Renowned for producing specialist diving watches, Oris is
proud to introduce the new Oris Aquis with mechanical depth gauge. Oris proudly
states that this is the “first divers watch which measures depth by allowing
water to enter the timepiece.” So is this
a “poor man’s” X-Fathoms, or an innovative dive watch all its own? You can decide for yourself, below.
Oris engineers achieve their depth gauge by applying the
Boyle Mariotte Law (aka Boyle’s Law) which states that the absolute pressure
and volume of a given mass of confined gas are inversely proportional. Oris notes that “the indicator benefits from
no inertia, not delaying the accurate and actual depth indication –
particularly useful in decompression breaks in lesser depths.” The Oris Aquis
Depth Gauge is, not surprisingly, patented.
46mm steel case (water resistant 500 meters, unidirectional
black ceramic bezel inlay with minute scale), automatic mechanical Oris 733
movement, with date window at 6 o’clock, full box set (below)
How It Works
The special sapphire crystal, 50% thicker than an average
top glass, features a channel milled into the side which runs counterclockwise
round the dial, stopping between one and two o’clock. At 12 o’clock, a hole leads to this
channel. On descent, the air inside the
channel is compressed by the surrounding water pressure, allowing water to
enter through the hole at 12 o’clock.
The edge, in light grey and dark grey, differentiates between water and
compressed air on the scale around the outside of the dial, indicating depth
while descending or ascending.
As might have been expected for an instrument watch like
this, the case size is fairly substantial at 46mm, though a far cry from
Blancpain’s X-Fathoms which comes in at a monser 55mm.
While I’m making the comparison, I would also note the
extreme difference of the price tag — X-Fathoms at about $40,000, and this
piece — complete with box set shown above — for $3,500. A “poor man’s” X-Fathoms? You decide.
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