A New Oris Aquis – The Oris Source of Life Limited Edition

The Aquis is a bread and butter piece for Oris. A popular divers watch with a great price-quality ratio and aesthetics that are very likable by a large audience. Of the 12 different Aquis models (each with several different executions, with a total of 57 including 6 for ladies), 6 models are designated as ‘limited edition’. A quick look in their catalog learns me that of the 57 different Aquis models, 10 watches are limited editions., each around 2000 pieces only. That’s about 20.000 limited edition Aquis watches, from their bread and butter collection. There is no official number on the total annual production of Oris, but 20.000 watches is very substantial for them. Is that a bad thing? It sells, for starters. And it also gives a brand the opportunity to a) do something nice with a new color scheme or specific strap and b) support a good cause.

However, a limited edition or unlimited  (or limited by production), it not very important in my opinion. You either like a watch or you don’t, but the only thing that can be annoying about a limited edition is the fact that you missed it. The fact that it is a limited edition doesn’t effect my judgement about the watch itself to be honest. However, and that must be said, if there are (almost) more limited editions than normal editions, it makes no sense anymore. However, with the estimated production number of Oris (undisclosed, but I think I have a pretty good idea) I am pretty sure it is not the case.

So, let’s have a look at this Aquis and its cause. The specficiations of the Aquis are similar to the regular models. A caliber 733 automatic movement, 43mm case diameter and made of stainless steel. Available on a rubber strap as well as on a heavy duty stainless steel bracelet. A good in-depth review on the Aquis can be found here and here.

With this Aquis, Oris wants to bring something to the attention of consumers (like they did here and here), but this time without supporting a specific organization or foundation. It is about the source of life, namely water. This Aquis has a special focus on the River Rhine. This river, with a length of 1233KM that starts at the Tomasee (a lake in the Swiss Alps) and ends in the North Sea. The case back of this Aquis Source of Life limited edition shows the path of the River Rhine. This river also runs close to the village of Hölstein, where Oris has been located since 1904. Fun fact: A nearby brook that feeds into the Rhine is called Orisbach.

Limited to 2343 pieces. That has nothing to do with the length of the river indeed, but with the height of the lake where the Rhine originates.

The dial of the Oris Source of Life edition is perhaps the most special feature (or difference compared to the other Aquis watches), the color is blue grey and inspired by the fresh water at the River Rhine’s source. I am happy that they choose for that color and not for the color that it has at the end of river before it ends up in the North Sea. Jokes aside, this Oris Aquis is quite a looker on the images we received from them. We will probably see the prototype (or final) product in BaselWorld in two weeks from now, and make sure to get some ‘real life’ images.

Specifications

• Automatic movement Oris Cal. 733, based on Sellita SW 200-1, date indicated by a white indicator visible through a circular aperture running around the dial
• Multi-piece stainless steel case with screw-in security crown and crown protection, water-resistant to 30 bar/300 m
• Diver’s uni-directional rotating bezel with Tungsten inlay with 60-minute timer scale and zero marker filled with Super-LumiNova®
• Sapphire crystal domed on both sides with anti-reflective coating inside
• Screwed stainless steel case back with embossed map of the River Rhine
  and engraved limited edition number
• Blue grey dial with applied indices filled with Super-LumiNova®. Nickel
  hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova®. Nickel seconds hand
  with ‘lollipop’ insert filled with Super-LumiNova®
• Grey rubber strap with Oris-developed safety anchor and quick-adjust,
  sliding-sledge folding clasp with extension. Alternatively available with
  stainless steel bracelet with extension
• Special presentation box with an insignia on the inside featuring map of
  the River Rhine

The Swiss retail price for the Oris Source of Life limited edition Aquis model (reference 01 733 7730 4125 MB) is CHF 2,100 on a rubber strap, CHF 2,300 on a stainless steel bracelet. This watch will be available in the Summer of 2018. We will try to get one for review, for sure.

More information via Oris official website.