Committed since the early 2000s to projects focused on the protection of the planet and its natural resources, Oris continues to align its watchmaking with meaningful environmental initiatives.
The latest chapter in this long-standing commitment centres on the Yangtze finless porpoise, known in Mandarin as the jiangtun.
Critically endangered and found only in the Yangtze River, this toothed whale is China’s last remaining freshwater cetacean.
With an estimated population of just 1,249 individuals recorded in 2022, its survival remains under serious threat.
Through a partnership with the Changjiang Conservation Foundation, Oris supports ongoing conservation efforts and presents the Yangtze Jiangtun Limited Edition, created to raise awareness and contribute directly to the protection of this unique species.
Based on the Aquis Date 43.50 mm, this dive watch stands out for its dial, crafted from blue-green mother-of-pearl, a material chosen for the way it captures and reflects light, recalling the surface of the Yangtze River.
Mother-of-pearl is a delicate and brittle material, prone to cracking.
Using a precise printing process, however, it has been enhanced by a wave pattern inspired by the echo-sound waves of the Yangtze finless porpoise’s high-frequency, narrow-band ultrasonic clicks, which the animal relies on for communication and navigation in the river’s cloudy waters.
The hands and hour markers are filled with Super-LumiNova, ensuring enhanced legibility in low-light conditions and underwater.
The 43.50 mm × 13.10 mm stainless steel case is fitted with a unidirectional rotating bezel with a tungsten insert and minute scale, and is paired with a tapered three-link stainless steel bracelet.
Embossed with the Oris logo, the screw-down crown helps ensure water resistance to 30 bar (300 metres / 1,000 feet).
The conservation theme continues on the caseback, which is engraved with a Yangtze finless porpoise and the limited-edition number, ranging from 1 to 1,249, corresponding to the estimated number of individuals remaining in existence.
Behind it, the Oris calibre 733 (base Sellita SW 200-1) is a self-winding movement with ball bearing, stop-seconds function and a date display at 6 o’clock.
It operates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and offers a power reserve of 41 hours.
The Oris Aquis Yangtze Jiangtun Limited Edition, reference 01 733 7789 4197, has a suggested retail price of CHF 2,550. oris.ch
