Oris Aquis Lake Baikal Limited Edition: Malaysia Price And Review

Ditulis oleh: Alvin Wong Dicipta: 03 April 2020

Oris reaffirms its longstanding commitment to aquatic conservation.

Home to thousands of endemic flora and fauna, Lake Baikal in Siberia is a 25 million-year-old natural treasure that holds the world’s largest reserve of freshwater.  Its location between Russia and Mongolia and surrounding geography also leads to fascinating phenomena in the winter. Extreme winds and cycles of melting and refreezing build and sculpt works of natural beauty, such as wind-worn stone ‘totems’, undulating surface ice, dramatic icicles and frozen methane bubbles.

As a result, Lake Baikal has joined the ranks of a growing list of destinations under siege from sightseers. Official figures, recorded more than 1.6 million visitors in 2018 alone. Hence, the Unesco World Heritage Site’s popularity is also its curse, as it battles pollution, poaching and development. In fact, recent figures suggest that as much as 15,000 metric tons of toxic waste have flowed into Lake Baikal in recent years, while its formerly pristine shoreline is now swamped by rubbish.

This is where Oris comes in, with its mission to bring ‘change for the better’. Under this global initiative, it has previously partnered with non-profit organisations and conservation agencies with water and oceans as their main focus. For 2020, the Swiss watch company is partnering with the Lake Baikal Foundation to support the ‘Point No. 1’ conservation project run by the Scientific Research Institute of Biology at Irkutsk State University. It was set up in 2016 to monitor the rising level of pollution and counter it before it becomes irreversible. ‘Point No. 1’ is also the longest-running and most detailed environmental water-monitoring project in scientific history.

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To draw attention to ‘Point No. 1’ and raise funds for its invaluable work, Oris has released a watch dedicated to Lake Baikal. Just 1,999 pieces will be made, marking the year that Russia passed the Baikal Law to protect the lake. The Oris Aquis Lake Baikal Limited Edition is based on the Aquis Date and, therefore, comes with all the standard features of the diver line, from the 43.5mm brushed and polished stainless steel case to the Calibre 733 engine that’s based on the Sellita SW200-1, a favourite of independent and smaller watch companies.

But what sets this edition apart is the aesthetics of its standout dial and bezel, through which Oris captures the magic that happens when Lake Baikal freezes over in winter, resulting in an otherworldly hue. This phenomenon is under threat as scientists have noted that surface temperatures at the lake have risen approximately 1.5°C in the last 50 years. The uni-directional ceramic bezel’s insert is presented in polished dark blue with an engraved 60-minute diving scale. This syncs with the dial’s icy-blue gradient that starts off darker at the edges and lightens as it moves to the centre. To top it off, a sunburst finish mimics light as it is reflected by ice. Another highlight is the special insert on the caseback depicting the unique crevasses that form in the frozen waters of Lake Baikal, which remain transparent for up to a metre.

There’s no denying that the Aquis Lake Baikal is a cool take on a popular and familiar platform. But more than that, it’s worth a second look for what it represents, and that is Oris’ long-term commitment to cleaning, protecting and preserving the Earth’s water sources. The fact you get to do your bit to save its most important freshwater lake certainly doesn’t hurt either.

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