Oris BC3

Pilot's watches have been a part of the Swiss watch manufacturer's catalog since their earliest days. The Oris BC3 has stood alongside the successful Big Crown and ProPilot models for the better part of 20 years.

Its relation to the Big Crown is unmistakable, and yet the BC3 has its own distinctive look that has barely changed since its introduction in 1999. The width of the bezel, the position of the date display, and the design of the dial have been left largely untouched. Since the beginning, its durability and straightforward design have impressed, always with one goal in mind: creating a reliable watch that is easily to read in every situation.

Considering its performance, you can get an Oris BC3 at a relatively affordable price. A model with a satin-brushed stainless steel case, a blue dial, and a blue textile band costs about 900 euros. A more eccentric version with a black case, rubber strap, and dark, SuperLuminova-coated dial with black numerals comes in at 950 euros. Be sure to set aside around 1,100 euros for the edition with a dark gray coating on the case, a brown dial, and a beige band. If you would prefer a stainless steel bracelet, the price increases to 1,200 euros.

The dial has a simple design with indices and Arabic numerals that, like the three central hands, are covered with a layer of SuperLuminova. The day and date displays are stacked on top of each other at 6 o'clock, giving a sense of symmetry to the dial. On earlier versions of this Oris watch, the day display was located at 12 o'clock.

At first glance, the model with a black DLC-coated case feels a bit strange. Its combination of black numerals on a dark gray background seems to contradict the promise of good readability. But in the dark is where this watch really shines. Thanks to a layer of SuperLuminova, the dial glows green while the hands and indices shine in a contrasting bright blue.

The dial of each 42-mm watch is protected by flat sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating inside. A screw-down mineral glass case back offers a great view of the Oris caliber 735 (based on the SW 220-1).

Like every Oris pilot's watch, the BC3 is also outfitted with an extra large crown. In the current BC3 model, the Advanced Day Date, this large crown also has a protector similar to those found in the Oris Aquis Date series.

Oris doesn't hold back when it comes to the variety of designs for the BC3. Cases are available in satin-brushed stainless steel, coated with a dark gray layer of PVD, or covered with a layer of black DLC. It's only fitting, then, that the dials come in blue, black, silver, and dark gray with contrasting numerals in white, blue, and beige. The same color scheme can be found in the band options. There are blue, black, and beige textile bands; a black rubber strap; and bands made of either stainless steel or dark brown leather.