The Oak & Oscar Humboldt ExP-02 is the second watch in the Chicago brand’s Experimental Series, introduced on Jan. 27, 2026. Its headline is the company’s account of making the aluminum dial layers and fixed steel bezel with machining and laser equipment at its headquarters. Oak & Oscar announced a run of 20; the original public lottery has closed, and current stock is unverified.
What is the Oak & Oscar Humboldt ExP-02?
It is a 39.5 mm stainless-steel automatic watch with a gray, monochromatic dial, fixed steel bezel, steel bracelet, sapphire display back and no-date movement. Oak & Oscar positions it as an exploration of production methods rather than simply a new colorway: the ExP-02 is the second model in its Experimental Series, which the company says is intended to explore techniques and expand its watchmaking capabilities. Oak & Oscar’s Jan. 27, 2026 launch article
What makes the ExP-02 different?
The watch’s defining feature is its dial-and-bezel production story. Oak & Oscar says the work was carried out at its Chicago headquarters using its own machining and laser equipment. These process details are the manufacturer’s description, rather than an independently documented assessment of the production.
Layered, laser-worked dial
According to the brand, it machines and mills chapter rings, then cuts and punches aluminum dial layers with a 100-watt MOPA fiber laser. The layers are sandblasted, and a laser-marked “ghost script” is designed to shift in visibility depending on the light and viewing angle. That changing visibility is the intended effect of the marking, not a separate complication or display.
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Fixed bezel machined by the brand
Oak & Oscar says it cut the fixed stainless-steel bezel on its shop lathe to a 0.01 mm tolerance. The figure describes the manufacturer’s stated machining tolerance; it is not a claim about the watch’s overall accuracy or performance.
The official launch article describes the series as a way to “explore different techniques and expand our horological chops.” The phrase is the company’s statement, not a quotation attributed to a named individual. Oak & Oscar
Oak & Oscar Humboldt ExP-02 specifications
| Specification | Published detail |
|---|---|
| Case | 39.5 mm stainless steel; 12.4 mm tall, according to Oak & Oscar and Hodinkee’s 2026 launch coverage. |
| Water resistance | 200 m, as reported in Hodinkee’s Feb. 2, 2026 launch coverage. |
| Movement | Automatic Sellita SW300, 25 jewels, according to Oak & Oscar and Hodinkee. |
| Power reserve | Sources conflict: Oak & Oscar lists 42 hours; Hodinkee lists 56 hours. Neither source resolves the discrepancy. |
| Functions | Hours, minutes and seconds; no date. Oak & Oscar describes a true no-date movement without a ghost date position. |
| Caseback and bracelet | Sapphire display back; steel bracelet with articulated links and a microadjustable clasp, according to Oak & Oscar. |
| Production | 20 watches, according to Oak & Oscar and Hodinkee’s 2026 coverage. |
| Reported launch price | $2,550, reported by Hodinkee in February 2026; this is a launch-price report, not a current offer. |
Sources: Oak & Oscar’s model page and Hodinkee’s Feb. 2, 2026 launch coverage.
How many were made, and is the ExP-02 still available?
Oak & Oscar announced 20 examples: ten designated for existing owners and ten offered through a public lottery. The launch announcement said the lottery would close on Feb. 3, 2026, and the official model page now states “LOTTERY HAS CLOSED!” The available sources do not verify current direct, resale or marketplace inventory, so the closed lottery should not be read as proof that no example can ever be found—or that one is currently for sale.
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- Case Size: 44mm - Case Thickness: 13.38mm. Stainless steel case with blue ceramic bezel and Sapphire crystal with double sided anti-reflection treatment - Lug Width 22mm
- Strap: Tapered, Blue Fabric Strap with Pin Buckle
Hodinkee reported a $2,550 launch price in its Feb. 2, 2026 coverage. That historical price does not establish today’s price or availability. Oak & Oscar’s launch announcement; official model page; Hodinkee.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the launch tells you—and what remains uncertain
The ExP-02’s distinction is not an unusual complication but the brand’s stated effort to bring dial-layer and bezel machining in-house. Its published dimensions and 200 m water-resistance figure describe a compact steel tool-watch format, while its small production run makes it a limited launch rather than a broadly available catalog model.
One specification still needs careful handling: Oak & Oscar says the SW300 has a 42-hour power reserve, while Hodinkee gives 56 hours. Until the sources agree or the manufacturer clarifies the figure, neither should be presented as settled. The reported launch materials also do not establish current stock.
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