Oris Celebrates Its Birthday With The Aquis Date Holstein Edition 2023: A Purple Dial And A Scuba Diving Bear
5 min read
Oris is a brand that presents exceptional value at an accessible price point. Its broader portfolio of contemporary as well as vintage-inspired neo-classic timepieces has carved an unrivaled reputation among passionate enthusiasts and seasoned collectors alike. It is however their special edition timepieces that really prove the metal for the brand.
Reliving the milestones of the company since its inception in 1904, Oris has been accustomed to a tradition of launching a special limited-edition timepiece on 1st June, a date that coincides with their debut 119 years ago. The fourth chapter of the “Hölstein Edition” delights us with a fun and delectably-quirky iteration of the Aquis diver’s watch. This will be the first no-date Aquis and the first with a purple dial.
Celebrating The Oris Story With A 250-Piece Limited Edition Timepiece
The Hölstein Edition 2023 is Oris expressing its playful and light-hearted nature while being damn serious about its watchmaking prowess. Continuing to foster the founding principles behind every inception at Oris, the 2023 edition aims to reconnect modern wearers with the joy, simplicity and traditional allure of mechanical watches while allowing them to cherish a level of high-quality Swiss Made excellence.
As expressed by Oris Co-CEO Rolf Studer when asked about the success of this idea, “Yes, absolutely. Clearly, the Hölstein Editions aren’t conventionally commercial. They’re more conceptual, left-field pieces that Oris fans and collectors are likely to be interested in. These watches are for everyone, but experience tells us they’re more likely to be enjoyed by people who really love Oris, who know and appreciate our story, and who are inspired by our values. Honestly, in a business sense, these watches don’t move the needle. But that’s fine. We only make 250 of them and in a way, they’re our gift to our fans. These watches won’t be repeated.”
The Spirit Behind The Concept: Why The Oris Aquis Diver’s Watch?
Oris as a watchmaker brand owns the sub $10,000 dive watch market with its Aquis Date model line-up. The 2022 release of the Caliber 400 placed Oris on a price-to-value pedestal that nobody has dared to approach. The Oris Aquis Date is undoubtedly the undisputed market leader in this segment. Three thousand five hundred dollars buys you exceptional refinements that the Swiss watchmaking brand has to offer. A 10-year warranty with 10-year service intervals is unheard of even in a territory at a higher price point. Let that sink in.
When asked if the Hölstein Edition is a novel concept or a familiar design, Rolf passionately replied, “Yes, that’s fair – and very deliberate! The first three Hölstein Editions were all quite high concept, especially last year’s which was based on the Full Steel of the late 1990s. That was a passion project for us because it recalled a special chapter in recent history, the last preconnected decade, and one that has become fashionable again. By comparison, yes, the Hölstein Edition 2023 is a simpler execution of the idea, and places the focus more squarely on the passions and desires of the Oris community.”
So, Oris did make the right choice by offering us a 250-piece limited edition of its Aquis model for the Hölstein Edition 2023 with a no-date version in a purple dial and with a fun side to it - you’ll need to flip the watch over for that!
The Hölstein Edition 2023 Is The First Ever “No-Date” Aquis And A Purple Dial Debutant
The evolution of the watchmaking tradition as well as the design ethos at Oris has held a strong reverence to the core ethos of the brand: Independence. This characteristic of the Maison isn’t showcased in a better beguiling extravagance, both in mechanical and aesthetic essence than in the Hölstein Edition timepieces.
For the 2023 Hölstein Edition, we get a playful iteration of the Aquis diver’s watch with a few fun twists. The dial color of deep purple and the illustration of the beloved Oris Bear diving in his scuba gear steal the limelight and intend to make the wearers smile. This is the first-ever “no-date” Aquis, Oris’ response to the requests from the faithful Oris community.
Oris Co-CEO Rolf Studer sums it up beautifully, “The Hölstein Edition 2023 is a symbol of inclusive luxury. Inclusive luxury is about not creating negative emotions, such as envy, but about positive emotions, focusing on what we’ve got, and sharing good moments with others. I don’t want to sound too serious. We take watchmaking seriously and we’re proud to do great work that people love, but we wear it lightly. Have fun. Enjoy life. That’s who we are. And that’s the Hölstein Edition 2023.”
Still A Rugged Diver’s Watch But With A Playful Soul
Oris never shies from going all-out even for its sub $5000 watches. The sporty allure of the evergreen Aquis diver’s watch is translated into a captivating purple-hued portal leading to the fun side of the brand with the Hölstein Edition 2023.
The watch is water resistant to 300 meters or 30 bar and tough to withstand the impacts of everyday wear.
Powering the watch is the amazing staple of mechanical excellence at Oris, their in-house Calibre 400, a game-changing automatic movement offering an impressive five-day autonomy. This movement boasts the watch with better than chronometer accuracy of -3/+5 seconds a day, elevated anti-magnetism of up to 2250 gauss, and the hassle-free bliss of 10-year service intervals.
A Unique Celebratory Twist On The Faithful Aquis Diver’s Watch
The Hölstein Edition 2023 is a gift-wrapped present from Oris to its faithful enthusiasts. Combining the ever-amusing mechanical charm of the Aquis timepieces with a well-executed yet fun color allure, the Hölstein Edition 2023 is inspired by the Oris Community.
Technical Specifications
- Case: Multi-piece stainless steel case, uni-directional rotating bezel with grey ceramic bezel insert
- Size: 43.50 mm (1.713 inches)
- Dial: Purple
- Luminous material: Hands and indices filled with Super-LumiNova®
- Top glass: Sapphire, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating inside
- Case back: Stainless steel, screwed, numbered engraving, Oris Bear printed motif
- Operating devices: Stainless steel screw-in security crown with crown protection
- Bracelet: Multi-piece stainless steel metal bracelet, security folding clasp with clasp extension
- Water: resistance 30 bar (300 m)
- Number: Oris Calibre 400
- Functions: Centre hands for hours, minutes and seconds, fine timing device and stop-second
- Accuracy: -3/+5 seconds a day (within COSC tolerances)
- Extra features: Highly anti-magnetic
- Winding: Automatic
- Power reserve: 120 hours
- Warranty: Extended to 10 years with MyOris sign-up. Applies to watch and movement. 10-year recommended service intervals
- Limited edition: 250 pieces, each watch is delivered in a special wooden presentation box
- Swiss retail price: CHF 4,000
- Available: June 2023
