Real leather instead of fake leather. As a statement of sustainability. A striking choice by Oris, but one that is also well justified
We see it more and more and in various industries: companies renounce the use of leather. Instead, they then switch to 'vegetarian leather', sometimes indistinguishable from real but using, for example, apple peels as the base material.
Fine initiative, of course. But Oris, one of the most active watch brands when it comes to participating in sustainability projects and last year certified as a climate-neutral company, chooses a different direction: watch straps made of... deerskin.
Wild deer
A striking choice, but also one that is perfectly justifiable. After all, around 15,000 wild red deer are shot every year in Switzerland. A necessary operation, highly regulated, undertaken to manage deer populations and protect the Swiss landscape. For years, little was done with the natural by-products generated by this process. Some meat was consumed, but whatever else remained was mostly burned. In 2017, two friends founded Cervo Volante.
Their vision was to use traditional tanning methods to turn the deer hides that had previously been burnt into beautiful, hard-wearing products. Cervo Volante now offers a range of products. And now so do watch bands.
Date pointer
The collaboration between Oris and Cervo Volante begins with three 38 mm Big Crown Pointer Date watches with date hands. Each watch has a dial with colour gradient inspired by alpine colours and a strap made of durable deerskin. They come with a case and card holder made of the same material.
Costs € 1750 www.oris.ch
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