50,000 CHF for the Great Barrier Reef…

Did you know that tomorrow, June 8, is World Oceans Day?  Since 2008 this day is officially recognized by the United Nations as a day to promote ocean conservation.  Thus it is perhaps no surprise that I recently came across this new watch from Oris — the Oris Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition (Ref. 643 7609 8585).  For this watch Oris has teamed up with the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), Australia’s only national charity dedicated exclusively to protecting ocean wildlife and their home.  Always a fan of great watches for great causes, I would say that this one certainly fits the bill.  The cause is to help protect and preserve the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef system, and will raise up to CHF 50,000 to this effect — 1,000 watches will be made and a CHF 50 donation from each watch sold will be donated to AMCS.

To mark World Oceans Day, the Australian Marine Conservation Society, The Environment Centre NT and The Wilderness Society have launched a ‘Sea Sanctuaries’ television and radio advertising campaign to highlight that the Territories seas are unique, under threat and under-protected.  The video clip is only 30 seconds, but offers some nice glimpses into the beautiful marine life that you might bump in to (literally) down under in the Great Barrier Reef:

Getting back to the watch, I would say that its design symbolism is fairly obvious, showing not only oceanic colors but also key dive watch elements such as helium escape value, dark orange superluminova, 1000 meter water resistance, and unidirectional rotating bezel.  One interesting element is that both the helium value and the crown are on the left-side of the case, which is certainly not typical.

The watch is presented in a special collector’s set that comes with a neoprene zip case, key ring, rubber strap and stainless steel bracelet, diver’s log and limited edition certificate.  Thanks Oris for your support of the world’s oceans!

1952 Jaguar XK 120 inspired…

This is a sharp looking new limited edition watch from Oris.  The scoop on this watch?  Oris is the new time keeper and Official Watch Partner of the RAID classic car rallies, and to mark the occasion of the 20th RAID Suisse-Paris Oris has created this watch.  Since 1991 this rally has been staged in Switzerland and France as a classic car rally and sees competitors cover up to 1000km on country roads in cars built before 1975.   The dial design is inspired by the dashboard of a 1952 Jaguar XK 120 (winner of the 2009 RAID rally).  The hour and minute counters have a distinctive red zone, which reflects the red danger zone of the Jaguar’s rev counter.  Very clean, very well designed, and probably decently priced — I like it.

Oris RAID Chronograph, Limited to 500 pieces, Ref: 676 7603 4084 LS/MB

43.5mm steel case, automatic mechanical movement, 30m water resistance

1952 Jaguar XK 120

Special forces watch -49mm titanium case, antimagnetic, “gun metal grey” PVD, 1,000m water resistant…

Tribute to the Italian 9th Reggimento d’Assalto Paracadutisti (9th Parachutist Assault Regiment)

This is the new “Col Moschin” Limited Edition watch from Oris.   In a testament to its worthiness, Oris had it field tested by the Col Moschin – perhaps the most elite unit of the Italian Army.  “Field tested” is perhaps an understatement given that the Col Moschin special forces wore the watch on jumps from 9,000 meters and on dives down to 40 meters, among other rugged uses.  Most striking about this watch is its size – the 49mm case is massive just like it looks.  But because the case is titanium, and it comes on a rubber strap, it is probably much lighter than you might think.  Also adding to its manly appeal is its thick, brush-finish bezel that looks very tough.  Lest you forget what country’s elite special forces this watch is inspired by, the power reserve is done in the Italian colors of red, white and green.  You may recall that Oris introduced a similar, actually slightly larger (51mm case), watch last year – the Oris ProDiver Chronograph (link here, scroll down about halfway), however I like this watch much better – it seems like a perfect Special Forces watch.  But I think it could do without all the etched text on the side of the case (close up below).

Oris Col Moschin

Limited edition of 2,000

The 9th Parachutist Assault Regiment Seal

BASELWORLD 2010 is coming soon. You can see all the hot new pre-releases on Perpetuelle.com’s Official Baselworld 2010 Forum right now! And many many more when the event starts on March 18th. Just click here!

