For over a decade, Oris has been on a mission to bring awareness to a wide range of worthy causes through the release of limited edition watches and their “Change for the Better” campaign. Ocean conservation in particular has remained at the core of their efforts due to their own passions and prowess for diving. Following on from a string of successful ocean-conservation inspired limited editions, the Holstein-based manufacturer has released yet another, this time turning attention to the endangered whale shark: meet the Oris Aquis GMT Whale Shark Limited Edition watch.
Over the last few years, we have seen many luxury watch brands try their hand at charitable or eco-friendly watches and it’s not uncommon now to see watches engineered from recycled materials or to be packaged in recyclable boxes. For us, however, Oris have always been at the forefront of this movement and one of the first to bring awareness to such important causes. Their “Change for the Better” campaign first began in 2010 with the release of the Oris Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition, a stunning divers model that set the template for future conservation limited editions to come. Since then, we’ve received an incredible amount of Oris limited editions inspired to bring attention to a different world-saving causes. From the Oris Clean Up watch which motivated almost 1000 people from about 15 countries to clean-up their towns and coastlines to the more recent Oris Hangang Limited Edition designed in support of Seoul KFEM’s mission to clean, protect and restore the Hangang River, there’s no doubt Oris is committed to making our world a better place to live.
The Whale Shark
The subject of Oris’ latest limited edition release is the gentle underwater giant, the whale shark. The new Oris Aquis GMT Whale Shark Limited Edition has been designed in collaboration with Oris ambassador Gerardo del Villar, an experienced explorer and photographer who began photographing whale sharks more than 15 years ago. He describes the creature in an interview with Oris as “the friendliest giants in the ocean thanks to their peaceful nature and their diet of microscopic plankton and ocean nekton.”
Sadly, and despite their gentleness, IUCN announced in 2016 that due to illegal fishing, collisions with boats and entrapment in fishing gear, whale sharks were now classified as an endangered species with the global population having halved over the previous 75 years. As if the loss of an entire species wasn’t distressing enough, whale sharks play an incredibly important role in our ecosystem and their extinction could consequently threaten the lives of many other ocean-dwelling creatures. Despite their incredibly large size which can grow up to as long as a bus, whale sharks feed only on small fish, a diet that is incredibly important in keeping other species below them in the food chain and therefore ensuring species diversity.
“They help to eliminate the weak and sick and to maintain balance with competitors, thus guaranteeing species diversity. Without whale sharks, ecosystems will collapse in the future. We need to create marine protected areas and to educate people about the importance of whale sharks. We need to curb pollution of the sea. And we need to fight against climate change. These are all essential to the conservation of this species.” – Gerardo del Villar
DIAL
As with all of Oris’ conservation-inspired limited editions, the Oris Aquis GMT Whale Shark watch has been carefully designed to bring to life magnificent beauty of the endangered species it honours. The dial of the limited edition is the perfect example of this, handsomely decorated in a blue textured finish inspired by the skin of the whale shark. The combination of the subtle texture with an uncommon shade of deep blue-green makes for a unique spin on a special Aquis limited edition. The dial is also detailed with Superluminova coated hands for hours, minutes and seconds, matching luminous indexes, a lollipop seconds hand and a handsome, brightly coloured orange GMT hand which works alongside the inner 24 hour track which sits slightly recessed from the skin-inspired backdrop.
“We’re not going to stop drawing attention to the issues facing the world’s water,” says Rolf Studer, Oris co-CEO. “We’re proud to work with Gerardo and support his work, but this is a drop in the ocean. To bring Change for the Better, everyone needs to play their part.”
CASE
Similarly, the case back of the Oris Aquis GMT Whale Shark Limited Edition has been decorated to commemorate the gentle giant with a fantastic engraving of the creature alongside its limited edition status of 2,016 pieces. The rest of the design is pretty much identical to other Aquis GMT watches with a 300 metre water resistant stainless steel 43.5mm profile, screw down crown and domed scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass treated with anti-reflective coating on the inside.
With the help of high-tech ceramic bi-directional bezel, the Oris Aquis GMT Whale Shark Limited Edition watch allows you to display up to three different time zones simultaneously. Local time can be set using the standard hour hand, home time using the GMT hand and the internal 24 hour scale and the third using the bi-directional GMT bezel with the GMT hand. The ceramic bezel has also been designed for use as a day and night indicator with the black half corresponding to night-time hours and the blue part relating to daytime.
MOVEMENT
Sheltered within the Oris Aquis GMT Whale Shark Limited Edition watch is the Oris 798 automatic winding movement, a Swiss made calibre based on the reliable Sellita SW 330-1. Equipped with the iconic Oris red oscillating rotor, this time hidden behind the whale shark-engraved screw case back, the movements provides hours, minutes and seconds function, a central hand for GMT, a date complication and a power reserve of 42 hours. It also operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has 25 jewels.
STRAP
To complete its full stainless steel aesthetic, the Oris Aquis GMT Whale Shark Limited Edition is presented on an integrated stainless steel bracelet fitted with a folding clasp and extension system. As with all Oris Aquis watches, we’re sure the model would also look great on a rubber strap.
PRICE & AVAILABILITY:
As we have already mentioned, the Oris Aquis GMT Whale Shark watch is a limited edition of 2,016 pieces, a number chosen purposely to mark the year IUCN declared the whale shark an endangered species. The piece retails at £2,250 and is available to order now on the Jura Watches website with interest free finance and free delivery. Contact the team today to enquire about the new Oris Whale Shark Limited Edition on 01335 453453 or at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications: Oris Aquis GMT Whale Shark Limited Edition Watch (01 798 7754 4175-Set MB)
- Case Size: 43.5mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Unidirectional, ceramic with 24 hour scale and night/day indicator
- Glass: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw-in security
- Case Back: Screw down, special limited edition engraving
- Water Resistance: 300 metres
- Movement: Oris 798 automatic winding
- COSC: No
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, date
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Jewels: 25
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Blue with special engraved pattern inspired by whale shark skin, Superluminova hands and indexes
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet
- Buckle: Folding with divers extension
- RRP: £2,250
- Limited Edition: 2,016
- Release Date: Available now
