sapphire crystal, with Super-LuminNova on the hands and outer date track. There’s a stainless steel caseback engraved with Father Time, all providing 50 meters of water resistance. The Oris Pointer Date Limited Edition is powered by the Oris 754, a Sellita-based automatic caliber with 38 hours of power reserve.
The Oris Big Crown has been around since 1938, and it’s for good reason – the design just works. I love the model in bronze, too (I also love the Divers Sixty-Five in bronze). I’ve seen these age in all kinds of ways, from chic to downright gnarly (the guy who wore this watch said he surfed with it every day).

The warmth of bronze seems to work especially well with the white dial – Oris says the dial is simply white but I can’t help but see a tint of cricket-bat brown because of the bronze. The “Father Time” branding is simple and discreet, only on the caseback.
Like I said, I’m not a cricket guy, but if executed nicely, I could’ve gone for a discreet Father Time integrated in the dial. Because, cricket player or not, he comes for us all. Since Oris also makes the bronze Pointer Date in 36mm, I wouldn’t have minded seeing a portion of the 1,926 pieces produced at the smaller diameter, if only because I prefer the smaller size, and this might be my favorite dial for the bronze Pointer Date yet.