Jewellery & Watch News
It is pretty clear now that Oris have a strong commitment to protecting our world’s oceans and rivers and with their latest release, the Oris Aquis Lake Baikal Limited Edition, the Swiss watch manufacturer is reaching out to preserve the world’s largest source of freshwater, the Baikal.
Lake Baikal sits on the Siberian border, north of Mongolia, and is one of the world’s deepest and oldest freshwater lakes. It holds more than 20% of the world’s unfrozen fresh surface water reserves and is considered the seventh largest lake on the planet. It used to be one of the clearest bodies of water in the world too before increased industrial activity and unregulated tourism effected its clarity. Unfortunately, the pollution has caused algae to thrive within the water which consequently becomes toxic to aquatic life and reduces the amount of sunlight available to the lakebed.
In order to support the Point No. 1 conservation project run by the Scientific Research Institute of Biology at Irkutsk State University, Oris have partnered up with the Lake Baikal Foundation and unveiled the stunning new Oris Aquis Lake Baikal Limited Edition watch. It’s breathtaking icy blue-grey gradient dial resembles the lake’s own legendary crispness while the unique case back includes a special Lake Baikal insert which depicts the water when frozen. The case back is also detailed with the watch’s unique limited edition number and special engravings to honour the edition.
The 43.5mm stainless steel case of the Oris Aquis Lake Baikal Limited Edition is typical of other models within the Aquis collection, providing essential technologies for shallow diving including an integrated bracelet, screw in crown and blue ceramic unidirectional bezel with 60 minute scale. Unfortunately, you can’t dive to the very bottom of Lake Baikal with this watch, since the water is a whopping 1,600 meters deep at its furthest point! Nevertheless, the watch’s 300 metre water resistant rating gives you plenty of room for most other diving activities.
Hidden beneath the scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass and ocean blue dial, the Oris 733 automatic winding movement is hard at work powering the central hands for hours, minutes and seconds and date window at 6 o clock. The 25 jewelled Swiss made movement, based on the Sellita SW 200, promises 28,800 vibrations per hour and a power reserve of 38 hours. The functions are also beautifully highlighted by rhodium-plated hands filled with Super-LumiNova for easy legibility in the dark – or under the waves.
The Oris Aquis Lake Baikal watch is limited to only 1,999 pieces, an emblematic number as it is the same year Russia passed the Baikal law designed to help preserve the lake. The timepiece is currently available to pre-order at W Hamond today with a release date expected in February. Speak with our team of luxury watch specialists for more information on the limited edition and the free delivery and interest free finance available.
