ReviewThe Oris Carysfort Reef Limited Edition: Joining The Fight To Save Precious Coral Colonies
Oris has always been at the helm when it comes to calling attention to the problems beleaguering our world’s vulnerable water bodies. This time around, this environmentally conscious watchmaker has chosen to support the Carysfort Coral Reef with an Aquis GMT watch that’s power-packed and stunning to boot
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When one closes their eyes and imagines life underwater, it isn’t all blue is it? We imagine colourful corals speckling the ocean floor, with even more colourful fish peeking out from behind them. We imagine turtles leisurely paddling along in search of food, while schools of fish hypnotically move as if joined together in a synchronised dance. About 90 percent of all life on Earth can be found beneath the surging waves, and we’ve seen but a fraction of it. And coral reefs are tremendously important shallow-water ecosystems—lifelines that provide food for the organisms that live in and around them.
Corals are not stones or plants; they are, in fact, invertebrate animals that are absolutely vital to all life under the sea. Even though coral reefs altogether cover a minuscule portion of the ocean floor (just about one percent), they support an incredible amount of biodiversity, as they are home to 25 percent of all marine fish species. Apart from their importance in the ocean environment, over 500 million people depend on coral reefs for food. They also help boost economic activities such as tourism and fisheries, and aid in the protection of the coastal line from natural disasters.
Over the past few years, Oris has batted for a variety of different causes—whether it’s ocean conservation, saving the majestic blue whale or bringing attention to the world’s deepest lake, Lake Baikal. This year, Oris has picked another urgent cause in its re-envisioning of the Oris Aquis GMT Date, and it’s one that is close to the heart of divers and snorkelers across the world who find comfort, beauty and serenity beneath the waves. It is the threat faced by these magnificent, life-giving coral reefs.
Since coral reefs can be found in shallow water, they are particularly affected by human activities such as overfishing, coral harvesting and coastal development. Apart from that, global warming and ocean acidification are causing coral reefs to bleach, killing entire colonies in one fell swoop. In fact, some scientists predict that we could lose all our coral in the next 80 years if direct action is not taken. One organisation fighting to protect these precious ecosystems is the Coral Restoration Foundation. This charitable organisation has been undertaking intensive restoration projects in the many coral reefs around the world. Oris had earlier supported the foundation’s efforts to revive the endangered Staghorn coral through the Aquis Staghorn Restoration Limited Editon. The brand also supported the foundation’s conservation work for Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef, when it released the Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition III. The foundation is also making headway in its restoration of the Carysfort Reef located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The Oris Carysfort Reef Limited Edition timepiece honours this very effort, and a part of the proceeds from the sales of these watches will go to the foundation.
The Carysfort Reef: An Underwater Marvel
The Carysfort Reef, located to the east of Key Largo, is part of the Florida Reef Tract, which is the third-largest barrier reef in the world and the only one that’s located in the United States of America. In the last 50 years, however, the reef has witnessed an incredible amount of degradation, decimating it by a whopping 98 percent—making it extremely vulnerable and necessitating its conservation evermore. This is where the Coral Restoration Foundation steps in. They have returned over 25,000 corals through their outplanting programmes and aim to get the figure up to 30,000 by the end of this year.
The Oris Carysfort Reef Limited Edition: The True-Blue Saviour
A durable diver’s watch that offers a water resistance of 300m, its 43.5mm stainless steel case, brushed and polished to perfection, houses a dial in a wonderful blue hue with a sunburst finish. The main feature that makes this timepiece stand apart from other diver’s watches in its class is a GMT complication that can track three different time zones—the regular hour and minute hands track local time, the central GMT hand points to home time on the scale inside the dial, and the bi-directional bezel can be used to track a third time zone.
The two-tone bezel, with a laser-engraved 24-hour scale, that goes from blue to black—perfectly representative of the deep blue seas—adds to the athletic look, while also representing daytime and nighttime. The hands and indices are infused with Super-LumiNova, making this watch a truly brilliant diving companion even in dark settings. A date window at three gives the watch more functionality than one bargained for.
Powering the timepiece is Oris’ calibre 798, an automatic movement that vibrates at 28,800vph and provides the wearer with a power reserve of 42 hours. While one cannot see the movement beating inside since the watch is missing a sapphire crystal caseback, the Oris Carysfort Reef Limited Edition does you one better. The screwed caseback of this watch has been beautifully decorated with etchings of coral, giving it an exceptionally unique look.
When it comes to straps, there are two options—either a stainless steel bracelet, with a steel security folding clasp, or an orange rubber strap that’s sportier. This coral hue even complements the accents on the dial and bezel that are in the same tone.
While earlier in the year, Oris had released this watch with an 18-karat yellow gold case and rubber-coated blue leather strap, limited to 50 pieces, this stainless steel variant is limited to 2,000 pieces. The watch comes in a box that has been made from sustainable algae—keeping true to the conservation theme that runs through this watch’s design and intention.
Oris, yet again, dives deep in its effort to assist in the protection of Mother Nature. It’s extremely heartening to see watchmakers do their bit in support of our vulnerable oceans and the incredible marine creatures that exist beneath the waves. Oris’ clarion call in support of the Carysfort Coral Reef is sure to be heard around the world thanks to an incredible watch that aids the work of an even more incredible organisation.
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