Closer Look at The Oris Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun Limited Edition

Oris assists the Changjian Conservation Foundation in reversing the plight of the severely endangered Yangtze finless porpoise.

Oris

The Oris Aquis Date line debuted in 2011, targeting both professional divers and anyone seeking a durable sports watch. The Aquis Date, distinguished by its proficient diving capabilities and sturdy construction, exemplifies Oris' more technological and modern approach, in contrast to the vintage-inspired Divers Sixty-Five collection. The current Aquis Date, having undergone redesigns over the years, collaborates with the Chinese Changjiang Conservation Foundation to aid in the conservation of the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise.

Oris has created a robust track record of aquatic and marine conservation projects through its “Change for the Better” program. Special Aquis editions focused on marine and coral conservation, the rehabilitation of harbours, rivers, and lakes, the elimination of plastic from ocean waters, and the utilisation of upcycled PET plastics underscore Oris’ genuine dedication to environmental stewardship.

The Yangtze finless porpoise, known as jiangtun in Mandarin, is specifically adapted to the Yangtze River system, the longest river in China and the third longest globally. Subsequent to the extinction of the Baiji dolphin, attributed to overfishing, water and noise pollution, habitat degradation, and maritime activities, a 2017 investigation projected that merely 1,012 individuals of the Yangtze finless porpoise persisted. The Chinese porpoise, recognised for its captivating smile and intellect, may share the same destiny as the Baiji dolphin and is classified as "critically endangered" by the WWF. In collaboration with the Changjiang Conservation Foundation (CCF), which has contributed to raising the population to 1,249—partially by engaging fishermen to monitor the river—Oris will gift eight watches to the CCF. The charity will auction them on March 21 and allocate the earnings to the continued conservation of finless porpoises.

The chosen model for the collaboration is the 300m water-resistant Aquis Date 43.5mm reference, which includes distinctive features that reflect the environment of the finless porpoise. The dial is composed of mother-of-pearl, a natural substance characterised by its iridescent lustre, which develops within specific mollusc shells. The inherent iridescence of mother-of-pearl, highlighted in a bluish-green hue, captures and reflects light akin to the surface of the Yangtze River. Despite its delicacy and brittleness, Oris has imprinted a wave pattern on the dial that mimics the sound waves produced by the finless porpoise's high-frequency ultrasonic clicks, utilised for echolocation and social communication.

On the opposing side, an engraving of a Yangtze finless porpoise gliding across a rippling stream presents its captivating smile. The figure 1,249 is emblematic, signifying both the contemporary population of porpoises and the quantity of Aquis Date models manufactured in its designation. The Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun has been recently enhanced with shorter, more ergonomic lugs, a narrower case profile of 13.1mm, and a reconfigured tapering steel band. Its somewhat thinner unidirectional rotating bezel now has a dark grey tungsten insert in place of the previous ceramic insert.

In alignment with the recent design modifications (implemented on the 43.5mm, 41.5mm, and 36.5mm models), the shield-shaped, lume-filled hour markers and Alpha hour and minute hands exhibit more defined contours, and a new typeface has been adopted for the dial inscriptions. One aspect that contradicts the new enhancement is the white backdrop of the date window.

The authentic diving companion features a screw-down crown with tapered guards, while the screw-down caseback safeguards the automatic Oris calibre 733 (based on Sellita SW200-1), which operates at a frequency of 4Hz, offers a 41-hour power reserve, and includes hacking seconds. The Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun, a limited edition of 1,249 pieces, is priced at CHF 2,550. Further information is available at oris.ch.