Zach Black Oris is back in the New York Harbor limited edition after the first successful outing in 2022. The launch is once again attracting attention on the 1 billion oyster project, which is set to restore 1 billion oysters to the port of New York.
I cannot think of a fully established, long-standing Swiss watchmaker who is more synonymous with sustainability than Oris. Many watch brands introduce environmental concerns, engage in meaningful partnerships, and place their money where their proverbs mouths are. This is not inherent to Oris. But Oris deserves praise for giving in particular to lowering carbon footprints and for being truly transparent about its progress in his compiled annual sustainability report with independent company ClimatePartner.
These reports are broad and accessible to everyone, revealing everything from its total corporate climate footprint to the new processes and steps introduced to further its sustainability mission. Oris continues to make further progress, especially with the label “Climate Neutral” based on the findings of ClimatePartner. “In 2021, we became the first independent, certified climate-neutral company,” explains Oris. “In 2022, we set out on our mission to reduce our total emissions by 10% per year over three years. We did that too.”
For example, the 2024 report reveals details such as emission footprints from flights and employee commutes. Comparing 2023 and 2019, Oris flights total emissions fell 31.1% and 43.7% on employee commutes. “We chose not to re-monitor the five-day office attendance culture. Instead, we maintained a 3-to-2 structure so that non-productive staff commute to Helstein only three days a week,” Oris said in the 2024 Sustainability Report on employee commutes. “We also encouraged a top-down culture of operating electric vehicles and reducing collective commuting emissions.”
Due to the wealth of information shared in the reports, I was able to continue for a long time. This is another report that I have never seen other watchmakers compile so thoroughly, and I don’t share it with the public in such a simple way. But then we never reached a new debut watch.
The new Oris Aquis Date New York Harbor Limited Edition II will bring the spotlight back to one of Oris’ partners through the “The Change for the Better” initiative. The first limited edition born to bring awareness and support to the Billion Oyster Project will be launched in 2022, and three years later the sequel will add some twists to the established format.
Oris chose the 43.5mm Aquis date (13.1mm thick, lagtoo lug) instead of the 41.5mm size, which was originally used instead of the 41.5mm size. Another notable change is the dial, apart from the green-to-aqua green pivot, decorated with the pearl mother, decorated with a new “Oyster shell effect finish.”
The rest of the products remain the same. It is a 300-meter water-resistant stainless steel dive watch with a steel bezel with a timing scale and is driven by an automatic movement based on the caliber of the cost-effective 41-hour ORIS 733 Cerata. It will also be bundled again with a case matching bracelet and integrated rubber strap, again as a limited edition of 2,000 pieces. At a price of USD 300 more than the initial outing of USD 3,000, it appears to be perfectly reasonable in comparison, taking into account inflation, tariffs and other factors considered.
So let’s take a look at the true purpose of this limited edition. When it comes to these types of releases, Oris has always expressed his desire for journalists like me to draw attention to the mission of collaborators rather than the product itself. This doesn’t mean Oris can decide how I cover that watch. Rather, it is a genuine plea that I will be willing to obligate.
I will never forget to attend a New York Yankees baseball game with Oris in my private box. This is the advantage of an expensive partnership with the world’s most famous major league baseball team, and instead of getting into all the spotlight of throwing the first honorary pitch, it gives this moment perfectly to Pete Marinowski, executive director and co-founder of the billionaire Oyser Project. All the staff at Oris, including CEO Rolf Studer, remained in the box with us. The only Oris cameo in that moment was the fact that Pete threw the first pitch while wearing his New York Harbor limited edition.
As Oris says, “Oysters are what the forest trees are in the ocean.” New York Harbor once had 220,000 acres of oyster reefs centuries ago, but during contamination, the appetite for oysters in dining facilities, and other artificial factors, the reefs were necrotic.
Oysters may seem less important until they become familiar with the role they play in ecosystems. Adult oysters are said to be able to filter 50 gallons of water a day. 50 gallons are just a drop compared to New York’s vast ports, but there is a billion oysters in the workplace that naturally filters ecosystems and offers other ecological benefits to marine life… Now we’re talking. Target: By 2035, 1 billion oysters had been restored to New York Port.
While one billion may seem like an immeasurable, laughing, lofty goal, working with over 15,000 volunteers and 30,000 students, the 1 billion oyster project has restored more than 150 million oysters to New York Port since its founding in 2014. If we just repeat the mistakes, there is no point in restoring the port.
“It’s not just oysters,” explains Pete Marinowski. “It’s about promoting environmental management through education, public engagement and community science. We work with over 100 schools and thousands of students and volunteers to create a future where New Yorkers are deeply connected and responsible for the marine environment.”
For a Sellita-based Dive Watch, putting a second behind a cause will feel too sudden for some people. I’ll get it perfectly. But this is not your usual business 733-driven AQUIS day. Knowing that a portion of the sale will be donated to a billion oyster project can help ease the price a little. It is worth noting that the cost can also be attributed to the build quality of the Oris, as the steel cases, steel bracelets and rubber straps are made so well. It is also presented in fun and unique colors that many people enjoy.
Oris is humble and sane enough to know that, for example, having a small recycle or upcycle dial will not put a big dent in the climate challenges we face today. So I really appreciate the emphasis on reshaping the way watches work, package and sell them to actually tackle the problems, as well as providing a spotlight on valuable organizations and causes. And this New York Harbor Limited Edition II is just one of many examples.
Oris Aquis Date New York Harbor Limited Edition II Pricing and Availability
The Oris Aquis Date New York Harbor Limited Edition II is currently available as a limited edition of 2,000 units. Price: 3,000 US$
Brand Oris X Billion Kaistar Project Model AQUIS Date New York Harbor Limited Edition II Case Dimensions 43.5mm (D) x 13.1mm (T) x 51mm (LTL) Case Material Stainless Steel Water Resistance 300m, Screw Down Crown Crystal (S) Sapphire Front Dial Aqua Green Mother Mother of Pear, Oyser Star Shell Shell Shell Effect Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel
Aqua Green Rubber Strap, Folding Clasp Movement Oris 733, Sellita-based Automatic Power Reserve 41 Hours Function Time, Minutes, Seconds, Date, Unidirectional Diving Bezel Availability Limited Edition 2,000 Pieces Price US $3,000
