Oris pays homage to jazz musician Dexter Gordon

The Swiss watchmaker has added to its collection of "Jazz" watches with a model paying tribute to one of the biggest names in the musical genre. The "Oris Dexter Gordon Limited Edition" is due out January 2017 priced €1,800 (approx. $1,875).

Born in the early 1920s in Los Angeles, USA, Dexter Gordon developed a passion for music and the world of jazz from an early age. He started out playing the clarinet, before picking up the saxophone then taking up the tenor saxophone aged 17. It was with this instrument -- which he mastered to perfection -- that he went on to become one of the greatest 20th-century jazz musicians.

Watchmaker Oris is now paying homage to this extraordinary career and the legendary character of Dexter Gordon, who died in 1990, after a long and successful career in music and in the movies, thanks to a starring role in the film "Round Midnight."

Jazz-inspired style

The "Oris Dexter Gordon Limited Edition" has a clean, minimalist design, giving this timepiece a refined look, with just a few subtle details referencing the famous musician.

The index at 12 o'clock is shaped like a saxophone reed, the thin strip of wood that the instrument requires to make its sound. The second hand has a brass-colored finish that also nods to the instrument. The brass effect is seen on the caseback too, which is engraved with the musician's nickname, "Long Tall Dex."

In a final homage, the name of the jazz saxophonist is spelled out around the gray sunburst-finished dial with one letter at every five-minute index.

The watch has a 40mm stainless steel multipart case and a dark brown leather strap with a stainless steel folding clasp. It has a self-winding movement with hours, minutes and seconds functions, plus a date window at six o' clock.

This is the 17th watch in the Oris "Jazz" series, which has already honored John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis.

The "Oris Dexter Gordon" is a limited edition release of 1,000 models that goes on sale January 2017 priced €1,800 (approx. $1,875).