Oris's first true in-house in decades
For decades Oris built its watches on modified Sellita and ETA bases (the "Oris 7xx" series), with the brand's in-house regulation, custom rotors, and the famous red-rotor Oris signature. In October 2020 Oris launched the Cal. 400: a fully in-house movement designed and built in the brand's Hölstein, Switzerland facility. This was Oris's first ground-up in-house automatic since the 1980s and a strategic move to position the brand as a serious independent manufacture.
Twin-barrel 5-day reserve
The Cal. 400's headline feature is its 120-hour power reserve (5 days), achieved via two mainspring barrels in series. This is significantly more than typical Sellita / ETA alternatives (38-42 h) and matches premium in-house calibers from much higher price tiers. The reserve is delivered with stable torque across the full duration thanks to the dual-barrel layout; the watch keeps chronometer-grade time even toward the end of the reserve.
Antimagnetic to 2,250 gauss
A silicon escape wheel and silicon anchor give the Cal. 400 magnetic resistance to 2,250 gauss, exceeding the ISO 764 antimagnetic standard (1,500 gauss) by 50%. Practically this means the watch handles strong magnetic fields (mobile phones, laptops, MRI scanner peripherals, electric appliances) without losing accuracy. Oris validates this against the standard test setup; the Cal. 400 is positioned alongside the Omega 8500 family and Rolex Chronergy as a modern antimagnetic in-house movement.
10-year service interval
Oris recommends a 10-year service interval for the Cal. 400, double the typical 5-year recommendation for most modern Swiss automatics. This is enabled by improved bearing materials, the friction-reducing silicon escapement, and conservative engineering throughout. The brand backs this with a 10-year warranty on the Cal. 400 movement when registered with My Oris. For the buyer this means much lower long-term ownership cost: typical ETA 2824 service is $300-500 every 5 years; the Cal. 400 saves you a service cycle.
Watches and value position
The Cal. 400 family debuted in the Aquis Date Calibre 400 dive watch and has expanded into the Aquis Pointer Date, Big Crown ProPilot Calibre 400, Divers Sixty-Five Cal. 400, and Hölstein Editions limited series. Retail typically USD 3,500-5,000, putting Cal. 400 watches in the same price range as Tudor Black Bay (with Kenissi MT5xxx) and Longines Spirit (with L888). For the price-conscious enthusiast who wants 5 days of reserve, antimagnetic silicon, and a 10-year service interval, this is one of the strongest value propositions in independent Swiss watchmaking.
