ReviewA Magnificent Oris Watch For The Majestic Blue Whale
The largest animal on our planet, the blue whale is gentle and peaceful, yet immensely harmed because of humans, and classified as endangered. The Oris Blue Whale Limited Edition seeks to help protect this majestic creature in its own way
May We Recommend
There has been an emergence of a certain consciousness towards our planet by several watch brands, and it’s high time. Oris is actually among those brands that have been in the business of helping the environment for a while now. After releasing special edition watches to help protect the endangered staghorn coral and the threatened Clipperton Island in the Pacific, to name a few, Oris dives deeper in aid of our oceans this year, with the Oris Ocean Trilogy.

The 2019 Oris Ocean Trilogy comprises three limited edition watches. While the Great Barrier Reef III is the result of their partnership with the Reef Restoration foundation, and the Clean Ocean watch comes from their association with Pacific Garbage Screening, the Blue Whale Limited Edition is dedicated to the work of Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC). The most exclusive of the three, this timepiece is not available individually; it can only be purchased along with the other two. All three watches are presented together in a case made from recycled plastic bottles that have been retrieved from the ocean.
This is how this box is made:
A Whale Of A Problem
The largest animal on the planet, the blue whale is among six great whale species that are classified as endangered, with about 1,000 blue whales dying every year. Despite bans on whaling and the trade of whale products, the number of blue whales in the world is down from 3,50,000 a few decades ago to less than 25,000 today. Its greater enemies are fishing nets, loss of habitat due to environmental changes, and byproducts of anthropogenic activities such as noise and vessel strikes.
“Our message is that saving whales helps save the planet. Saving whales means saving ourselves,” declares Fabian Ritter, a marine biologist for WDC. While the WDC do their bit—working with local authorities and spreading awareness—they still need all the help they can get. And Oris has pledged their support with the 200-piece Blue Whale Limited Edition.
For The Gentle Blue Giant
Based on the Aquis Chronograph diver’s watch, the Blue Whale is set in a 45.5mm steel case, and is equipped with a unidirectional rotating diver’s bezel in ceramic. Its aqua hue matches the dial’s, which features three chronograph and small seconds sub-dials and a date window—all of which run on an automatic movement offering a 48-hour power reserve. The most striking feature though is the caseback, embossed with a motif of the majestic blue whale—a creature that desperately needs our help.
The Final Word
On the face of it, the Oris Blue Whale looks like a fine Oris Aquis timepiece, a little heftier with a chronograph that makes it a more substantial than the classic Aquis Date. What makes it particularly beautiful are the shades of blue you see. From the intense blue of the unidirectional rotating bezel, to the rich blue of the dial, it’s quite the looker. The dial especially gives off beautiful tones, owing to its sunray finish, and this is almost reminiscent of the rippling hues of the ocean, which are determined by the varying depths of the water. The sheen of the dial is like the sea glistening in the sun.
And just as all this becomes a package that you might enjoy as a daily or occasional accessory, you can always just flip it over to see the significance of this meaningful piece. You can see what you’ve contributed towards, and what this beautifully finished mechanical watch represents. Now wouldn’t that feel rewarding!
