Oris Aquis: The Flagship Dive Watch Collection

The Aquis is Oris's primary dive watch collection and the model most associated with the brand's environmental partnerships. Introduced in 2013 and significantly upgraded with Calibre 400 in 2021, the Aquis established Oris as a credible alternative to heritage dive brands at a fraction of conglomerate-brand prices — while using the platform to fund ocean conservation causes.

Introduction and Design — 2013

The Aquis launched at Baselworld 2013 as a replacement for the TT1 diver and a consolidation of Oris's dive watch offering. The original Aquis Date measured 43.5mm in diameter with a 13mm case thickness — substantial dimensions that positioned it in the larger sport watch segment.

Core specifications established at launch: 300 metres water resistance , unidirectional rotating bezel with a 60-minute scale, screw-down crown at 3 o'clock, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, and a bracelet with a folding clasp incorporating a wetsuit extension — allowing the bracelet to expand over a 7mm neoprene diving suit without tools. The inner bezel ring (visible through the crystal) rotates in sync with the external bezel, providing a secondary elapsed time indicator readable from the dial side.

The first movements were ETA-sourced automatics. The Aquis Date (with date window at 3 o'clock) and Aquis (no date) were the primary references.

Aquis Depth Gauge — 2013

At the same launch, Oris introduced the Aquis Depth Gauge — a technically distinctive variant with a functional capillary depth gauge built into the crystal. A narrow channel runs around the circumference of the crystal; as the diver descends, water pressure forces air along the channel, and the air–water boundary indicates current depth on a scale printed on the inner bezel ring.

The capillary system requires no electronics, no battery, and no mechanical linkage to the depth-sensing element — it works on direct pressure physics. The Aquis Depth Gauge remains one of the few mechanical depth gauges in production watches at any price point, and it represents genuine technical ingenuity in a segment typically dominated by aesthetic differentiation.

Aquis Date Upcycle — Ocean Plastic Dials

In 2021, Oris launched the Aquis Date Upcycle , incorporating dials manufactured from recycled ocean plastic — specifically, PET recovered from ocean waste. The recycled plastic is processed into dial material with a distinctive, slightly variegated appearance: no two dials are precisely identical due to the mixed-source material. Colors available include blue, green, and grey variants.

The Upcycle represents a concrete application of Oris's "Change for the Better" environmental philosophy: the watch itself is made partly from marine pollution. The initiative was accompanied by partnerships with ocean cleanup organisations. The Upcycle dials have a characteristic texture — slightly more textured than conventional lacquered dials — that became a talking point and was perceived as authentic differentiation rather than greenwashing.

Calibre 400 Upgrade — 2020–2021

The most significant technical development in Aquis history was the introduction of Calibre 400 across the collection from 2020 to 2021. Cal. 400 is Oris's first entirely in-house automatic movement, developed over several years in Hölstein:

The 10-year service interval claim is unusual in the industry — most Swiss manufacturers recommend 3-5 year intervals. Oris backs the claim with a transparent service cost structure and extended warranty.

The Calibre 401 (with date), 403 (with GMT), and Calibre 111 (ProPilot variant) are derivatives of the same base architecture. The Aquis Date Cal. 400 became the range's headline offering.

Aquis GMT and Sport Variants

The Aquis GMT (launched 2021 with Cal. 400-derived Cal. 403) added a 24-hour GMT hand and bidirectional rotating bezel with a 24-hour scale — allowing simultaneous reading of three time zones. The case grew to 43.5mm with a thicker profile to accommodate the GMT module.

The Aquis Date Relief featured a textured wave-pattern dial evoking water surface — a design that proved popular and was extended to multiple colorways. The Aquis Clipperton Island (2021) and Aquis Great Barrier Reef editions fund specific conservation projects in named locations. Each limited edition is numerically restricted and accompanied by a donation to the named environmental cause.

Ocean Conservation Limited Editions

The Aquis platform has hosted the most extensive series of conservation-linked limited editions of any current production dive watch. Principal editions include:

• Aquis Clean Ocean — in partnership with the Clean Ocean Project, featuring dials with embedded ocean plastic
• Aquis Great Barrier Reef III — supporting the Reef Restoration Foundation, coral-pink accents
• Aquis Coral Restauration Foundation — funding coral propagation in the Florida Keys
• Aquis Hangang Limited Edition — partnered with Seoul's Hangang River restoration project
• Aquis Clipperton Island Limited Edition — supporting a French scientific research station

Each edition is limited to 2,000 pieces or fewer. The pattern distinguishes Oris from brands that use "ocean-themed" aesthetics without conservation linkage.

Current Range and Sizing

The current Aquis range (2024) spans:

• Aquis Date — 36.5mm (smaller variant), 41.5mm, 43.5mm
• Aquis Date Upcycle — 41.5mm
• Aquis GMT Date — 43.5mm with Cal. 403
• Aquis Depth Gauge — 45.8mm (larger case accommodates capillary system)
• Aquis Date Relief — 41.5mm with wave-texture dial

Bracelets are stainless steel with wetsuit-extension clasp; rubber straps (some from recycled rubber) and fabric straps are also offered. Prices range from approximately CHF 1,900 to CHF 3,500 at retail.