Oris Aquis Date – 52Mondayz, week #24

Last week we received the Oris Aquis Date divers watch in for review. Spot on to be my 52Mondayz watch for this week, as this week I will attend an event which includes diving.

Oris Aquis Date – 52Mondayz, week #24

The Oris Aquis was slightly redesigned and presented at this year’s Baselworld. Compared to the previous Aquis model (you’ll find our review here), the new Aquis is somewhat more refined in its appearance.

The redesign of an already attractive watch

The crown guard and lugs have become more softened, as well the hands got a somewhat more distinct appearance. The bezel inlay became brushed from glossy ceramic. All in all small changes which affect the appearance of the watch towards more gentle. While still very much remaining the sturdy and robust tool watch a divers watch should be.

An Oris Aquis is an obvious diver. However, what I like so much about the watch is that it’s not another look-alike of the Rolex Submariner. Of course it has a black dial with white hands and indexes, and a black rotating bezel. But the shape of everything about the watch is so personal that it is unmistakably an Oris Aquis.

With a case diameter of 43,5 mm the Oris Aquis Date is quite present on the wrist. Certainly on a stainless steel bracelet. Probably the short lugs make that it’s not overly present. On my moderate 18 cm wrist, it fits very well.

The stainless steel bracelet

Coming back to the stainless steel bracelet: it seems very solid and is beautifully finished with some nice details. The the upper side of the side links of the bracelet are polished. Just like the top side of the lugs, and even the upper side of the crown guard and the bezel are polished. Very well thought about. The folding clasp closes with a firm and secure click, hold by two pins at the inside. Pushing the two side buttons of the clasp opens it again.

There are 5 removable full-size links in the bracelet, plus 2 half size ones. As well there are 3 holes in the clasp to fine adjust the length of the bracelet. I’m sure these very flexible adjustment possibilities will make it fit to any size or shape of wrist. Removing links is adequately done by little screws. An in- and out-folding diving extension (for a 3 mm diving suit I guess) finishes the high quality bracelet.

Finish and design

Further on finishing: the sides of the watch casing are brushed, as are the sides of the bracelet and the centre links. The sides of the crown guard and the folding clasp are brushed as well, it is all very well-balanced. And all adding to the feeling that this watch is something serious.

What I like and mentioned about the design and form of the casing, is that it’s cone shaped. From the case back upwards the casing gets narrower. Just up to the rotating bezel, which is the same diameter again as the case back. This is an awesome way to ease grabbing of the rotating bezel, without making it larger than the diameter of the watch itself. I’ll try to catch that in the pictures.

Oris Caliber 733 automatic movement

Oris wouldn’t be Oris if there’s no mechanical movement inside. Which is of course the case with the automatic Oris 733 caliber, based on the Sellita SW 200-1S. To me it is a bit strange for a diving watch (mind you the watch is rated 300 meters), but this movement can be admired through a transparent caseback. For Oris probably adequate as the visible red rotor is part of their design strategy.

Further specifications and price

The Oris Aquis Date has a domed sapphire crystal which is two-sided anti-reflective. Of course, the grippy crown of this watch has a screw down construction. The luminous material used on the hands and indexes glows bluish under low light conditions and is named Super-LumiNova BG W9.

The Oris reference number of this watch is, and I kid you not, 01 733 7730 4154-07 8 24 05PEB. The price for the watch I’m wearing this week is € 1.800,= (including VAT) while a version with rubber or leather strap is available at € 1.600,=. In total the Oris Aquis is available in no less than 99 variations, you’ll find them all at the Oris website here.