Oris GIGN Edition Limitée

An elite unit

Oris announces a new partnership with GIGN, the French police force’s special intervention unit

Oris is extremely proud to announce a partnership with the Groupe d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale, known as GIGN, the French police force’s elite special operations unit. In honour of the association, Oris has produced a limited edition version of its innovative Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter, known as the Oris GIGN Edition Limitée.
 
GIGN was formed in 1974. In its capacity as a law enforcement agency and special operations unit, it is licensed to intervene on French soil or abroad. GIGN’s unit has 380 members, which are highly trained paratroopers, equipped to perform high-risk operations, including counter terrorism, hostage rescue and the targeting of organised crime. They execute between 6,000 and 7,000 parachute jumps a year and among them only 26 members own the rare degree of «Chuteurs Opérationnels».
 
When jumping, GIGN’s operatives are equipped with high-tech computerised equipment that provides them with critical data, such as distance to the ground, information they need to know before deploying a parachute. While these devices are hugely reliable, there is still a chance they will fail. In the event of such a failure, paratroopers need a back-up device.
 
For this, GIGN turned to Oris’s Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter, the world’s first watch with an automatic mechanical movement and a built-in mechanical altimeter. GIGN acquired a watch and put it through a series of demanding tests, which it passed, leading to the partnership between Oris and GIGN.
 
The Oris GIGN Edition Limitée is based on the Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter, but with a few aesthetic points of difference that bring the relationship with the elite French unit to life. The GIGN insignia sits on the dial and case back, and the tip of the central seconds hand is finished with the colours of the Tricolore, France’s national flag.  
 
In July a select group of guests were invited to GIGN’s base in Versailles, France, where they experienced an impressive demonstration of the unit’s operational abilities. At this event, the commander of GIGN, Colonel Hubert Bonneau said: ‘I am very impressed that Oris was able to produce a watch with a mechanical altimeter function. We at GIGN appreciate that Oris made this special limited edition in honour of our unit with our logo on the dial and on the case back.’ Oris President Ulrich Herzog said: ‘Oris is very proud and honoured to cooperate with such a highly respected special unit of the French police force. I was deeply impressed by the operational abilities, which you demonstrated to us here in Versailles.

Only 500 pieces will be made for civilian use. Oris will also make a second limited edition model with a different GIGN insignia on the dial that will be made available exclusively to GIGN paratroopers.  
 
Oris has previously worked with a number of the world’s elite military outfits, including the US Navy Seals and the Italian Army’s Col Moschin Special Forces unit. The partnership with GIGN is the latest seal of approval for Oris’s innovative, high-performance watches.