Oris’ signature diving watch, the Aquis, is a well-known for good reason. It’s a solid tool watch equipped with a long list of features for use on land and in water. One of the many variants of the design is the Oris Aquis Small Second Date which combines the robust steel case and Superluminova-decorated dial with a small seconds display at 9 o’clock and a date window at 3 o’clock. For the collection’s latest release, the Swiss watchmaker relaunches the design with a new gradient blue-teal dial.
Despite the Oris Aquis feeling like a permanent staple in today’s Oris collections, it wasn’t until over 100 years into their history that the design was launched. The Hölstein-based watch manufacturer did have plenty of experience creating diving watches before the Aquis, however. Their first diver’s watch landed during the 1960’s, and with its now-outdated plexiglass and 30 metre water resistance, became a popular tool in the diving community. From that moment on, an Oris tradition was created, and diving watches became their staple design. Over the years, we’ve seen some impressive Oris Aquis watches land on our wrists. Their recently-launched Oris Aquis Calibre 400 series see’s the diving watch partner up with one of Oris’ latest in-house movements for high levels of anti-magnetism and a 5 day power reserve. You’ve also got the new Oris AquisPro offering water resistant levels up to 1,000 metres and of course today’s Oris Aquis Small Second Date watch with both date and small seconds complications placed upon a new teal-coloured gradient dial.
The small seconds version of the Oris Aquis Date watch launched back in 2017 and while a popular model in its own right, it doesn’t get half as much attention as it deserves. The display, which places the small seconds at 9 o’clock and the date at 3 o’clock, is a nod to the essentiality of running seconds on a diver’s watch. For a watch like the Oris Aquis to be certified by the professional ISO 6425 diving standard, it must have an indicator that shows at a glance if the watch is still running. In its own separate, and rather large subsidiary dial, the white luminous seconds hand spans over a handsome blue snailed backdrop.
To balance out the placement of the small seconds at 9 o’clock, the Oris Aquis Small Second Date watch moves its date window, which is typically located at the 6 o’clock position in most Aquis Date watches, to 3 o’clock. I don’t think it would hurt the date to be a little larger here, as it does leave some empty space on the right hand side of the dial. However, this isn’t something that’s very noticeable when the large Superluminova-filled hour and minute hands find themselves on that region of the dial. The only real change for the Oris Aquis Small Second Date watch is the dial which now flaunts a new blue gradient backdrop with an almost teal blue finish. It’s a really handsome colour and pairs with a matching blue-toned ceramic bezel.
The new Oris Aquis Small Second Date watch is definitely not a small watch, measuring to 45.5mm in diameter and 15.9mm thick. The larger stainless steel case does warrant it an impressive 500 metre water resistance, which is a nice upgrade to the 300 metre rating on standard Aquis Date models. Its water resistance is secured by a screw in crown with strong crown guards, a screw down case back and sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment. The new blue-toned ceramic bezel is unidirectional as standard and is dressed in a white printed 60 minute scale with an inverted triangle with Superluminova.
Housed inside the Oris Aquis Small Second Date watch is the Oris Calibre 743 automatic winding movement based upon the Sellita SW220-1 base. It delivers hours, minutes, small seconds, date and a reasonable power reserve of 38 hours. It also promises 28 jewels and a running frequency of 28,800vph. Completing the design is two strap options: the first a classic blue rubber strap and the second a sturdy, three-row link steel bracelet. Both straps come with Oris’s patented extendable security folding clasp and Quick Strap Change system.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Oris Aquis Small Second Date watch and shop the design for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 45mm diameter, 15.9mm height
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Blue ceramic, unidirectional with 60 minute scale
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Screwed down
- Water Resistance: 500 metres
- Movement: Oris 753 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Jewels: 28
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Gradient blue with Superluminova hands and markers, snailed small seconds dial
- Strap: Blue rubber or three-row link steel bracelet
- Buckle: Folding
- RRP: £2,150 (Rubber), £2,300 (Bracelet)
- Limited: No
- Reference: 01 743 7733 4155 – 07 4 24 69EB, 01 743 7733 4155 – 07 8 24 05PEB
