Introducing a new Oris Aquis Date

I will admit, I have been on a bit of an Oris kick as of late, and a lot of that time has been spent on their divers.  While those previous forays (here and here) were in the more vintage realm, today we’re headed into what I would consider a more modern look – or at least contemporary – when it comes to dive watches.  Today, we’re talking about the just recently announced Oris Aquis Date.

Now, if you’re familiar with Oris at all, you might argue that the Oris Aquis Date is not a new model by any stretch, and you’d be right.  What is new, however, is this reference.  And for those into reference numbers, those are all listed out below in the Tech Specs.   For everyone else, here’s the big takeaway – this new Oris Aquis Date is in a brand new case size:  39.5mm.

Oris went this direction because, well, it makes for a much more versatile watch.  I suppose the smaller dial may make it harder to read underwater, but for a desk diver like me, that’s not so much a concern.  What is, is wearability.  I don’t consider myself a small person by any means, but when your watch starts getting to be north of 40mm in size, how it fits to your wrist (and how it looks on said wrist) is going to be a concern.  With the Oris Aquis Date getting shrunk a bit, you have a watch that is right in my sweet spot.

Then again, you throw in the lovely blue dial there (also available in black, either glossy or matte), and the tidy bracelet (with it’s polished outer links for some additional style points), and you’ve got my attention.  I also rather like the fact that for the ceramic insert on the bezel, you can get that in a choice of glossy or matte finish as well.  If you’re going for the bracelet, the glossy might make more sense, whereas if you’re opting for the strap (rubber or leather), then perhaps the less-reflective insert is your bag.

As I’ve mentioned throughout the article, the Oris Aquis Date is available in a few different configurations.  Regardless of the dial color or bezel insert, pricing is consistent – $1,800 on a strap, or $2,000 on the bracelet.  We’ve not seen these in person as of yet, but we’ll certainly work with the brand to see if we can get a loaner in to give you some hands-on impressions.  In the mean time, feel free to pop over to our Slack channel or comment below, and let us know what you think.  oris.ch

• Brand & Model: Oris Aquis Date
• Price: $2,000 (steel bracelet), $1,800 (strap)
• Who we think it might be for:  You like your divers a bit more modern-leaning, and compact
• Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen? Yes, this would give me some serious in-catalog competition with the ProPilot line!
• If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Switch the bracelet so the center links are polished, and outer brushed
• What spoke to me the most about this watch: The compact size, along with the choices to make this watch fit your particular day-to-day uses