Oris is very proud to have presented its PA Charles de Gaulle watch in Toulon to the ship’s commander, Eric Malbrunot, and to some of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier’s crew. The event was also attended by a number of Oris VIP guests who came to mark this special association.
The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier has been protecting France and its allies for more than 15 years, both as a symbolic deterrent and also in active service. It can be made ready to sail within 72 hours, traverse an operational zone at 27 knots, and cover 1,000 km a day. Its two 75m-long catapults can launch 25- tonne planes at a rate of one every 30 seconds, or 20 planes in 10 minutes, each reaching a speed of 270 km/h within two seconds. It can accommodate a crew of as many as 1,950 marines, and has been deployed in various theatres of operation such as Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Syria. This titan of the seas is currently at the dry dock in Toulon for important modernisation work, which will continue for 18 months and cost 1.3 billion euros. The transformation will mean it can maintain its operational performance beyond 2040.
Oris guests enjoyed the unique opportunity to visit this magnificent ship in Toulon, from where the commander coordinates the ship’s activities and its 1,300 marines.
Oris worked closely with the officers of the famous aircraft carrier to design the limited edition watch, which takes its design cues from the iconic Oris Big Crown, introduced in 1938. The watch has a number of details linking it to the military vessel. Its insignia is printed on the dial, the tip of the central seconds hand is printed with the colours of the French flag, and the PA Charles de Gaulle is engraved on the case back. The crown is engraved with ‘R91’, the aircraft carrier’s identification number. The watch is a fitting tribute to one of the world’s finest navy ships.
After visiting the vessel, the guests were introduced to the PA Charles de Gaulle Oris Limited Edition in the Toulon naval base’s ‘conservatoire des tenues’ (a collection of military uniforms). During the event, Oris Chairman Ulrich W. Herzog presented watches numbered 1 and 1,890 to the aircraft carrier commander and to the ADOSM (Association des Oeuvres Sociales de la Marine).
Eric Malbrunot, Commander of the Charles de Gaulle, expressed his admiration for Oris’s century-old watchmaking tradition and for the independent company’s military watch expertise. He said the Oris watch dedicated to the French aircraft carrier was a wonderful tribute to the vessel’s entire crew, and that receiving the number 1,890 for the Association des Oeuvres Sociales de la Marine was an honour.
In his speech, Mr Herzog said: ‘Oris is very honoured to present a watch that was created in cooperation with the officers of the PA Charles de Gaulle. I was very impressed by this vessel, an active deterrent that has been protecting France and its allies since 2001. Throughout our visit, I was captivated by the passion of the crew, a value that inspires the staff of Oris every day.’
Product Features
PA Charles de Gaulle Oris Limited Edition
Ref. No. 01 754 7679 4084-Set LS, 40.00 mm
Limited to 1,890 pieces
- Automatic movement Oris Cal. 754, based on Sellita SW 200-1, with pointer date function
- Multi-piece stainless steel case and screw in security crown, water-resistant to 10 bar/100 metres, with marking R91 on the crown, referring to the PA Charles de Gaulle’s identification number
- Sapphire crystal domed on both sides with anti-reflective coating inside
- Screwed stainless steel case back, embossed with the PA Charles de Gaulle and the limited edition number
- Black dial featuring the PA Charles de Gaulle’s insignia, with applied Arabic numerals printed on top with Super-LumiNova®
- Nickel hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova®. Central seconds hand with special shape and printed with blue, white and red tip
- Dark brown leather strap with stainless steel folding clasp
- Special presentation box with the PA Charles de Gaulle’s insignia on the inside