A new year for Oris means a new watch to fight for our endangered oceans and in 2020, we are treated to the remarkable Oris Aquis Carysfort Reef Limited Edition. The solid 18 carat yellow gold GMT watch has been designed in partnership with the Coral Restoration Foundation, this time raising funds for Florida’s Carysfort Reef.
Carysfort is considered one of the world’s most iconic coral reefs of its kind, forming part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary which makes up the third largest barrier reef in the world and the only one in the United States. Unfortunately, over the last 40 to 50 years, the reef has become severely degraded with coral populations declining by around 98%. This is extremely worrying for experts in the field, since despite coral reefs covering just 1% of the Earth’s surface, they support at least 25% of all marine species and produce 70% of the world’s oxygen.
“Climate change is the biggest threat to coral reefs around the world,” says Martha Roesler, Coral Restoration Foundation’s Chief Development Officer. “It’s impacting our oceans through the increase of sea surface temperatures, increasing ocean acidification, sea-level rise, changes in storm patterns, changes in precipitation, and altered ocean currents. Coral reefs are now experiencing higher ocean temperatures and acidity than at any time in the last 400,000 years. But the reefs in the Keys have also experienced decades of local stressors – things which we can control.”
The Coral Restoration Foundation has been working to restore Carysfort Reef since 2014 and has already made significant strides towards securing its future. So far, the foundation has already returned nearly 25,000 corals to the reef, a figure that will rise to at least 30,000 by the end of 2020. This remarkable achievement is helped by the release of the Oris Aquis Carysfort Reef Limited Edition watch as it raises both money and awareness for the project. The independent Swiss watch manufacturer will also be donating three of the watches from the run of 50 limited edition pieces to the non-profit organisation. They are expected to auction numbers 02/50, 03/50 and 04/50 at a series of events this spring.
The Oris Aquis Carysfort Reef Limited Edition watch is not only making waves for its efforts in coral reef preservation, but its 18 carat yellow gold case is the first of its kind within the iconic Oris Aquis diving collection. The 43.5mm case is complemented by a solid 18 carat yellow gold bezel, screw in crown and screw down case back. The bezel also features a black and blue ceramic insert laser engraved with a 24 hour scale to help provide three time zones simultaneously. To pair with the breathtaking yellow gold aesthetic, the stunning ocean blue dial is decorated with matching yellow gold Superluminova hour and minute hands alongside a ‘lollipop’ central seconds hand.
The 300 metre water resistant timepiece continues to impress with scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass housing the dial, treated with anti-reflective coating for easy legibility. The solid gold case back also helps ensure its water resistant rating and features a stunning decoration of the limited edition number motif celebrating the Coral Restoration Foundation’s milestone of 30,000 corals planted. Hidden behind the case back is the Oris 798 automatic winding movement which provides central hands for hours, minutes seconds and GMT, a date window at 3 o clock and a power reserve of 42 hours.
“This partnership is central to our continuing mission to bring Change for the Better,’ says Oris Co-CEO Rolf Studer. “Through the Oris Carysfort Reef Limited Edition, we’re really stepping up our ambitions and our contribution to returning the world’s corals to their original state. It’s a hugely important project and we’re excited by everything Coral Restoration Foundation is achieving through it.”
The Oris Aquis Carysfort Reef Limited Edition watch is completed by a blue leather strap with a rubber coating and an 18 carat yellow gold pin buckle. Each of its 50 limited edition pieces will also be presented in a special wooden box.
Retailing at £14,500, the timepiece may not be for everyone but if you are still interested in owning your own Carysfort Reef Limited Edition and supporting the cause, keep your eyes peeled as Oris will be producing a steel variation of the timepiece at a much more affordable price later this year! For those wanting to be part of history, you can order the first ever solid gold Oris Aquis watch at Jura Watches with free delivery and interest free finance options available.
Specifications: Oris Aquis Carysfort Reef Limited Edition Watch (01 798 7754 6185-Set)
- Case Size: 43.5mm
- Case Material: 18 carat yellow gold
- Bezel: Bidirectional, black ceramic insert with 24 hour scale
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Screw down with special coral reef engraving
- Water Resistance: 300 metres
- Movement: Oris 798 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, date
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Jewels: 28
- Vibrations: 28,800vph
- Dial: Blue with Superluminova hands and indexes
- Strap: Blue leather with rubber coating
- Buckle: 18 carat yellow gold pin buckle
- Limited Edition: 50 pieces
- RRP: £14,500
