Oris Is Helping Save the Carysfort Coral Reef With Its Last Limited Edition Aquis

Oris has announced it will partner with the Coral Restoration Foundation’s (CRF) upcoming Raise the Reef gala. The event has been delayed nearly two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but CRF will commence its 8^th annual gala on Saturday 19^th of March in Key Largo, Florida.

As part of Oris’ long-standing partnership with CRF, the Carysfort Reef Limited Edition Aquis in Yellow Gold was specifically created to raise awareness and be auctioned at the non-profit’s annual Raise the Reef gala, which provides CRF a vast majority of their annual budget.

Originally released as a limited edition of 50 pieces and long since sold out. Specifically for the charity gala, CRF has received the first production piece, which is the lowest limited edition number (#02 of 50) available to the public. This 43.5mm timepiece is based on the iconic Oris Aquis model and is encased in solid 18-carat yellow gold. Furthermore, the caseback is also 18-carat yellow gold with a special reef motif. The watch is expected to fetch far more at auction than its original retail price of $19,000.

Oris’ nearly decade-long partnership with the Coral Restoration Foundation is part of the brand’s Change For The Better initiative.

"This partnership is central to our continuing mission to bring Change for the Better. 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."- Oris Co-CEO Rolf Studer.

The Carysfort Reef Limited Edition Aquis

The Oris Carysfort Reef Limited Edition is based on Oris’s high-performance Aquis diver's watch and features the same standard specifications, including water resistance to 300 metres. But it is the first Oris diver’s watch produced in solid 18-carat yellow gold – the case, bezel, crown and crown protectors are all made of the precious material. Its hands are yellow-gold-plated and filled with luminescent Super-LumiNova®, including the ‘lollipop’ central seconds hand.

The automatic mechanical watch has a GMT, or second time zone function, indicated by a central hand that makes a full tour of the dial once every 24 hours. A second time zone can be read off against a 24-hour chapter ring on the dial, while a laser-engraved 24-hour scale on the bi-directional rotating bezel can be used to indicate a third time zone. The bezel insert is made of scratch- and fade-resistant black and blue ceramic, designed to indicate day and night time for an additional time zone. The watch has a sapphire crystal over a gradient blue dial that darkens towards the edge, and a date window at 3 o’clock. The solid gold case back has a sapphire crystal inlay decorated with the limited edition number and a special motif celebrating Coral Restoration Foundation’s milestone of 30,000 corals planted. It’s set on a blue leather strap with a rubber coating, and each of the 50 pieces made will be presented in a special wooden box.