Oris: Time for cleaner oceans

Dive watches are always part of a collection of any watch lover or connoisseur. But dive watches are taking on much greater relevance and collectability — even over a very limited production run of just 200 pieces.   

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This is the compelling reason behind the global campaign of independent Swiss watchmaker, Oris. With its Clean Ocean Trilogy of dive watches, Oris is expanding awareness for the urgent need to clean up our oceans and save our precious and irreplaceable marine life.

The Clean Ocean Trilogy is composed of the 39.5mm Oris Clean Ocean Limited Edition (which features a recycled plastic medallion in its case back), the 43.5mm Oris Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition III, and the recently unveiled 45.5mm Oris Blue Whale Limited Edition — the latter produced in only 200 pieces and is the first Oris Aquis watch with a 3, 6 and 9 chronograph dial layout. The Blue Whale Limited Edition can only be purchased as a box set with the other two watches and comes in a special presentation box made entirely of recycled plastic scraps that are arranged by hand and then pressed into a plastic panel. No two boxes are alike. 

While the first two watches — each limited to 2,000 pieces — focused on restoring coral reefs and cleaning the world’s waters, the Blue Whale Limited Edition turns to the plight of whales — in particular the world biggest animal, the magnificent blue whale.   

Despite decades of campaigning and protection, six out of 13 great whale species are classified as endangered. Over 1,000 whales are killed every year for commercial purposes, despite a moratorium on commercial whaling and a ban on international trade on whaling products. It is now thought that there are now as few as 10,000 blue whales, which live for up to 90 years, left in the oceans. 

“We’ve been very intentional about our mission to bring change for the better,” says Oris co-chief executive Rolf Studer. “The environmental changes the world faces are real, and we believe that both individuals and corporate entities have a responsibility to overcome them. The Blue Whale Limited Edition is a very special watch, produced in unusually small quantities for Oris, and the prefect symbol of the dangers facing the blue whale. We’re extremely proud to be working with Whale and Dolphin Conservation and look forward to seeing the change our partnership will bring.”    

The Oris Blue Whale Limited Edition supports WDC’s work. Based on the Oris Aquis diver’s watch, it has a 45.5mm stainless steel case water-resistant to 50 bar (500 meters), an aqua blue ceramic bezel, and a graduated aqua blue dial. Inside it is an automatic Swiss-made chronograph movement, powering the first-ever Aquis 3, 6 and 9 chronograph dial layout. The case back carries an embossed blue whale and the limited edition number.

The Clean Ocean Trilogy may come in just very limited numbers, but Oris, together with the many watch lovers and connoisseurs worldwide, can only make a huge and enduring impact in spreading the word about the importance of protecting our waters and saving marine life, for this generation and the generations to come.       

Check out the Oris Pop-Up Store at The Gallery, Greenbelt 5 in Makati today and tomorrow (July 20 and 21).