News: A Game-Changer For Affordable Mechanical Watches - The New Oris Aquis Date Caliber 400
Moving in-house is no small feat. To hear that independent brand Oris a few weeks ago had done just that, I was pleasantly surprised. So here it is, the Caliber 400—and it’s a game-changer for affordable mechanical watches.
Oris was founded in 1904, Hölstein, Switzerland
Let’s first talk about the watch it was released in. This is the Aquis, one of Oris’s most popular watches. A tough, robust tool watch—with a few new minor tweaks. Oris has taken the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to the new Oris Aquis Date Caliber 400. The date window has been slightly enlarged—resulting in the 6 o’clock marker being changed to a small luminous dot—and the bracelet now features a quick-change system. All the things that make the Aquis great remain—like the 300M of water resistance—and don't worry, it still has a gradient dial. This specific one transitions from a light blue to a darker tone matching the bezel.
Oris first released the Caliber 400 in October 2020
Right, enough of that, you have eyes—let’s get to the reason this watch is a game-changer: the shiny new in-house movement. Gone is the old Sellita movement, and with it that iconic red rotor-weight—but it’s not like you’re going to miss it. The new Caliber 400 has a 5-day power reserve. Yes, you heard me right; and that’s not all. The new movement is more efficient, and thanks to changes—like a one-way-winding rotor and a plethora of silicon parts—is also less prone to wear. The result: 10-year service intervals. Even the best of brands suggest you should service their watches at half that.
The Caliber 400 is Oris’s first in-house movement
This Oris has it all: an in-house movement, long service intervals, a pretty amazing power reserve; and as icing on a very metallic cake, a 10-year guarantee—oh, and did I mention, all that for under £3,000? Some brands are going to have to step it up. I agree with Oris: this is “The New Standard”.
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