Oris launches a limited edition befitting of ‘The Iron Horse’ Lou Gehrig
Zach Blass- Succeeding Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron Limited Editions, Oris reveals a new Lou Gehrig Limited Edition.
- Based on the Big Crown Pointer Date, this special watch supports The Lou and Eleanor Gehrig Family Foundation and its fight against ALS.
- Limited to 2,130 pieces in honour of Gehrig’s consecutive game streak and priced at US$2,850.
Whenever Oris hosts a get-together with press and collectors, I always make a point of trying to go. I have never had a bad time with Oris, because both the team behind the brand and the collectors who show up for them are always a delight to be around. It is a brand that understands how to foster a community and great environment – whether for beers and bites or efforts for a greener, cleaner planet. And without fail, each time I am around the brand, whether the team or its fans, I cannot be around this community without hearing someone utter the words are there really no more Roberto Clemente watches left? Or damn, I really wish I snagged the Clemente. Now, I’m biased as a native New Yorker and Yankees fan, but today Oris presents my favourite limited edition within the baseball saga yet: a new Oris Lou Gehrig Limited Edition.
The backstory
As a journalist within watch media, there is only one brand that has politely requested that I focus less on the watch and more on the cause it supports on multiple occasions. Whether the Billion Oyster Project watches or the Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron Limited Editions that came before this new Lou Gehrig Limited Edition, Oris always makes it clear, in moments like this, that its preference is to bring further awareness to the cause behind the novelty rather than the novelty itself.
Each watch in what I am just going to call the Oris baseball saga is created as a numbered limited edition of Big Crown Pointer Date Watches that honours a notable statistic of its muse, incorporates subtle colour cues and a commemorative caseback into the design, and a portion of the proceeds is donated to a cause or foundation tied to the baseball player the watch aims to honour. In the case of the Roberto Clemente limited edition, launched in 2020 and limited to 3,000 pieces in honour of his career hits, it was created to honour Clemente and support The Roberto Clemente Foundation, a non-profit which works to empower communities through youth sports, disaster relief, veteran support, and academic scholarships.
The Hank Aaron Limited Edition, launched in 2023, was limited to 2,297 pieces in honour of his still-standing MLB RBI record, with a portion of the proceeds given to The Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation, a US-based non-profit that supports disadvantaged youth with scholarships that allow them to develop their skills and pursue their passions.
The new Oris Lou Gehrig Limited Edition launching today is limited to 2,130 pieces in honour of Gehrig’s consecutive game record (only beaten by Cal Ripken Jr. nearly 60 years later). Within the Lou Gehrig Limited Edition and numbered engraving ring is an iconic silhouette, engraved in relief, of Lou Gehrig delivering a speech that is considered to be the Gettysburg Address of baseball.
On July 4, 1939, two weeks after he was forced to retire from baseball due to his illness, Gehrig addressed a sold-out Yankee Stadium with a speech so powerful that even the most die-hard Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox fans would be brought to tears. In what is now known as Gehrig’s “I’m the Luckiest Man Alive” speech, Gehrig began by saying, “For the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” The “bad break” Lou Gehrig was referring to was his Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis diagnosis, known as ALS and Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“ALS is a progressive disease in which a person’s brain loses connection with the muscles, slowly taking away their ability to walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe,” the ALS association explains on its website. “Although there is still no cure or treatment that halts progression, new treatments are helping to slow and ease symptoms.”
You can imagine, or attempt to imagine, rather, how cruel a fate it was for a titan of a player like Lou Gehrig, known as ‘The Iron Horse’ due to his 2,130 consecutive games played, to be taken from baseball and his family at the age of 37 due to ALS. In a sombre, silver lining, however, it brought further awareness to the disease and the need to combat it.
“His grace and strength, even in the face of great adversity, shone through in that moment, prompting a two-minute standing ovation,” Oris explains. “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 U.S., June 2 is ‘Lou Gehrig Day’.”
The cause
Like the Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron Limited Editions, the mission of the Oris Lou Gehrig Limited Edition is to celebrate Gehrig and what he stood for and support The Lou and Eleanor Gehrig Family Foundation – a philanthropic organisation that supports research, clinical care, and patient awareness for ALS and other neuromuscular diseases.
“This beautiful Oris watch reflects the same quiet strength, understated excellence and endurance that defined Lou Gehrig,” said John Howell, the foundation’s president. “In a world of flashy excess, it is a remarkably well-done and tasteful tribute to Lou. We are delighted to partner with Oris. Their support means a great deal to families facing ALS and other public health challenges.”
The watch: A Big Crown Pointer Date Lou Gehrig Limited Edition
The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Automatic retains its 40mm diameter, 12.2mm thick, and 48.2mm lug-to-lug measurements for its 50-metre water-resistant stainless steel case. For this Lou Gehrig Limited Edition, the centre medallion of the dial is executed in a brushed silver – a nod to Gehrig’s ‘The Iron Horse’ nickname. Within the black outer ring, you will find all of the calendar days of the month in white with the exception of the number 4 in blue, which pays tribute to Gehrig’s jersey number (notably retired in 1940 by the New York Yankees).
The overall aesthetic of the watch works off of silver, blue, and white hues, blue and white (or grey-white), a nod to the iconic Yankee pinstripes. It is offered with both the blue, white, and grey-striped NATO strap and a brown baseball glove leather strap with white double-stitching. And, of course, the commemorative caseback, hidden from view while worn, carries the most overt tribute to Lou Gehrig.
Final thoughts
These cause-supporting limited editions are by no means boundary or design pushing, merely Big Crown Pointer Date watches with subtle, tasteful nods to the ballplayers they pay homage to. But the people, causes, and players which inspire them, that’s what makes these watches highly sought after. So, it goes without saying that if you missed out on the Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron Limited Editions, you do not want to hesitate on this Oris Lou Gehrig Limited Edition.
Oris Lou Gehrig Limited Edition pricing and availability
The Oris Lou Gehrig Limited Edition is available now as a limited edition of 2,130 pieces. Price: US$2,850/CHF 2,400
| Brand | Oris |
| Model | Lou Gehrig Limited Edition |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 12.2mm (T) x 48.2mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front |
| Dial | Silver |
| Strap | Brown baseball glove leather strap, white double-stitching, stainless steel buckle. Additional blue, white and grey NATO fabric strap, stainless steel buckle Included strap change tool |
| Movement | Calibre 754, Sellita-based, automatic |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, pointer date |
| Availability | Now, limited to 2,130 pcs. |
| Price | US$2,850 CHF 2,400 |