Baselworld 2019: Introducing the Oris Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition III

For the last three years, Oris has been working with the Reef Restoration Foundation to draw attention to the depletion of the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef system. It’s a cause that clearly means a lot to Oris — from their Divers Sixty-Five line all the way up to their ProDiver series, these watches are made by people who have a deep appreciation for the sea.

This new dive watch, the Oris Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition III, is actually the first in a series Oris is calling the Oceans Project, a series of products and initiatives that are set to take Oris’ mission to the next level.

The watch Oris has created to mark the launch of the Oceans Project makes a strong visual impact immediately. Using the familiar Aquis design language, Oris has crafted a modern diver that is both technically advanced and almost whimsical in the way it evokes the oceans Oris and their partners want to save.

Oris Great Barrier Reef LE III

Case Material: Stainless steel; bezel with ceramic insert
Dial: Aqua blue
Dimensions: 43.5 mm
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 300 meters
Crown: Screw down
Movement: Oris 743 (based on Sellita SW-220-1)
Strap/bracelet: Multi-piece stainless steel bracelet with stainless steel security folding clasp and extension
Price: $2,550
Expected release: June 2019

The dial here is the star of the show — an iridescent aqua blue that conveys real depth as a result of the circular date ring and substantial applied indices. I’m also a big fan of the running seconds at nine o’clock, with a hand that extends to the opposite sub-dial hemisphere. This gives it the impression of a tool to ensure the watch is running prior to a dive, as opposed to a mechanism for the most precise timekeeping possible — a subtle nod to the original life or death stakes that dive watches were designed to mitigate.

Watch brands often partner with organizations that do good in the world, and sometimes the luxury positioning of these products can make those partnerships feel less than genuine. Oris’ independence and longstanding commitment to environmentalism somehow make this collaboration feel more authentic, and the watches produced as a result have a real connection to the mission. The Great Barrier Reef LE III is set to be released in June in a limited edition of 2,000. Stayed tuned for more coverage. Oris