Swiss watchmaker Oris has released a new limited edition watch to commemorate its relationship with Australia's Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
The Oris Royal Flying Doctor Service Limited Edition II was launched at the Australian International Airshow last week in conjunction with the RFDS and Swiss aircraft company Pilatus.
Oris Chairman Ulrich W. Herzog said: "We’re so proud to be working with the Royal Flying Doctor Service again and to be supporting the invaluable work the organisation does to bring medical relief to remote parts of Australia.
"We’re confident the Oris Royal Flying Doctor Service Limited Edition II will prove a useful tool to doctors as they care for patients."
Following Oris' philosophy that a pilot's watch needs to be easy to read, the RFDS II is based on the Oris Big Crown collection, which boasts a 45 mm stainless steel case, black dial and clear Super-LumiNova numerals and hands.
Like the first limited edition watch, the new model features a pulsometer, used to take a patient’s pulse. Oris has upgraded
the pulsometer on the new watch, scaling it over 20 heartbeats for even faster readings. The watch’s bi-directional rotating bezel means measurement can start at any time.
The watch has a number of touches to reflect the close relationship between Oris and the RFDS. The organisation’s logo appears on the dial ring at 12 o’clock and is also embossed on the case back. The watch is presented in a luxurious wooden presentation case that comes with a medal bearing the RFDS logo.
Customers can choose between one of three straps available: brown leather, alligator leather or a stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp.
Only 2000 will be made, with the brown leather strap version retailing for $2600, the metal bracelet model for $2800 and the alligator leather strap for $2850. The latter includes a model RFDS Pilatus PC-12 for Australian customers only.
For its part, Oris will make a substantial donation to the RFDS, which RFDS CEO Scott Chapman said will help save lives.
"Our great thanks to Oris for their continued support of our work," he said. "As a non-profit, our service relies heavily on the help and generosity of our supporters. Oris’s contributions have made a huge difference to our work in the past, and will do again. There’s no doubt that sales of this new watch will help RFDS save lives."
More information on Oris and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Limited Edition II is on the Oris website.