Oris Aquis Calibre 400 5 Day Power Reserve Watch Review
While most watchmakers focus on luxury, Oris is a brand that strives to find the optimal balance between luxury and practicality. Known for its sport and dive watches, Oris is at the forefront of pragmatic watches built for a purpose.
The recently unveiled Oris Aquis Calibre 400 combines functionality with an exquisite touch. It is contemporary and versatile in terms of design and performance.
The Exterior
The Oris Aquis Calibre 400 comes with either a stainless steel bracelet or a black rubber strap. Both options come with a security folding clasp and a quick strap change system. This allows you to switch between bracelet and strap simply by lifting a flap.
Both versions contrast exceptionally well with the beautiful casing of this watch. This timepiece has a 43.5mm diameter and a multi-piece stainless steel design which is polished and brushed. To further boost the aesthetic value of the watch, Oris gave it a unidirectional rotating bezel with a blue ceramic insert. This refined blue color fits perfectly with the polished steel build of the watch.
In addition to the superior aesthetic design of the watch, it is equipped with a screw-down crown with protection that makes it easier to adjust the settings of the watch. Furthermore, the steel case back, which is screwed, is built with sapphire crystal. This combination not only offers added durability to the watch but also boosts the stylistic qualities of the timepiece. At the same time, the dial of the Oris Aquis Calibre 400 is protected by a domed sapphire crystal coated with an anti-reflective material. While sapphire crystal alone is the best material to protect the dial, the anti-reflective coating further prevents bright lights from distorting the look of the watch.
The Dial
The color scheme of this watch is one of the best things about it, and the design of the dial is the reason why. The dial itself has a gradient blue color, and the indices and hands have been treated with Super-Luminova. This strontium aluminate-based substance gives the indices and hands a dazzling glow. This color scheme, paired with the bold case design of the watch, gives this timepiece the touch of splendor you would expect from a luxury watch.
In addition to the gorgeous colors of the dial, its design is also top-notch from a practical perspective. The large date window has been placed perfectly within the dial. Most watchmakers consider the placement of the date window an extremely tricky task, and Oris executes it flawlessly with the Aquis Calibre 400. To finish, Oris has also beautifully inscribed all five days on the dial.
The Performance
Performance is where the Oris Aquis Calibre 400 really shines. This masterpiece is designed with a caliber 400 automatic movement system with twin barrels. Much like the hand-wound Oris caliber 110, this movement system was designed entirely in-house by COO Beat Fischli and his team five years ago. Even after five years, there are not a lot of watches that offer a 5-day/120h power reserve like this one.
Apart from the specifics of the caliber 400, this watch is designed with silicon-based parts, including the escape wheel anchor. The anti-magnetic properties of these parts combined with the quality of the movement system give the watch an incredibly low deviation, even when exposed to high levels of magnetic induction. Under a 2250 gauss of magnetic induction, the Aquis Calibre 400 will deviate by less than 10 seconds.
One of the reasons why this watch gained popularity was because it is a dive watch designed with opulence. As the name would suggest, the Aquis Calibre 400 offers a 30 bar or 300-meter water resistance, which is considerable for a luxury watch. Whether you want to wear this watch while diving or to cruise in the ocean, its aesthetic qualities and performance will not disappoint you.
