Oris returns to its ocean conservation initiatives with the Aquis Date Kelp Forest Limited Edition, a 1,000-piece edition of its dive watch inspired by the underwater ecosystems formed by giant kelp.
Developed in collaboration with award-winning underwater photographer and long-time Oris ambassador Francis Pérez, the watch draws attention to the decline of kelp forests, which play an important role in marine biodiversity, carbon absorption and the production of oxygen.
Found in temperate and cold waters around the world, kelp forests provide food and shelter for fish, invertebrates and marine mammals.
They also absorb carbon and contribute to the ocean’s role in regulating the global climate. However, rising sea temperatures and commercial harvesting have placed these ecosystems under increasing pressure. Pérez, who has spent more than 25 years photographing the underwater world, has witnessed their decline and encouraged Oris to bring greater attention to the issue through a dedicated timepiece.
The watch is based on the Aquis Date 41.50 mm and retains the collection’s established dive-watch architecture. Its multi-piece stainless steel case measures 41.50 mm in diameter, 12.90 mm in thickness and 49 mm from lug to lug.
The case is fitted with a unidirectional rotating bezel featuring a green ceramic insert with a minutes scale, while a screw-in stainless steel security crown with protective shoulders helps ensure water resistance to 30 bar, equivalent to 300 metres or 1,000 feet.
The defining feature is the ocean-green dial, whose textured surface evokes kelp swaying in underwater currents. Created using a 3D-printed finish, it combines green and golden tones that vary with the light.
The hands and applied hour markers are filled with Super-LumiNova, with golden outlines complementing the dial’s colour palette. A date window is positioned at 6 o’clock.
A domed sapphire crystal, curved on both sides and treated with anti-reflective coating on the inside, protects the dial.
The screw-secured stainless steel case back features special engravings inspired by kelp forests and identifies each watch as part of the limited edition.
The watch is fitted with a multi-piece stainless steel bracelet with three-link construction and alternating brushed and polished surfaces.
It has a 22 mm lug width and is secured by a folding clasp incorporating quick-adjust and quick-change systems for easier sizing and bracelet removal.
Powering the Kelp Forest Limited Edition is the automatic Oris Calibre 733-1. The Swiss-made movement provides central hours, minutes and seconds, together with an instantaneous date display, date corrector, fine timing adjustment and stop-seconds function.
It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4 Hz, and offers a power reserve of 41 hours.
The Oris Aquis Date Kelp Forest Limited Edition, reference 01 733 7787 4187-Set, is priced at CHF 2,450 / €2,450 / US$2,950.
With this edition, Oris continues its broader commitment to ocean conservation, using the familiar format of a professional dive watch to draw attention to an ecosystem whose decline has consequences for marine life and the global climate. oris.ch
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