Oris has presented its new Oris Lou Gehrig Limited Edition. A new watch created as a tribute to the life and legacy of Lou Gehrig, one of the greatest players in baseball history, it will also serve to raise funds for the Lou and Eleanor Gehrig Family Foundation. This attractive new watch has been created in a limited edition of 2,130 units.
“When Lou Gehrig stepped onto a sold-out Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, he brought an end to a record-breaking baseball career. At the same time, he began a new chapter in a poignant legacy that would touch the lives of countless people.
In what is today often referred to as ‘baseball’s Gettysburg Address’, Gehrig delivered a speech in which he acknowledged what he simply termed ‘a bad break’—namely, his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease also known as motor neurone disease. Despite his shocking diagnosis, that day Gehrig defined himself with a phrase that went down in history, ‘the luckiest man on the face of the Earth’. He passed away on June 2, 1941, at just 37 years old. For many, ALS is ‘Lou Gehrig’s disease’.
Before his diagnosis, Gehrig seemed indestructible. Having broken a record of 2,130 consecutive games over 15 seasons, he had earned the nickname ‘The Iron Horse’. His grace and strength, even in the face of great adversity, shone through in that moment, prompting a two-minute standing ovation from the crowd.
Such was the affection for him that, in the decades since, his family, the New York Yankees, and Major League Baseball have raised millions for ALS research. In the United States, June 2 is ‘Lou Gehrig Day’. This year, Oris is honored to celebrate his legacy with the Lou Gehrig Limited Edition, a watch created to support the Lou and Eleanor Gehrig Family Foundation and to raise awareness of ALS.”
Oris
Oris Lou Gehrig Limited Edition
Oris has presented the Lou Gehrig Limited Edition, based on the Big Crown Pointer Date model, in support of the Lou and Eleanor Gehrig Family Foundation. Among the watch’s special details, the number 4 on the date ring stands out, highlighted in blue to pay tribute to Gehrig’s iconic number 4, retired by the New York Yankees in 1940, marking the beginning of a tradition in Major League Baseball.
The Yankees’ blue and white color palette permeates the entire watch, with a blue minutes scale and blue-framed hour indices, creating a warm contrast with the white luminescent details. The silver dial with a vertical brushed finish was chosen to evoke Gehrig’s famous nickname: “The Iron Horse”.
Instead of the twelve numerals featured on base models, this special edition displays a combination of numerals and indices. The minutes scale also recalls Oris designs of the era, as do the white date numbers on a black background.
The steel case measures 40mm in diameter and has a thickness of 12.20mm. The crystal is sapphire, domed on both sides, with anti-reflective coating on the inside. The closed caseback features engravings of Gehrig delivering his farewell speech and the limited edition serial number. The 2,130 pieces represent the record number of consecutive games Gehrig played for the Yankees.
Inside, it features the Oris Caliber 754 (based on the Sellita SW200-1). An automatic mechanical movement with a power reserve of 41 hours.
The brown leather strap features double stitching, resembling a baseball glove, while the NATO strap, which is included with the watch, also sports the Yankees’ colors.
The presentation box is an extension of the watch’s theme.
Price
The approximate retail price is €2,400. Oris