A Hands-On Introduction To The Oris Artelier Year Of The Horse Limited Edition In Zermatt

With the blazing Sun reflecting off the snow, the crimson dial of the Oris Artelier Year Of The Horse Limited Edition looked ever so vibrant and fiery. The famous Matterhorn provided no shade; it just stood there magnificently, creating the perfect backdrop. Traditionally, Oris chooses Zermatt to mark the start of a new watch year. Apart from the embargoed stuff you will get to see later, an exuberant 88-piece limited edition made its appearance, marking the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse, which begins on February 17th, 2026. The watch features the Oris caliber 113 with a 10-day power reserve. It includes a non-linear power reserve indicator, day and date, as well as a weekly/business calendar with a pointer hand. Can you spot the two horses?

With eighty-eight numbered pieces symbolizing double luck in Chinese culture and clad in a blaze of crimson, the Oris Artelier Year Of The Horse Limited Edition is hard to overlook. That’s also due to its generous proportions. The polished steel, 5-bar-water-resistant case has a 43mm diameter, a 13.5mm thickness, and a 50.5mm lug-to-lug length. Its smooth bezel frames a dial with a deep red hue, complemented by the exuberant, fiery-looking sub-dials. Toning it down a little is the 22mm-wide brown cordovan leather strap. This horsehide strap is supple, but it will also age well, as I have experienced firsthand with other cordovan straps in the past. One thing’s for sure: Oris wasn’t horsing around when creating this thematic watch. But the brand from Hölstein kept things subtle. There are not one but two horses on this Year of the Horse dial, but they’re not very present. Have you spotted them already?

Hands-on with the Oris Artelier Year of the Horse Limited Edition in Zermatt

According to Chinese astrology, those born in the Year of the Fire Horse are thought to exude enthusiasm, confidence, and a strong drive to succeed. Oris caters to these characteristics by creating a limited-edition Artelier with a design that’s vibrant and bold. Symbolism and functions go hand in hand.

The good-looking caliber 113, which debuted in 2017, is a hand-winding movement with a practical and impressive 10-day power reserve. It features a business calendar that displays the day, date, and month of the year, as well as the week via a scale running around the dial’s perimeter.

The non-linear power reserve indicator is also a standout feature. On the Big Crown Calibre 113 dressed in lime green and pink, which debuted in the summer of 2025, this feature straightforwardly presented itself with the spacing between the numbers increasing towards the end of the mainspring’s power. The numbers are still there, but they’re not as prominent as before. To ensure functionality creatively, two horses are here to help. A small depiction of a galloping horse indicates a fully wound movement. At the end of the movement’s running time, the horse is lying down, clearly resting, waiting to be re-energized.

Wearing the Year of the Horse LE

There’s no denying that the Artelier Year of the Horse (ref. 01 113 7806 4088-Set) is a big watch. The 50mm lug-to-lug length helps keep things comfortable on my 18cm wrist, but a watch with a 43mm diameter and 13.5mm thickness will never go unnoticed or slide easily under the cuff. That’s also not something this watch wants to do, and its potential buyers probably understand that. The 88 future owners are either into Chinese astrology, color, and/or horses. The price of €6,650 places this watch at the top of Oris’s offerings, but since it’s a very specific and collectible creation, that probably won’t pose a problem.

I appreciate the details and the color of the main dial. I also had to chuckle when I noticed the two horses. Having said that, the Year of the Horse LE’s appearance is not for me. But I do applaud its daring design and Oris for taking risks and trying new things. The watch’s proportions are very good as well. And so is the movement and the way it displays the different functions. In a more classic, perhaps neo-industrial style, a watch with caliber 113 could appeal to a larger audience, including me. The power reserve indicator is clever, and the hand that indicates the week of the year is original and makes a nice talking piece, although only in very specific settings.

What do you think of the Oris Artelier Year of the Horse Limited Edition? Will you try to score one of the 88 examples produced, or will you let it gallop on by? Let me know in the comments below.