Oris is a favorite among watch enthusiasts who love luxury timepieces that offer great quality at affordable prices. Based in Hölstein, Switzerland, the brand has been making major moves over the last couple of years, the most notable of which came in the latter half of 2020, when they introduced their in-house caliber 400.
On top of that, we’ve recently seen a string of great releases from the brand. The stand-out pieces are, without a doubt, the brilliant bronze Oris Hölstein Edition 2020, the Oris × Momotaro collaboration, and the Oris Aquis GMT Whale Shark Limited Edition, which the company created for the Change for the Better campaign.
Oris Aquis Dat Watt Limited Edition
Oris started the Change for the Better campaign over a decade ago to promote the preservation of life in and on the water. With a series of limited edition timepieces, the brand supports local and global initiatives to preserve life in our rivers and oceans for future generations.
The Aquis Dat Watt Limited Edition is dedicated to the preservation of the Wadden Sea (i.e., the southern part of the North Sea). This UNESCO World Heritage Site stretches across about 310 miles (approx. 500 km) of coastline in the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. Oris has teamed up with conservation organization CWSS to protect the Wadden Sea from fishing, harbor development, wind farms, and maritime traffic.
The watch is a take on the Oris Aquis, the brand’s most popular model. The Aquis Dat Watt Limited Edition has a 43.5-mm stainless steel case and comes on a steel bracelet with a folding clasp. Its most unique feature is, without a doubt, its dial, which displays the lunar cycle and tidal range in the Northern Hemisphere. This is possible thanks to the Pointer Moon function that Oris developed for professional divers. Once the extra hand is aligned with the correct day in the 29.5-day lunar cycle, the watch will display the tidal range. On top of that, it indicates the current moon phase.
The watch gets its power from a movement based on the Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement. It ticks at a speed of 28,800 vph, has 26 jewels, and features a 38-hour power reserve. Since it is a diver, the watch is water-resistant to 300 m (984 ft). The caseback has a special engraving referencing the cause the watch supports. Oris will produce a total of 2,009 copies of the Oris Aquis Dat Watt Limited Edition, which is a nod to the year that the Wadden Sea was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The watch will be available starting in May 2021. It comes in a special presentation box and has a list price of €2,350 (approx. $2,800 ). It is a lot of watch for the money; plus, you get to support a good cause.
Oris AquisPro Date Calibre 400 in Black
The second Oris release also comes from the Aquis line, but it is quite different from the standard model. The AquisPro Date Calibre 400 is a huge 49.5-mm professional diver that is water-resistant to 1,000 m (3,280 ft). It features a titanium case that has been treated with a black DLC coating, giving it a stealthy appearance. It also features a black dial with a wave pattern and the Aquis’ familiar hour markers and hands.
The large bezel boasts Oris’ patented Rotation Safety System (RSS) that enables the wearer to adjust and lock the unidirectional rotating bezel into place. This is an important feature because it ensures the diver can read the remaining dive time with absolute certainty. The bezel features a rubber grip, making it easy to operate with diving gloves on.
Speaking of rubber, the AquisPro Date comes on a rubber strap that has a special clasp featuring two mechanisms specially developed by Oris to help divers. The patented Oris Sliding Sledge Clasp enables easy adjustment without having to take the watch off your wrist. The second is the Oris Safety Anchor, which makes sure that the watch stays securely on the wrist even if the clasp is released unintentionally.
The AquisPro Date Calibre 400 is powered by the in-house caliber 400. This movement ticks at a rate of 28,800 vph and can withstand magnetic fields up to 2,250 gauss. On top of that, it features an impressive power reserve of 120 hours. When it comes to accuracy, Oris guarantees a performance of +5/-3 seconds per day on average, which is important if you intend to use this as a professional tool watch.
Overall, the AquisPro Date Calibre 400 is an impressive release. Not only is it a legitimate diving tool, but it also shows that Oris is serious about expanding the Aquis collection. This fine timepiece can be yours for 4,200 CHF (approx. $4,500).
Oris Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy Bronze Models
The final new release from Oris is actually a series of watches designed for women who want to own a special timepiece. The all-new Oris Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy is a line of bronze models with spectacular dials in Sky Blue, Wild Green, and Lipstick Pink. Considering these color options, the name “Cotton Candy” makes total sense.
One of last year’s most remarkable watches from Oris was the Hölstein Edition 2020. It is a limited-edition solid-bronze version of the Divers Sixty-Five with a gold panda dial that’s out of this world. As most of you probably know, solid bronze watches aren’t all that common. Bronze cases pop up now and then, but it’s rare to also see a bronze bracelet. This is in part because bronze is an unusually reactive material that develops a patina over time. Thus, wearing and using your watch helps create a unique, personal look.
The 38-mm Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy looks amazing with its combination of bright dial colors and bronze. The Sellita SW200-1 movement powers this watch and provides it with a 38-hour power reserve. This watch comes in two different versions: one on a brown leather strap priced at 2,200 CHF (approx. $2,300) and another on the solid bronze bracelet costing 2,500 CHF (approx. $2,700). I think this is a brilliant move by Oris that could very well attract women to the brand. The combination of bronze and sweet colors looks amazing – it’s just a matter of picking your favorite.
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