Oris AquisPro Date Cal 400 Watch Review

Oris’ top tier divers’ model is the latest reference to be equipped with the Swiss watch brand’s new in-house Calibre 400. Now, the formidable yet lightweight titanium base of the Oris AquisPro Date Cal 400 watch delivers more than just underwater expertise but increased accuracy, a five day power reserve and an impressive 10 year guarantee.

Anyone remotely familiar with the Oris watch brand will have already come across their vast selections of diver’s watches. The Oris Divers Sixty Five is the dressy option, apparelled in a choice of vintage bronze with retro inspired markers and straps while the Oris Aquis is one of their most popular diving references providing all the necessary functionality of a robust divers piece with an aesthetic worthy of a formal occasion. The new Oris AquisPro Date Cal 400 watch, however, comes from a collection of its own originally named the “ProDiver” which is designed to serve professional divers on deep saturation dives. Now renamed to the Aquis Pro, the format remains almost exact to its former self but with a new in-house calibre at its core.

MOVEMENT

The Calibre 400 was first introduced late last year and unveiled within the iconic Oris Aquis. Its construction has already been well-celebrated particularly for its innovative rotor system that has been made more stable for the removal of the ball bearings. Instead, the component is replaced with a low friction slide bearing system in which a metal stud runs through a lubricated sleeve which ultimately involves far less wear and tear of the rotor. The automatic winding movement also promises elevated levels of anti-magnetism, an accuracy superior to even that of chronometer standards and a 10 year Oris warranty.

Thanks to the Calibre 400, the Oris AquisPro Date also delivers a healthy power reserve of 5 days assured by via two tin barrels, both of which house an extended mainspring each long enough to store two and a half days of power. As well boasting 21 jewels and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, on the front end, the movement provides classic central hands for hours, minutes and seconds and a subtle date window at 6 o’clock.

CASE

Like the Oris ProDiver watches before it, the newly named Oris AquisPro Date Calibre 400 is first and foremost a high functioning saturation divers’ tool with much of its impressive prowess centring around its case design. While large in size, coming in at 49.5mm in diameter, the instrument is kept incredibly lightweight thanks to high grade titanium profile plated in a low-glare black DLC coating and short lugs that allow it to contour comfortably to the wrist.

One of its most impressive features is Oris’ patented Rotating Safety System, often abbreviated by the luxury watch brand as “RSS”. This incredible technology was commissioned by the professional diving community and allows the wearer of the Oris AquisPro Date Calibre 400 to easily adjust and lock the unidirectional rotating bezel in place. When diving, especially at great depths, accurately measuring oxygen levels is a must and the RSS system guarantees this with absolute certainly, meaning even if the watch gets knocked, the bezel stays locked in place.

The patented unidirectional bezel is also adorned with a special rubber grip, chunky in shape, but necessary for allowing divers to effortlessly operate the instrument even when gloved. For optimal legibility on land and in water, the bezel of the Oris AquisPro Date Calibre 400 is adorned with bold yellow and white minutes scale engraved onto the wonderfully contrasting scratch resistant ceramic bezel insert. Both the titanium black DLC plated screw down case back and matching DLC plated screw in security crown ensure the Oris AquisPro Date allows for deep-diving adventures of up to 1,000 metres in water pressure (100 bar).

DIAL

Housed beneath domed scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass, the dial of the Oris AquisPro Date Calibre 400 is kept classically simple for optimal readability in all environments. Under its new name, the dial features some updates shared with many of the classic Aquis models but with the same distinctive wave pattern and highly luminous markers of the original ProDiver. White Superluminova dresses the applied indexes and central hands including the lollipop accent on the seconds hand.

STRAP

Unlike so many other diving watches which feature titanium cases but then stainless steel buckles, the Oris AquisPro Date Calibre 400 watch guarantees lightness and scratch resistant throughout with the black rubber strap equipped with a matching titanium folding buckle. The buckle is also equipped with Oris’ patented Sliding Sledge Clasp which can be adjusted to exceptionally fine tolerances without you having to take the strap off. The rubber band also features the Oris Safety Anchor, a technology developed entirely by Oris engineers to ensure that in event the clasp is released unintentionally, two hooks will grab the strap and the watch remains attached to the wrist.

PRICE & AVAILABILITY

As one of the highest spec Swiss Made mechanical divers watches we have seen in some time, we were amazed when we saw the retail price of the Oris AquisPro Date Calibre 400 watch at only £3,600. It’s affordable price point combined with its vast array of functionality guarantees the piece as a future best-seller. You can order your own Oris AquisPro Date Calibre 400 watch and other new Oris watch releases on the Jura Watches website here.

Specifications: Oris AquisPro Date Calibre 400 (01 400 7767 7754-07 4 26 64BTEB)

• Case Size: 49.5mm
• Case Material: Titanium with black DLC plating
• Bezel: Unidirectional, RSS system, ceramic insert with minutes scale
• Glass: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
• Crown: Screw in
• Case Back: Titanium, screw down
• Water Resistance: 1,000 metres (100 bar)
• Movement: Oris Calibre 400
• Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
• Power Reserve: 120 hours (5 days)
• Jewels: 21
• Frequency: 28,800vph
• Dial: Black with wave motif and Superluminova hands and indexes
• Strap: Black rubber
• Buckle: Black DLC plated titanium folding clasp
• RRP: £3,600
• Release Date: Available now