BY ERIK SLAVEN
Oris is no stranger to environmental collaborations as the brand is passionate about conservation. Previous partnerships included Everwave that prevents plastic pollution in oceans and the Coral Restoration Foundation that helps save degraded coral reefs, and all are part of the Change for the Better initiative. The latest project has Oris teaming up with the Billion Oyster Project to reintroduce millions of bivalve mollusks to New York City’s waterways. Each adult oyster can filter 50 gallons of water per day – nature often offers the best way to clean things up. To support the effort, a new limited edition Aquis diver is launching with a cool oyster theme.
The Oris Aquis New York Harbor Limited Edition comes in at 41.5mm in diameter, falling in the middle of the brand’s dive watch sizes. The stainless steel case doesn’t stray from recent Aquis divers with a steel matte bezel sporting Arabic numerals in relief with polished surfaces. There’s a detailed 15-minute scale and polished knurled edge, and it’s both functional and a bit more subtle than a traditional black counterpart. The crown is partially guarded and screws down, allowing for a 300-meter water resistance rating. A domed AR sapphire crystal protects the dial, while a solid case back has a detailed engraving of oysters and the limited edition number. It comes with two integrated strap options, starting with a dial-matching green rubber that arguably works best with the theme or a steel bracelet with a diver’s extension and security clasp.
The dial is green mother-of-pearl with shades that combine the white of an oyster shell and greenish waters of the Hudson Harbor. A watery texture also mimics sunlight over the river’s surface. Applied silver indices have white Super-LumiNova BG W9 inserts, along with the hour and minute hands. The lollipop seconds hand has lume as well. A date window tastefully sits at 6 o’clock and dial text is fairly limited, keeping things clean and straightforward.
The heart of the watch is the Oris 733 automatic, based on the Sellita SW200-1. It’s a solid, reliable workhorse and more affordable alternative to the brand’s newer, in-house Caliber 400. It has 26 jewels, beats at 4Hz with a 38-hour power reserve, and is seen in many Aquis models.
This latest collaborative Aquis retails for USD 2,700 and is limited to 2,000 pieces. That’s a solid price for such a capable Swiss diver, especially a limited edition supporting a very important cause. The goal of the Billion Oyster Project is to reintroduce one billion oysters to the harbor by 2035.
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