The new Oris Aquis Date Taste of Summer duo is mouthwatering and watermelon-evoking
Buffy Acacia- Just in time for summer, Oris equip its latest Aquis releases with two new vibrant dial colours.
- The bright dials remain lively with the addition of white ceramic bezels.
- Rather than using the in-house Calibre 400, the Aquis Date keeps with Oris’ older Sellita-derived 733.
While some of us in the Melbourne office continue to freeze, summer for the Northern Hemisphere is approaching fast. Oris is no stranger to exuberant watch dials, so this time of year seems like the perfect time to drop two new mouthwatering references of it’s most popular dive watch. With bright, popping dials and crisp white bezels, the Oris Aquis Date Taste of Summer collection is ready to hit the beach.
It’s funny how the “summer watch” has almost become a sub-genre in its own right, transcending the categories of dive, field, or dress watches. It’s more about the vibe, and it usually rocks a vivid colour to stand out against golden sands and blue skies. Being a dive watch with 300 metres of water resistance, the Oris Aquis Date is already suitable for ocean plunges. Adding the decorative elements just gives it that flavourful punch which begs to be worn with shorts. The recently updated 41.5mm stainless steel case has a fairly masculine presence to it, especially with those stocky crown guards, but the 48mm lug-to-lug length helps to tame that for smaller-to-average wrists. It’s 12.9mm thick, which isn’t too big at all considering the automatic winding and high water resistance. It also boasts an exhibition caseback, however that’s made from mineral glass as opposed to the sapphire with anti-reflective coating that serves as the main crystal.
The dial colours Oris has chosen are borrowed from the classic watermelon duo of green and red, but they’re so vibrant that they’re almost cartoonish. The sunburst brushing offers an intense gradient of hues, from the almost-neon lime green to a more subdued kiwi. There’s also a subtle ring of dark green around the dial’s perimeter, adding a layer of smokiness. The same goes for the red dial, with tones ranging from candy apple to burgundy. Paired with both of these references is a white ceramic bezel insert with colour-matched markings. The contrast is so immense that it almost looks luminous without needing any lume, and the white is like a blast of cool air on a hot day. The symmetry of the date window at 6 o’clock is eternally pleasing, while the rounded markers and hands of the Oris Aquis’ design are characterful without being distracting.
Behind that mineral glass caseback is the Oris calibre 733, which is based on the Sellita SW200-1. It definitely doesn’t have the status of the in-house Oris calibre 400, but it is still a solid movement and it’s about half the price. The power reserve is approximately 41 hours with a 4Hz beat rate, providing a nice smooth sweep to the seconds hand. The integrated-style stainless steel bracelet is fitted with a quick-adjust clasp for extending it in hot weather, and the whole bracelet can also quickly be exchanged with an Oris rubber strap.
Oris Aquis Date Taste of Summer pricing and availability
The Oris Aquis Date Taste of Summer collection will be available from May 2024. Price: CHF 2,400
| Brand | Oris |
| Model | Aquis Date |
| Case Dimensions | 41.5mm (D) x 12.9mm (T) x 48mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 300 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front, mineral glass caseback |
| Dial | Green or red sunburst |
| Bracelet | Stainless steel with quick-adjust clasp |
| Movement | Oris 733, automatic, Sellita SW200-1 base |
| Power Reserve | 38 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Availability | Available from May 2024 |
| Price | CHF 2,400 |