Text size With the launch of the Blue Whale Limited Edition, Oris completes its Ocean Trilogy of Aquis dive watches with proceeds benefiting various marine conservation efforts. Limited to 200 pieces, the Blue Whale kicks off Oris’ new partnership with Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), which has funded research and conservation efforts for three decades. The 45.5mm stainless steel chronograph features a gradated blue dial with chrono counters positioned at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, making it the first Aquis with that dial layout. There is also a date window between 4 and 5 o’clock, instantaneous date, and date corrector. The automatic Swiss-made movement has a power reserve of 48 hours, and the hefty case is water-resistant down to 50 bar, or 500 meters, with a ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel for tracking elapsing dive times. On the case back, an embossed image of a blue whale and the model name and number distinguish it as a limited edition. The Blue Whale Limited Edition is dedicated to protecting the world’s largest animal, which is an endangered species with an estimated population of only 10,000 to 25,000 according to WDC. Though commercial whaling has ceased, the blue whale remains threatened by fishing nets, environmental changes that lead to habitat loss, and the noise created by anthropogenic activities. WDC works to combat these threats around the world. “We work globally through campaigns, lobbying, advising governments, conservation projects, field research, rescue, education, and much more,” said Fabian Ritter, a marine biologist at WDC’s German office, in a news release. “Blue whales are iconic animals and a symbol of the plight of our planet. You could say that saving blue whales for the long-term would give us hope.” Oris rolled out the first two pieces of the trilogy at Baselworld in March. Each limited to 2,000 pieces, the Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition III benefits Reef Restoration Foundation and the Clean Ocean Limited Edition supports Pacific Garbage Screening. With only 200 pieces, the final Blue Whale model is exclusively available in a boxed set of the three watches (US$10,500 for the three-piece set), and a portion of the proceeds will go to charity. The watches come packaged in a special presentation box made of recycled PET plastic derived from used plastic bottles shredded into small pieces and arranged by hand before they are pressed into the unique panels that form the outer shell of the box. “We’ve been very intentional about our mission to bring change for the better,” said Oris co-chief executive Rolf Studer in a news release. “The environmental challenges the world faces are real, and we believe that both individuals and corporate entities have a responsibility to overcome them.”
Oris has launched a dive watch, sales of which will help support blue whale conservation efforts. As part of a collaboration with Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the company will offer two Blue Whale Limited Edition pieces, with a portion of the sales going to the charity. The model completes Oris' Ocean Trilogy of watches developed in combination with conservation initiatives. It follows the Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition III and the Clean Ocean Limited Edition. The blue whale model is exclusively available in a boxed set with the other 200 watches, and costs $10,500.