Hands-On With The Oris Aquis Hangang Limited Edition Divers’ Watch
Last week, I selected my Top-5 Oris Aquis Limited Edition divers’ watches made for the “Change for the Better” campaign. For the new Aquis Hangang Limited Edition, Oris partners up with Seoul KFEM to support the cleanup of South Korea’s mighty Hangang River. We go hands-on with the first of the Aquis Limited Editions to feature a green dial.
Busy times at the Oris headquarters in Switzerland. The brand from Hölstein has graced us with a string of new releases in 2020. From the fun and upbeat Hölstein Edition 2020 to the eye-catching Oris Divers Sixty-Five × Momotaro collab to the new 41.5mm Aquis Date, there is plenty to enjoy. And those are only a couple of the latest additions to the collection.
Change For The Better campaign
A steady fixture in the collection has been the series of Oris Aquis Limited Edition divers’ watches. These limited editions are created in partnership with organizations that protect life in and around the water on our planet. The results have been a series of great Aquis divers produced in limited numbers. All the watches feature lovely details linking to the projects they help support funding.
Change For The Better is not set up as the next corporate social responsibility program.
In last week’s article, I summed-up my five favorite models from the series. While researching the article, I also got a better idea of the organizations that Oris supports. What stood out for me is that the Change For The Better campaign is not set up as the next corporate social responsibility program. It supports a wide variety of initiatives that really take the necessary action for the cause they fight for.
The cleanup of South Korea’s Hangang River
For the new Aquis Hangang Limited Edition, Oris partnered up with Seoul KFEM. The initiative is part of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements — South Korea’s largest environmental non-governmental organization. One of the many Seoul KFEM projects is to clean up and protect the Hangang River. It is South-Korea’s second-largest river and runs through the capital of Seoul. It is a vital source of water for the 10 million people that live in South Korea’s biggest city.
After years of neglect, it has become vital to clean up the river and make people aware of how important it is to have clean water. Seoul KFEM does so by organizing cleanup days where volunteers help to pick up litter, plastic, and other harmful pollutants along the river. Not only will Oris support these cleanup days, but the brand will also support the broader mission of protecting the river. To do so, Oris has released the new Aquis Hangang Limited Edition.
Oris Aquis Limited Editions in 2020
The Aquis Hangang Limited Edition is the third limited edition Oris has released 2020. The first was the beautiful Lake Baikal Limited Edition based on the 43.5mm Aquis Date. The watch features an icy blue dial, and the case back features a beautiful inlay representing the water of the lake being frozen in wintertime.
Oris created 50 pieces of the Carysfort Reed Limited Edition in yellow gold.
The second was the Carysfort Reed Limited Edition that was based on the Aquis GMT Date. It features a deep blue dial with bright orange accents and a two-tone black and blue bezel inlay. To top it off, it comes on a beautiful orange rubber strap. Oris also created 50 pieces of that same Carysfort Reed Limited Edition in yellow gold (pictured above) that Rob discussed here.
Oris Aquis Hangang Limited Edtion
So technically, the Hangang Limited Edition is the fourth release this year. But it is connected to the third good cause for 2020. For the Hangang Limited Edition, Oris decided to mix things up. The watch is the same 43.5mm Aquis that was used for the Great Barrier Reef III Limited Edition that Fratello team member Ben owns. The watch features an orbital date display instead of a window. Nestled within that orbital date is a small seconds dial employing a double-tipped seconds hand.
The green color refers to the green color of the creek waters found at the Hangang’s source.
The most significant difference this time around is the color. While all the previously mentioned models feature a blue dial, the Hangang Limited Edition features a green dial and a dark green ceramic bezel inlay. The green color refers to the green color of the creek waters found at the Hangang’s source. It’s a nice break from all the blue colors that we have seen in the series.
The impact of green
The first thing that immediately catches your eyes is that color green. There is no way around it. When I opened the box indoors, I didn’t get a good idea of the depth and vibrance of the color. So the first thing I did was to walk outside and check the color in the sun. In the sun, the sunray pattern on the dial comes to life, and, I think, that’s where the Hangang Limited Edition is at its best.
The green Oris has used is not the crispest green color. There is a strong hint of yellow in the green, making it a warmer green. I prefer a cleaner shade of green, but overall the attraction of the color is strong for many, I am sure.
The second thing that stands out is the multi-tonal dial. The green color is not new to the Aquis series. The regular Aquis Date is also available with a green dial. But the circular date adds a layer of depth that has an impact on the overall aesthetic. Inside the date circle, the green color is at its brightest. The outer part fades away into a dark green. And the ceramic bezel inlay is also a dark shade of green.
Combined with the big hour indices and large hands there is a lot going on. But not in a bad way.
Combined with the big hour indices and large hands — all filled with bright white Super-LumiNova — there is a lot going on. But not in a bad way. The longer you look at the dial, the more comfortable it feels. And I love that about this Aquis Hangang Limited Edition. Oris has found a design balance for its Aquis models that feels very comfortable, and that’s a great achievement.
Familiar Specs
You can enjoy the green dial through the sapphire crystal that is domed on both sides and has an anti-reflective coating on the inside. The green bezel rotates unidirectionally, and the watch features a screw-in security crown making it water-resistant up to 300 meters. The Hangang Limited Edition comes on a stainless steel bracelet with a security folding clasp with extension. It’s the same set of specs as many of the other Aquis models.
On the stainless steel case back, you will find the unique engraving that links to the good cause. The engraving shows the map of the Hangang River. These are the subtle details that make the watches for the Change For The Better campaign extra special.
Inside the case is the Oris Caliber 743 that is based on the Sellita SW-220-1 movement. The modified automatic movement ticks at 28,800vph and has a power reserve of 38 hours. It features center hands for hours and minutes and a small seconds hand at 9 o’clock.
Wearing the Aquis Hangang Limited Edition
After taking in the green color for a bit, the best thing was to wear the Hangang Limited Edition for some time. The first thing that stands out besides the color is how easy-to-wear the watch is. At 43.5mm, this is not a small watch, but it doesn’t feel like a big watch at all. As a result, the Hangang Limited Edition felt very comfortable on my wrist.
Another thing that makes it so comfortable is the great stainless steel bracelet. It is an Oyster-style design that features brushed center links and polished outer links that looks nice and feels high quality. Although it only comes on the stainless steel bracelet, I could also see the Hangang LE looking comfortable on one of Oris’s great rubber straps.
Final Thoughts
Overall I think Oris did a great job in bringing variation to the Aquis Limited Editions. After seeing quite a few blue dialed watches, the new green aesthetic is a nice change. Although I wasn’t blown away by the green color, it does look very classy in the daylight. And, honestly, it grew on me slowly.
I have no doubts that there are plenty of people that will love the color. The watch is limited to a total of 2,000 pieces and is available from August 2020 at a retail price of CHF 2,500. It makes it another very affordable addition to the Aquis Limited Edition line-up, and I’m sure the Hangang Limited Edition will find its way to enthusiasts quickly. And by doing so, you will support a good cause. And it’s another reason why I hope we will see more of the Aquis Limited Edition series soon. More information on the Oris Aquis Hangang Limited Edition can be found on Oris’ website here