Oris With Another Jazzy Tribute

Like many of you, when I think of Oris, I tend to think of dive watches, and not being a die hard fan of the brand that’s about all I thought.  But I was doing a bit of research for this article, and wouldn’t you know it seems that Oris is the King of Jazz Watches!  First let me confess that I am far from an expert on Jazz musicians, but I do enjoy my fair share of John Coltrane and other tunes by some of the fellas noted below….so indulge me, will you? 

In 2010, it will be the Oscar Peterson watch from Oris.  Among other nicknames, Oscar Peterson is known as the “Maharaja of the Keyboard” – that’s a piano, for all you musical neophytes out there. Of the many “jazzy” tribute watches Oris has done, the Oscar Peterson watch is probably the best looking one yet.  Note the subtle but tastefully incorporated “piano key” designed hour markers.  Not quite as bold (or pricey) as something like the Audemars Piguet Quincy Jones piano-inspired watch, but still a nice take on the piano theme.  The plated Roman numeral “VIII” is a nod to Peterson’s eight well deserved Grammy awards.  And although I’m not sure it is intentional, the center of the dial looks to me a lot like an old vinyl record – and not just any record but one that would play some good ragtime or big band:

cool, caseback, too – the Lion being a symbol representing the king of the keyboard

But did you know this is just the tip of the iceberg for Oris and jazz?   2010 will in fact be the 10th Jazz tribute watch in a long history that dates back to 1996 when Oris first sponsored the London Jazz Fair and rolled out the Andy Sheppard tribute watch!  Here’s a quick look at history:

1996 – Andy Sheppard 1997 – McCoy Tyner

1998 – John McLaughlin 1999 – Lionel Hampton

2000 – Louis Armstrong 2001 – Miles Davis

2002 -Duke Ellington 2003 – Charlie Parker

2007 – Dizzy Gillespie

(Note:  In 2004 it was Frank Sinatra and 2007 Bob Dylan – neither are really known as Jazz artists, so I did not include them on the list.)

So there you have it!  I encourage you to read more about each of these watches here, on the Oris website – you might learn a thing or two about jazz music!

First announced at Baselworld 2009, the Oris ProDiver 51mm is looking like it could be a big hit for both Oris fans and dive watch fans in general.  While this is not a watch I personally reviewed, I think that the review you will see below offers a good look at “the” new watch to have from Oris.

The two gents in the review have some affiliation with the popular Oris fan/commerce website, FriendsOfOris.com, and when it comes to Oris watches they know their stuff!  Thanks for the look at this great new watch, guys!

My one comment on the video would be this:  less of Smithy and Warren, and more of the watch!  Haha – nothing personal guys!  Anyway, enjoy the review:

Movement: Oris Caliber 674, automatic, 25 jewels
Complications: Date, chronograph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case material: Titanium
Case size: 51 mm
Case height: 22 mm
Dial: Black, with Oris trademark wave pattern
Water resistance: 1000 m
Strap: Titanium bracelet or rubber strap
Crystal: Sapphire, domed, interior antireflective coating

Advantage? You decide (leave a comment below)

Check it out – a Rolex DEEPSEA, and the new Oris ProDiver, both at work in the North Sea! I am pretty sure these are two separate occasions, or else we might have seen the clash of these 2 titans unfold before our very eyes

First, here is a video of what purports to be “The First Rolex deepsea to undergo an operational commercial saturation dive. 2000 hrs gmt 25 Nov 2008 from dive support vessel Technip Wellservicer working for British Petroleum. Working depth 125 Meters North Sea”  WARNING: aside from having a Rolex DEEPSEA in it, this movie is extremely boring. Even the footage in which the diver shows off his Rolex (I think that is an official “Rolex #1” diver’s hand signal, right?) is rather lackluster – so just watch between minutes 1:00 and 2:00 - And use your imagination people, this is the North Sea they’re in!

Next we have the new Oris Pro Diver, as worn by Oris “Ambassador” (a perfectly fitting description of this rugged looking fellow) Roman Frischknecht. In these few pictures, Roman is 200km of the north east coast of Scotland – in the 10 degree North Sea – at work as an underwater welder. You can see the massive size of the ProDiver -51mm- but it is probably surprisingly light as it is made of Titanium metal.

There is also a video by Oris – a bit more interesting than the Rolex production above, but you’ll have to visit the Oris website to view it (click here to watch).

Tale of the Tape