Oris’s urban dress watch is back and ready to stand out. With its clean lines and modern profile, the Artelier Complication is a watch for a new generation of independent minds
BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
This year, the Oris Artelier Complication returns, proving the joy of a Swiss Made mechanical watch with a moon phase never wanes
At some point over the next few years, perhaps before this decade is out, man will once again walk on the Moon. It was just before Christmas in 1972 when Gene Cernan stepped off the lunar surface and back into his spacecraft. At the time, few expected more than half a century would pass before another human returned. Our fascination with the Moon has never waned. It’s our nearest satellite and its orbital cycle determines so much of what happens down here on Earth. The brightness of a full Moon on a clear night casts the world into a sharp, beautiful monochrome. Meanwhile, the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., which documents the 1960s space programme, is among the most visited museums in the world.
It’s this enduring love affair that prompted watchmakers as long ago as the 18th century to capture the Moon’s 29.5-day cycle on a watch with a moon phase indicator. And it’s this same wistful longing that lies behind the new Oris Artelier Complication, a watch defined by its timeless, poetic moon phase, and launching at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026. It’s part of a collection redesign by Lena Huwiler, our hugely talented Product Design Engineer. As Lena, who is only 24 years old, explains on page 8, she’s given an Oris classic a modern, urban profile and reworked the moon phase display for a new generation of free-thinking watch lovers. The lure of the Moon remains. “A moon phase watch is a romantic tribute to the traditional craft of watchmaking,” she says.
READY TO STAND OUT
The Artelier Complication heads up an urbane collection created for a new generation of watch lovers
We’re delighted to introduce the new Artelier Complication, the flagship model in the new Artelier collection, an Oris classic that returns with a dynamic new profile. It’s been designed by Lena Huwiler, Oris’s new Product Design Engineer (see page 6), who at 24-years-old has brought fresh sensitivity to a much-loved watch. The major update is in the complication and how it’s presented. This begins with the new Calibre 782 automatic. It has the same base architecture as its precursor, Calibre 781, only without the gearing that served two further dial indications on previous models. The new watch therefore has only two sub-counters, a moon phase at 12 o’clock and a second 24-hour time zone at 6 o’clock.
This delivers two immediate benefits. First, it declutters the dial while retaining all the essential information. And second, it means adjustment can be managed through the crown and a single pusher integrated into the right case flank.
The dial is available in three colours: ivory, midnight blue and chestnut. Each has three zones: a textured centre, a smooth, gently curved outer rim, and those two subcounters to display the watch’s signature complications. On the chestnut version, these counters are a darker colour, further enhancing legibility. The silvered moon sits on a starry background that matches that of the moon phase’s curved aperture cover (the shape enables the indication of a waxing and waning moon), a decision taken to reduce the visual impact of the cover’s baroque form. The dial is covered by an elegantly domed sapphire crystal. Further details add to the modernist feel. It has tapered and stepped hour markers and square-tipped hour and minute hands, and there’s a new sans serif typeface for the words “Artelier” and “Swiss Made”.
The result is a deliberately modern design that reimagines two classic watchmaking functions for a youthful, urbane audience.
The hands behind the new Artelier Complication design belong to our 24-year-old Product Design Engineer Lena Huwiler. She tells us her story
I CAN IMAGINE PEOPLE OF MY GENERATION WILL ENJOY WEARING IT. THAT MAKES ME SMILE.
Lena, it’s great to meet you! Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Lena Huwiler, I’m 24 and I grew up in the countryside of Bern. Five years ago, I moved to Basel for my studies in industrial design and after my degree, I got a job at Oris as a designer. You’ll often find me at concerts, and even though I play the saxophone, I prefer to be in the audience enjoying the atmosphere.
When did you join Oris and what is it about Oris’s design and story that drew you to the company?
I joined Oris in 2024 just after my degree. I can still remember the moment I read the job ad: I was in the middle of my bachelor’s thesis and immediately dropped everything to complete my application and portfolio. Oris shares my attention to detail and high standards of quality, and does its work with a touch of humour and joyful enthusiasm.
What are your design influences?
