Over the past decade, Oris, a maker of superbly engineered dive watches, has focused its efforts on marine conservation and the circular economy, releasing limited-edition watches that help put a spotlight on advocacy organisations.
One such release was the Oris Aquis Clean Ocean Limited Edition, which incorporates PET Plastic recovered from the ocean as part of its partnership with Everwave (formerly Pacific Garbage Screening), a German organisation that constructs floating platforms to collect plastics and microplastics out of the world’s oceans.
This year, the brand has followed up with the Oris Aquis Date Upcycle. Available in both 41.5mm and 36.5mm, the watch features a kaleidoscopic dial made from recycled PET plastic. Short for its chemical name “polyethylene terephthalate”, PET is a highly recyclable plastic often used in plastic bottles. The process of re-heating and re-moulding these plastic bottles results in a distinctive pattern that will be unique to each dial, making these professionally specced dive watches as special and striking as they are a heartening reminder of the small part you played in making the ocean a better place.
Doing good for the world aside, you can choose a dial that appeals to you aesthetically since the resulting pattern can differ wildly in terms of look and feel. The versions shown above via images from Oris have a kind of tie dye feel, whereas this one below, that I was able to see in person looks like a view of the earth from space.
Beyond the dials, both watches are based on the standard Aquis Date 41.5mm and 36.5mm models. The fact that these watches are available in two sizes make them a great option as a his-and-hers watch.
Rendered in steel, the cases are depth rated to 300m and are topped by a domed sapphire crystal. The scratch-resistant ceramic bezel insert is in a muted grey colour and doesn’t detract from the complex pattern of the dial. Inside is the automatic Oris 733 calibre, which is based on the workhorse Sellita SW-200-1.
Additionally, to reflect the conservation theme, each watch is delivered in a special presentation box created in collaboration with Tide Ocean Material, an upcycling company based in Basel, Switzerland that transforms polluting plastic debris that once littered the seas into high-quality plastic granules.
Oris’ comprehensive strive for change over the last decade has been truly commendable, and there’s nothing like a dive watch with an added dimension of meaning that universalises and reaches far beyond its intended purpose.
Reference: 01 733 7766 4150-Set and 01 733 7770 4150-Set
Case: 41.5 mm or 36.5 mm stainless steel case, unidirectional rotating bezel with grey ceramic insert, water-resistant to 300 m
Strap: stainless steel metal bracelet with folding clasp with extension
Movement: Self-winding Oris 733
Functions: Time with hacking seconds; date with quick setting
Power Reserve: 38 Hours
Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
Limited Edition: No
Price: CHF 2,100