ReviewCalling For A Sea Change: The Oris Whale Shark Limited Edition Is Here To Make Waves

Oris, as a brand, doesn’t need to fish for compliments. If the sophisticated appeal of their timepieces don’t win your admiration, the thoughtful themes behind them are bound to leave you in awe. Their latest creation is an addition to their ongoing mission to clean, restore and protect the world’s water and direct everyone’s attention towards the alarming ecological imbalance. Say hello to the Whale Shark Limited Edition—the timepiece that is putting a spotlight on the majestic sea-dweller and how human activity is pushing it to the brink of extinction.

Based on the Oris Aquis GMT diver’s watch, the Oris Whale Shark special edition is limited to 2,016 pieces. The number marks the year the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) made the landmark announcement of adding it to the endangered list. The most evident reminder is the stainless steel caseback with an engraving of a whale shark. A closer look will show you the blue dial sporting a special engraved pattern that is inspired by the whale shark’s skin. Let’s dive a little deeper into the cause that inspired Oris to create this new stunner, as we take a closer look at the timepiece’s features.

The watch's most distinguishing factor is the dial with its engraved pattern inspired by the whale shark’s skin

Whale Shark Tale

Whether the creature taking centre stage here is a whale or a shark is an interesting question, but what is happening to it is of far greater importance. Well, to address the first point, it’s not a mammal like a whale. It’s a fish and that too the largest one in the sea, and it can grow more than 40ft in length. To put that figure into perspective—imagine a yellow school bus swimming! However, don’t conjure up any images from the Jaws films as these sharks are not at all aggressive, and they even let swimmers grab onto them for a ride. Despite their massive size, these members of the prehistoric Rhincodontidae family just love devouring plankton and scooping up tiny fish with their colossal gaping mouths.

Whale sharks are not at all aggressive, and they even let swimmers grab onto them for a ride

Despite their massive size, they just love devouring plankton and scooping up tiny fish with their colossal gaping mouths

A whale shark can live for up to 70 years, but according to the IUCN, their population is decreasing and the species is heading towards extinction

It’s the largest fish in the ocean, and it can grow more than 40ft in length

Going by IUCN’s 2016 data, their global population had halved over the previous 75 years, owing to human activities that are destroying the oceans and endagering marine life

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Now, coming to the key issue… A whale shark can live for up to 70 years, but according to the IUCN, their population is decreasing and the species is heading towards extinction. Going by IUCN’s 2016 data, their global population had halved over the previous 75 years. The slow-moving gentle giants are becoming prey to legal and illegal fishing and even to collisions with boats.

In Search Of Solutions 

Not everyone is ignorant about or indifferent towards the dwindling number of whale sharks. Explorer and photographer Gerardo del Villar, for instance, is particularly concerned about the creatures’ plight. “They help to eliminate the weak and sick and to maintain balance with competitors, thus guaranteeing species diversity. Without whale sharks, ecosystems will collapse in the future,” explains the Oris ambassador, who has spent 15 years documenting the whale shark. “As top predators, they play an important role in the ecosystem by keeping species below them in the food chain, and as indicators of ocean health.”

Del Villar lists the creation of marine protected areas, spreading more awareness about whale sharks, and curbing sea pollution as a few possible measures to protect the species. However, it’s not a one-man job. A mission of this magnitude will always require a collective effort. No points for guessing who joined the crusade! Going by their track record, Oris have always been eager to play their part in conserving the environment, especially the marine ecosystems. “We’re not going to stop drawing attention to the issues facing the world’s water. We’re proud to work with Gerardo and support his work, but this is a drop in the ocean. To bring change for the better, everyone needs to play their part,” states Rolf Studer, Oris’ co-CEO. Oris continue to play their part, helping Gerardo spread the word via documentaries and exhibitions.

With the hands and indices adequately filled with Super-LumiNova, the dial is legible even at diving depths

The stainless steel caseback features an engraving of a whale shark

Charisma Beyond The Cause 

Apart from the noble cause it represents, the watch looks stunningly beautiful as well. Sized at 43.5mm, the polished, multi-piece, high-grade stainless steel case lends a sleek appearance despite being robust and water-resistant to 300m. The bidirectional-rotating GMT bezel has a ceramic insert in blue and black, to represent day and night. The GMT complication itself is a feature that many will appreciate, since it’s arguably one of the most useful timekeeping functions. The secondary time zone is indicated via a central 24-hour hand and a 24-hour scale, while you can simply rotate the bezel to have the hand indicate yet another reference time. Additionally, a date display sits pretty at three o’clock.

Sized at 43.5mm, the polished, multi-piece, high-grade stainless steel case lends a sleek appearance despite being robust and water-resistant to 300m

The bidirectional-rotating GMT bezel has a ceramic insert in blue and black, to represent day and night

The most distinguishing factor, though, is the dial itself, with its engraved pattern inspired by the whale shark’s skin. Ensuring a crystal-clear view of the textured display is the domed sapphire crystal glass, with its antireflective coating on the inside. With the hands and indices adequately filled with Super-LumiNova, the dial is legible even at diving depths. Powering the timepiece is an Oris 798 automatic movement that offers a 42-hour power reserve.

Presenting durability, fine craftsmanship, and attention to detail, the Whale Shark Limited Edition is not only a handsome timepiece to wear, it is also bound to be quite the conversation-starter. Encouraging conversation ranging from horology to ecology, wearers can also do their bit in spreading the word about the endangered whale shark.

Here For The Long Haul 

It’s not uncommon for luxury brands to raise awareness about environmental degradation by creating accessible and appealing products, but Oris especially commands respect because they have been doing this for quite some time now. Over the past few years, through collaborations with marine-conservation organisations, the luxury watchmaker has batted for a variety of different causes ranging from coral reef protection to combating plastic pollution. The Oris Aquis Lake Baikal dive watch, the Carysfort Reef Limited Edition, the Aquis Staghorn Restoration Limited Edition, the Ocean Trilogy (Great Barrier Reef III, Blue Whale, and Clean Ocean), the Source of Life Limited Edition and now the Whale Shark one, all speak volumes about Oris’ sustained endeavours.

At the risk of sounding cliché, this watch is a constant reminder that time is ticking. The future of this fascinating creature looks bleak unless the right measures are taken now. A watch may not change the world, but it can do its bit, as can you. And every drop makes the ocean.

In this short documentary, watch Oris ambassador Gerardo del Villar swim with the whale sharks, as he expresses his concerns for the gentle giants and the issues that threaten their very existence