Oris Aquis GMT Date

The Oris Aquis is the cornerstone of the brand; a robust, no-nonsense, well-executed and well-positioned diver’s watch that perfectly sums up the brand’s philosophy. Available in multiple versions, with various complications (date, day-date, small seconds, chronograph, pointer-date or regulator), surprisingly this watch has never been equipped with a dual-time function. Problem solved at Baselworld 2019, with the new Oris Aquis GMT Date. 

This new GMT edition of the Aquis is far from a revolution, as it shares most of its characteristics with other models of the collection. However, not revolutionary does not mean void of interest. It is surprising, but until today, the Aquis had never featured a dual-time/traveller’s/GMT complication. Admittedly, in the past, there was a watch called the Diver GMT, but this was the predecessor of the Aquis. For the 2019 edition of the Basel watch fair, Oris equips its famous diver’s watch with one of the most useful everyday complications – ok, maybe not when diving, but most of us aren’t actually using these watches as diving instruments anyway.

Based on the well known Aquis Date model – which has been remodelled recently – the new GMT version retains all the powerful elements of the time-and-date. Its case, for instance, still measures 43.50mm in diameter, retains its original shape with integrated lugs and efficient protections as well as the 300m water-resistance. It will be available with a choice of straps: brown leather, blue rubber, black rubber or stainless steel bracelet, all equipped with extending folding clasps for wearing over a wetsuit.

What changes with the Oris Aquis GMT Date is the display and the bezel, which now incorporates the indication of three time zones (in the same way as a Rolex GMT-Master II or a Tudor Black Bay GMT). This means central hour and minute hands for the first time zone and an additional yellow-tipped hand for the second time zone. The latter is read on an internal recessed track. Finally, the Oris Aquis GMT Date features a 24-hour, bidirectional bezel to read the third time zone.

For the moment, the dial comes with a sunburst blue background with rhodium-plated hands and applied indexes, while the bezel is black and polished. We can imagine this watch will eventually be offered in black or green.

Powering the Oris Aquis GMT Date is the calibre 798, based on a Sellita SW 330-1. This automatic, outsourced movement has a typical ETA architecture, 38 hours of power reserve beating at 4Hz. As always with such movements, it is a simple GMT complication, as the additional time zone is set by one-hour increments, and not the local time (as with a Rolex GMT for instance). The movement and its typical red rotor are visible through a sapphire caseback.

The Oris Aquis GMT Date (ref. 01 798 7754 4135) will be available as of April 2019 at retailers and official boutiques, at a price of CHF 2,600. More details at oris.ch.