ReviewBorn With A Halo: The Oris Aquis Calibre 400, Now With A Touch Of Gold

From the early 1950s, the field of recreational diving started gaining ground, and the impact of the trend was felt when Swiss brands like Rolex, Omega and Blancpain introduced their first editions of divers’ watches. A year before PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) was founded in 1966, entry-level Swiss watchmaker Oris jumped onto the bandwagon, and launched their first diving watch collection. Before the Divers Sixty-Five collection paid obeisance to the original edition in 2015, the Oris Aquis Date collection did the same in 2011, and continues to do so with new editions in GMT and the Depth Gauge that run on evolved movements—calibres 400, 733, 761 or 798. A few such legacy traits have trickled into the four models of the new Aquis Date Calibre 400 line that bring their own magic to the table with their ‘gold touch’ or outlines in gold.

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Gold Touch: A Dash Here, A Sliver There

The four new Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 models are ‘touched by gold’, but ever so slightly. Only the edges and outlines, basically the finer features, are made from 18-karat yellow gold. Like the knurled edges plus the unidirectional minutes scale and Arabic numerals of the dive-timer bezel with a ceramic insert, and elements on the deep blue and forest green sunray dials, such as the brand emblem and elements applied with Super-LumiNova—minute and hour hands, and bullet-shaped indices are touched by Midas. The only contrasting element then, is the tiny date aperture in black with white text, posited at six o’clock.

All elements on the sunburst dials, including the ones applied with Super-LumiNova—minute and hour hands, and bullet shaped indices—are in gold

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All the Aquis Date gold touch variants have 41.5mm cases, and perfectly enclose the self-winding automatic movement, calibre 400, as revealed in the series title itself

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The only contrasting element on the dial then is the tiny date aperture in black with white text posited at six o’clock

₹4,20,000

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Decoding Aquis Calibre 400  

Casewise, the earlier Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 models began from 36.5mm, going upto 43.5mm. With regard to the Aquis Date gold touch variants, all the four models have 41.5mm cases that perfectly enclose the self-winding automatic movement, Calibre 400, as revealed in the series title itself. The open-worked caseback allows for a peek into this self-winding automatic movement, fitted with 21 blue jewels. As all high-quality dive watches offer an impressive water-resistance, this Aquis model together with its protected crown and anti-reflective sapphire crystal on both sides, offers a 300m water resistance.

Calibre 400, developed in-house in 2020, is notable for three qualities. Firstly, the watch ensures minimum deviations in timekeeping as it made using over 30 anti-magnetic components, which crosses the usual requirement as stated by the international horological standards of ISO 764. It is why the watch can maintain an accuracy of -3/+5 seconds a day. This can be a vital trait for dive watches, and timing dives, given the unforeseen challenges underwater. Secondly, the movement offers a five-day (120 hours) power reserve while beating at 28,800vph. Again, this can be a boon during diving expeditions or recreational outings in the deep seas. Lastly, the brand offer a 10-year warranty on any Oris watch that runs on the calibre 400.

The Oris Aquis Calibre 400 offers straps in metal and rubber, and is designed with the ‘quick strap change’ system for easy interchangeability without using any tools

Apart from the matching rubber strap option, there's a multi-piece stainless steel bracelet that ends in a security folding clasp

Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 Shop The Collection

The Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 offers straps in metal and rubber, and is designed with the ‘quick strap change’ system for easy interchangeability without using any tools. There’s the multi-piece stainless steel bracelet that ends in a security folding clasp, while those wary of metal straps can opt for the matching rubber strap with a stainless steel folding clasp.