The Oris X Bracenet, A Special Edition Of The Aquis Date

Oris has been embracing sustainable materials for years, such as with the Oris Aquis Date Upcycle back in 2021 or the Dat Watt series. The brand also has a comprehensive sustainability report from 2022 that details many efforts to contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable world. A partnership with the social enterprise Bracenet has brought new upcycled dials from “ghost” fishing nets, which are debuting in the Oris X Bracenet. Benjamin Wenke and Madeleine von Hohenthal, founders of Bracenet, recycle these abandoned fishing nets that wreak havoc in the world’s oceans, creating bracelets, bags, keychains and now watch dials.

The two Oris X Bracenet special editions of the Aquis Date are differentiated by size, 43.5mm and 36.5mm in diameter, and both are 316L stainless steel. They’re otherwise aesthetically identical with unidirectional rotating bezels and grey ceramic inserts, partial crown guards and screw-down crowns. A domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating protects the dials and there’s a mineral glass exhibition case back. Both come with a three-piece steel bracelet with a security folding clasp, but the larger model features a clasp extension. Water resistance for both is 300 metres, well into professional depths.

The standout elements, of course, are the dials produced in partnership with Bracenet. The predominately green kaleidoscopic effect is achieved by taking green, blue and white fishing net pieces and carefully melting them into a raw material. This is then cut and sanded/planed into 0.3mm dial blanks that are free of glue, fillers or any additives. And like snowflakes or fingerprints, no two dials are alike as the production process is ultimately random, making each piece unique. The applied indices and hands are filled with Super-LumiNova (including the lollipop seconds hand), and a bevelled date window sits at 6 o’clock.

Powering this new pair of Oris X Bracenet watches is the Oris 733 automatic, based on Sellita’s SW200-1. It has 26 jewels, beats at 28,800vph (4Hz) and comes with a 38-hour power reserve. Functions include central hours, minutes, hacking seconds and the date. Seen from the exhibition case back, it’s well executed yet undecorated, although you do get the classic red Oris rotor. Accuracy is rated at +/-12 seconds per day.

Both models are priced the same at CHF 2,350, so it’s just a matter of choosing the right size. These are special versions of the Aquis Date, but not limited by number and will be available from September 2023 onwards. For more information, please visit Oris.ch or Bracenet.net.