I’m always looking for ideas, objects and small details that surprise me and bring me joy. I find this inspiration everywhere; it‘s not limited to a particular designer, brand or media. You can find many innovative ideas online today, but I also find inspiration in architecture, crafts or interior design. This bridge between craftsmanship and new ideas is also what fascinates me about the watch industry.
You’ve designed the new Artelier Complication. It’s beautiful! How did you approach the project?
The Artelier Complication was previously a very successful Oris model and it served as the basis for the new one. My goal was to translate it into a contemporary design. The most radical decision early on in the process was to use only two of the previous four counters, thereby controlling the focus and leaving a contemporary, uncluttered dial with sufficient space for the moon phase. Speaking of moon phases, the window for the moon phase usually has the same shape: a cut-off semicircle. This shape allows the moon’s position to be displayed correctly. However, it can often appear out of place, as the design language doesn’t carry through anywhere else. In the new Artelier Complication, although the shape remains the same for functional reasons, it’s elegantly incorporated into the circular starry sky by matching the counter colour. The circular starry sky echoes the design language of the second time zone counter and balances the dial.
Why continue with a moon phase?
For me, a moon phase watch is a romantic tribute to the traditional craft of watchmaking. In this new Artelier Complication in particular, the moon phase plays a more prominent role. It’s a watchmaking celebration.
There’s a lot of talk in watch design these days about size. How did you settle on 39.50 mm?
It’s a combination of factors. On the one hand, the proportions of the case are just right in this size. And then because the detailing is light and refined, the watch can carry this size without feeling heavy or intrusive. I have slimmer wrists, and yet this case size fits me. It’s pleasingly universal.
The watch has a new movement. What advantages does Oris Calibre 782 bring to the design?
Modifying the existing Calibre 781 has given this movement a whole new look. By removing the two counters at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, the moon phase and the counter for the second time zone are given more prominence and space, making the dial more focused and uncluttered. Plus, we have also created more space for small but important details such as the faceted indices. It was a radical and courageous decision, but one that really paid off.
The colour palette in this launch collection is eye-catching. Tell us what drove these choices.
Oris is about joy and making people smile, so we wanted a palette that was warm, understated and confident, but not shouty. The ivory is calm and assured, the midnight blue is strident and sophisticated, the chestnut is versatile and convincing. This makes the collection sure-footed and timeless, without being over the top.
One thing we can’t ignore – you’re only 24! How does it feel to have redesigned a Swiss watch classic so early in your career?
It was a thrilling challenge! As it involved developing an entire collection, I was able to work out an overall concept for the collection as well as the details of the individual watches – a very exciting and rewarding task. It’s not a given that a company would place so much trust in a young designer, so I’m very grateful to Oris for the opportunity.
Now it’s here, what do you think of the Artelier Complication?
It’s clean and modern, an urban dress watch. It remains a versatile design, classic yet contemporary. And I can imagine people of my generation will enjoy wearing it. That makes me smile!
ARTELIER COMPLICATION
The Artelier Complication returns. With its modern profile and twin complications, it’s an urban dress for a new generation.
IN DETAIL
Case Multi-piece stainless steel case
Size 39.50 mm
Thickness 11.80 mm
Lug to lug 45.50 mm
Dial Ivory, midnight blue or
chestnut
Luminous material Hands filled
with Super-LumiNova®
Top glass Sapphire, domed on
both sides, anti-reflective
coating inside
Case back Stainless steel, screwed,
see-through mineral glass
Operating devices Stainless
steel crown, pusher between
four and five o’oclock
Strap/bracelet Dark brown
leather strap with butterfly clasp,
or multi-piece stainless steel metal
bracelet with butterfly clasp
Water resistance 3 bar
MOVEMENT
Number Oris Calibre 782
Functions Centre hands for hours,
minutes and seconds, moon phase
at 12 o’clock, second time zone at
6 o’clock, fine timing device and
stop-second
Winding Automatic
Power reserve 41 hours
Swiss retail price
$2,950 on Leather Strap (all versions)
$3,150 on Metal Bracelet (all versions)
Availability May
