If you could own only one Oris, a strong case could be made for this one. The Big Crown Pointer Date is the watch most closely tied to the brand’s identity, an icon since 1938, and this inky blue version on a steel bracelet is about as versatile as the design gets.

Every element is classic Oris: the 40mm steel case, the oversized crown, a finely fluted bezel, cathedral hands and bold Arabic numerals. The party piece is the date, shown not in a window but by a slim center hand that points to the numbers around the dial’s edge, keeping the face balanced and easy to read. The deep blue dial looks almost black indoors and glows rich navy in daylight.

Reference 01 754 7785 4065-07 8 20 02 runs on the Oris Calibre 754, a Sellita-based Swiss automatic with 41 hours of reserve. A domed sapphire crystal, luminous hands and 50 meters of water resistance cover daily life, and the steel bracelet with folding clasp makes it as comfortable with a T-shirt as with a blazer.

Reference 01 754 7785 4065: Big Crown Pointer Date Blue Specs

• Case: 40mm stainless steel, fluted bezel, oversized crown
• Dial: inky blue, Arabic numerals, cathedral hands
• Complication: center-hand pointer date
• Caliber: Oris 754 Swiss automatic (Sellita base)
• Power reserve: 41 hours
• Crystal: domed sapphire, anti-reflective
• Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
• Bracelet: stainless steel, 20mm, folding clasp

A design with more than eight decades behind it, still one of the smartest buys in Swiss watchmaking.