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Inter-Horn Width Bugs Me

Now for a lot of people inter-horn width may mean nothing, for those in the trade this is critical dimension. Inter-horn width is the distance between the two horns that protrude from the case and is critical in sizing straps. Most of the time this dimension doesn’t worry me, until a new range of watches are released and a world of hurt starts for me.

Here is the thing I don’t mind when a new watch is released with a different inter-horn width but please Oris keep it to a couple, 20, 22 and 24 and stop at that. Oris have inter-horn widths from 16mm up to 28mm, drive me crazy. Anytime someone want a new metal bracelet for their Oris they only have one option very few straps are interchangeable, really restricting the visual options for these watches. I understand the difference in styles is required to maintain the freshness of the brand, but the ability to enhance an old watch with a new strap is not always possible.

Perhaps I am just being boring and conservative in my design approach but restricting the number of inter-horn widths to only 3 or 4 would be fantastic. I also believe that if those numbers were reduced the amount of non-Oris straps attached to Oris watches would be reduced as people would have a great choice between different styles of straps. A wonderful example arrive today of the new BC3 Sportsman, all present model BC3s have a 20mm inter-horn width this new model has 22mm. Another great example is the Oris Chronoris Grand Prix 1970 Limited Edition, (The GP70) which is a fantastic watch great dial and leather strap, but it has an inter-horn width of 21mm meaning the metal bracelet from the standard Oris Chronoris is too small at 20mm to be used as an alternate bracelet.

I know its not going to change but Oris watches I believe are being compromised through the differences in that width dimension. Am I correct or is it just that I'm turning into a gruppy old man?