Oris' mission 'Change for the Better' stems from the conviction that we must act now to rebuild and protect the planet's delicate ecosystem. We spend most of our lives on land. It has taken us a long time to explore and understand the oceans, but for some years now the situation has become clearer. Now, we know that oceans cover three quarters of the earth's surface, contain 97% of the globe's water and account for 99% of the planet's living space in terms of volume. There is evidence that the oceans absorb about 30% of the carbon dioxide produced, offsetting the effects of global warming. According to the United Nations, more than 3 billion people depend on the oceans for their livelihoods and as much as $3 trillion, or 5% of the world's GDP, is produced by maritime and coastal industries. The oceans are therefore a source of life. Despite this, we humans abuse our oceans. Pollution levels are now critical (in particular due to plastic: the UN estimates that one million plastic bottles are sold every minute) and ocean temperatures, now at historic highs, are causing events such as coral bleaching, as highlighted in previous Oris releases. According to the Smithsonian Ocean Portal, some 2,270 species are currently endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. One of these is the whale shark, lord of the oceans, which inspired the Oris Whale Shark Limited Edition. This new watch is part of Oris' 'Change for the Better' project to clean up, restore and protect the world's waters. It was created in particular to support the work of Oris ambassador Gerardo del Villar (pictured), an experienced explorer and photographer who began portraying whale sharks more than 15 years ago. "We will not cease to pay attention to the risks facing the waters of the globe," says Rolf Studer, co-CEO of Oris. "We are proud to work with Gerardo and support his work, but it is a drop in the ocean: we all have to do our part." The Oris Whale Shark Limited Edition, which is based on the Oris Aquis GMT, is being produced in only 2,016 pieces, commemorating the year of the IUCN's cry of alarm in defence of the whale shark. This diver's watch (water-resistant to 30 atmospheres) uses a 43.5 mm steel case with a rotating ceramic bezel with GMT scale for a third time zone display. The blue dial (protected by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal), with a special motif inspired by the skin of a whale shark, has a GMT hand in the centre, luminescent hour/minute hands and markers, and a date window at 3 o'clock. The movement that drives it is the Oris calibre 798, a mechanical self-winding movement with a 42-hour power reserve.
Price: 2,650 euro.
