9 hours ago
Oris Supports Billion Oyster Project With New York Harbor Aquis Watch
In another go-round of its support for the Billion Oyster Project, independent watch brand, Oris, launches the New York Harbor Limited Edition II Aquis Date watch. While the launch of the watch, from which a portion of the proceeds of sales goes directly to Billion Oyster Project, is important, it falls perfectly within Oris's wheelhouse.
The Swiss-based brand has been climate neutral since 2021 and is committed not just to reducing its own emissions by 10 percent annually, but also to support other projects dedicated to developing a better environment. This is not the first time that Oris has teamed with Billion Oyster Project – a non-profit company whose mission is to restore one billion oysters to the New York Harbor. Thus far, 150 million oysters have been restored.
Why oysters? They provide excellent filtration of water. In fact, according to Billion Oyster Project, an adult oyster can filter as much as 50 gallons of water a day. Additionally, oyster reefs offer an aquatic ecosystem for marine life. And, as the reefs grow, the hope is that natural oyster rejuvenation will take place.
According to Billion Oyster Project co-founder Pete Malinowski, the organization has restored 17 active reef sites in New York Harbor since 2022 when they first started. Since then, more than 2.9 million pounds of oyster shells have been recycled thanks to donations and volunteers. The hope is to reach the billion goal by 2035.
Oris first teamed with Billion Oyster Project in 2022 with a limited edition timepiece. The newest venture, the New York Harbor Limited Edition II is an Aquis Date watch with an aqua colored mother-of-pearl dial to recall the water and the oyster shell look. The hands and markers are filled with Super-LumiNova and the sapphire crystal is anti-reflective. The 43.5mm stainless steel watch boasts a unidirectional rotating bezel with minute markers and numerals in relief for touch reading underwater if necessary.
Thanks to a screw-in crown and screwed case back, the watch is pressure and water resistant to 300 meters. The case back boasts an engraving with the name of the watch and several oysters on it. It is powered by Oris's automatic Caliber 733 with hours, minutes, seconds, instantaneous date function and stop-second fine timing. and is sold with a steel bracelet as well as an aqua green rubber strap. Just 2,000 of the New York Harbor Limited Edition II watch will be made, each selling for $3,000.
'The ecological challenge can feel overwhelming,' says Oris Co-CEO Rolf Studer. 'But when we work together, it gets easier. We're proud to collaborate again with Billion Oyster Project and to witness first-hand the change we're bringing together. Our mission continues.'
