This summer, Oris is releasing a collection of 2,000 limited-edition watches, the New York Harbor Limited Edition. This watch is based on Oris’ popular Aquis Diver, and on many levels, it is an Aquis. The word “Aquis” is even printed on the dial. But nobody would mistake this watch for an ordinary Aquis Diver. It has an oyster-based theme that permeates every aspect of its design.
Incidentally, this watch gets its name because a portion of the profits are donated to the Billion Oyster Project. This is a project that’s dedicated to restoring New York Harbor’s natural oyster reefs, which were wiped out by pollution in the early and mid-20th century. So far, the Project has successfully restored 100 million oysters.
A Stunning, Serialized Case
The New York Harbor Limited Edition has a similar design to the basic Aquis Diver. It’s made from stainless steel, with a mid-sized 41.5mm diameter and a unidirectional rotating bezel. However, the Aquis has a slightly slimmer design, and the bezel isn’t as pronounced. The bezel on the Special Edition is fat and chunky, and the knurling on the outer edge is much more pronounced.
The sapphire crystal is domed inside and out, creating an attractive mirroring effect on the index when it’s viewed from an angle. It’s also coated with an anti-reflective finish. The case back is engraved with a trio of oyster shells, with the words “New York Harbor Limited Edition” engraved around the edge. You’ll also notice a small etched serial number at the bottom.
This watch is water-resistant to 300 meters, so it’s suitable for any kind of underwater activity. It ships in an attractive display case, with a light green rubber strap already attached. There’s an optional steel bracelet to the side, along with a high-quality metal strap changing tool.
An Oyster-Themed Dial
The main appeal of the New York Harbor Limited Edition is the dial. It has an opalescent finish, made from pale green mother-of-pearl. Combined with the steel case, this evokes the colors of an oyster shell.At the 5-minute positions, there are fat applied silver indices, with lume stripes down the center. Smaller white hashes mark the individual minute positions, and a date window sits just inside the 6-o’clock position. The hands are broad and silver, with their own lume striping. They’re broad at the back, and taper to a blunt, narrow tip.
