Oris Aquis

The independent Swiss watch company Oris has been making high-quality watches at affordable prices for more than 100 years. Their diving watches, in particular, have a very good reputation. Oris released their first diving watch back in 1965. Since then they have continued to work with renowned professional and free divers to improve their watches.

A result of this cooperation is the Aquis collection introduced in 2011. It combines modern designs with well thought out functions that are attractive both underwater and on dry land. The collection includes classic diving watches with date displays, regulators, and chronographs, as well as models with unique depth gauges. In addition, there are numerous limited editions, most of which are dedicated to protecting our oceans.

One of the collection's most popular models is the Aquis Date, which has a water resistance of 300 m (30 bar). As with every Aquis model, it is very apparent at first glance that the Aquis Date is a genuine diving watch – a characteristic that sets it apart from other watches in this category. The current version's 43.5-mm case feels both powerful and elegant simultaneously. The unidirectional ceramic bezel with a minute scale and the screw-down crown contribute to this overall feel.

The dial of this three-hand watch appears tidy and is well protected by sapphire glass that is domed on both sides. Thanks to the layer of SuperLuminova on the hands and indices, it is easy to read the time even in darkness. A date display at 6 o'clock rounds off the package. The Oris caliber 733, based on the SW 200-1, ticks inside this timepiece and has a 38-hour power reserve. The movement and the famous Oris Red Rotor can be viewed through the see-through mineral glass case back.

You can purchase a modern Aquis Date with a black dial and stainless steel bracelet for around 1,400 euros. More striking models with a black DLC layer, black rubber strap, and dark yellow SuperLuminova cost about 1,250 euros.

The Aquis Date Small Second is a good 2 mm larger than the Aquis Date and is water resistant to 500 m (50 bar). It features a date display and small seconds dial at 9 o'clock thanks to its use of the Oris caliber 743 based on the SW 220-1. Oris also offers this timepiece in a variety of dial and SuperLuminova colors. Plan to spend around 1,300 euros for an Aquis Date Small Second with a black dial and orange SuperLuminova on the hands.

The 36-mm Aquis Date women's models are somewhat more affordable. Some can even be found for just over 1,000 euros. If you're looking for something a bit more regal, take a look at the models from the Aquis Date Diamonds collection. As the name suggests, these watches are embellished with diamonds. Prices here range from 1,550 euros to almost 3,000 euros depending on the number of diamonds.

The Aquis Depth Gauge is a truly unique watch. It is the first and, to date, only diving watch with a depth gauge that uses water to make measurements. Oris looked to the Boyle-Mariotte Law that states that the volume of air decreases as pressure increases. A thin groove with a small opening on one end is cut around the edge of its crystal. When submerged in water, the air in the groove is compressed by the increased pressure, allowing water to flow in. The depth can be determined by seeing where on the scale the air and water meet.

The 46-mm stainless steel case is water resistant to 500 m (50 bar). It is also equipped with a unidirectional bezel and sapphire glass that is anti-reflective and domed on both sides. The three hands and the date at 6 o'clock are powered by the SW 200-1-based Oris caliber 733. A generous layer of SuperLuminova on the hands and indices guarantee readability even in darkness.

The price for an Aquis Depth Gauge with a black DLC layer, Wolfram bezel, and yellow rubber strap sits around 1,990 euros.

Oris also offers the Aquis Depth Gauge as a chronograph. The Oris caliber 774, based on the SW 500, powers this 48-mm watch. The caliber features a small seconds dial at 9 o'clock, a 30-minute counter at 12 o'clock, and a 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock. A unidirectional ceramic bezel and the patented depth gauge are also present. The price for an Aquis Depth Gauge Chronograph sits around 3,300 euros.

Oris has revived "der Meistertaucher" with the Aquis Regulateur. What makes this watch so special is its regulator display. This means that the minutes are shown on the main dial, while the hours and seconds are relegated to two subdials. This may seem like a strange means of displaying the time, but it is very useful for divers who need to keep close track of minutes while diving.

With sizes up to 49 mm, the earlier designs of "der Meistertaucher" could be quite imposing. By contrast, the current models feel relatively compact at only 43.5 mm. Their titanium case is water resistant to 300 m (30 bar) and contains the Oris caliber 749 based on the SW 220-1. This caliber has a 38-hour power reserve and includes a small seconds dial at 9 o'clock, a small hours dial at 3 o'clock, and the date at 6 o'clock.

Be prepared to spend about 2,100 euros for a current model of the Aquis Regulateur "Der Meistertauchter".

Oris has been dedicating themselves to environmental protection for years. As providers of diving watches, saving our oceans is especially important to the Swiss company. This is why Oris currently has several limited editions in their catalog that grew from cooperation with numerous environmental protection groups.

The Aquis Hammerhead Limited Edition is one such watch. Oris developed it to show their support of French documentary filmmaker Jérôme Delafosse and the non-profit organization Pelagios Kakunja in their fight to stop sharks from going extinct. This 45.5-mm stainless steel watch had a limited run of only 2,000 pieces. It is water resistant to 500 m (50 bar) and features a unidirectional bezel. The  anti-reflective sapphire glass is domed on both sides and the dial shimmers in various shades of gray and blue. The large day and date display at 3 o'clock, the blue second hand, and the hammerhead shark engraved on the stainless steel case back are nice additional touches. It's powered by the Oris caliber 752 based on the SW 220-1. You can purchase an Aquis Hammerhead Limited Edition starting at around 1,700 euros.

The Aquis Staghorn Restoration Limited Edition is also limited to 2,000 pieces and is dedicated to the endangered staghorn coral. The Oris caliber 735, based on the SW 220-1, powers not only its three hands, but also the day and date displays. The window for the date is located at 6 o'clock, while the day is displayed using a central ring. The second hand, date, weekday display, and part of the minute scale on the unidirectional bezel are all bright orange, which contrasts nicely with the shimmering blue dial. This watch also features an engraving of staghorn coral on the back of its stainless steel case and is water resistant to 300 m (30 bar). Be prepared to spend 1,800 euros for an Aquis Staghorn Restoration Limited Edition.

The black Aquis El Hierro Limited Edition is inspired by an underwater volcano off the cost of the island El Hierro. Its 43-mm stainless steel case is covered with a layer of DLC and shines with the same tone of black found on the dial and ceramic bezel. Even the hour and minute hands, as well as the indices, are in a muted gray. Only the second hand and a part of the minute scale on the bezel are accented in red. The DLC-coated case back also contains an engraving of its namesake underwater volcano. If you're interested in owning one of these watches from a limited run of 2,000 pieces, plan to spend around 1,500 euros.