Hands-On: Reflections On The Oris “Taste Of Summer” Aquis Date… In Winter

Back in May, Oris released this duo from its new Aquis Date series, aptly titled “Taste of Summer” with its watermelon-inspired color palette. Unless you’re located in the southern hemisphere, Summer seems very far away indeed at the minute, I’ll admit. But something about putting up my Christmas tree and other red and green decorations made me think back to this mini collection, which, with a little imagination, can take on a completely different tone within the context of the holiday season. And, to be honest, I’m having a bit of fun with the irony of using photos from peak summer as December is in full swing.

The Aquis has long been one of Oris’ most quintessential dive-oriented offerings, and this year at Watches and Wonders, the brand debuted its latest refreshment of the line. And with the Aquis Date models, not unlike the brand’s recent update on its Divers Date, Oris is opting for change in subtle but impactful ways. In the case of the Aquis Date, the cases have been slimmed down to 12.9mm, the lugs have been made to be more ergonomic with subtle changes in their curvature, and details like thinner hands help the overall aesthetic impact to read as more streamlined and sleek. Additionally, the bracelet across the line has undergone some tweaking, including making it more tapered, to aid in comfortability. Of course, Oris has also ensured that the key factors that made the larger Aquis collection a hit in the first place are all accounted for. These include the adventure-ready 300 meters of water resistance; the minimal, utility-forward design language; and pops of color here and there to keep things fun — which have become a hallmark of the contemporary Aquis identity. 

As we have already gathered, the “Taste of Summer” Aquis Date capsule collection is available either with a bright red dial or a vibrant green, both of which feature sunray-brushed finishes that bounce the light off their surface quite dramatically. One detail that stands out — and one I will argue that makes it feel more aligned with the holiday theme I’m going with here — is the white ceramic dive bezel. Paired with colored numerals that match the dial, the combination of white with red or green calls to mind images of Santa and his elves working hard in the toy shop, stockings hanging on the mantle above a crackling fireplace, and other images associated with general holiday merriment. Additionally, I think the white bezel helps ease the effect of the white date window at 6 o’clock. 

Both models within this limited duo take the form of the line's midsized option, with diameters of 41.5mm. As their movement, both models utilize Caliber 733, which uses the Sellita SW200-1 as its base, rather than Oris's staple Caliber 400 movement. Still, Caliber 733 is Swiss-made, with automatic winding, and has a power reserve of 38 hours.