There is a quiet poetry in Oris’s decision to return to New York Harbor. Beyond the raw numbers and specifications, it is a watch that embodies a philosophy, a union between Swiss mechanical tradition and the determined efforts of the Billion Oyster Project. The New York Harbor Limited Edition II is not simply a diver reinterpreted in a novel livery. It is a symbolic piece, carefully designed to remind its wearer of the ocean’s renewal power and the role humanity plays in both its decline and restoration. At its heart lies an Aquis Date, yet it steps above the ordinary through its aesthetic flourishes and its alignment to an ecological mission that continues to gain momentum.
A dial sculpted by the ocean’s story
The first encounter with the Aquis Date New York Harbor LE II is with its dial, and here Oris has given special attention. The surface presents itself in a radiant aqua green, a shade that oscillates between light turquoise and seafoam, depending on how it catches the light. Oris has chosen mother-of-pearl as the canvas, using its natural iridescence to craft an effect that recalls the inside of an oyster shell. This detail is less decorative flourish and more conceptual anchor, positioning the watch squarely within the narrative of restoration.
The indices are bold, applied, and filled generously with Super‑LumiNova, creating excellent legibility in low light without overpowering the dial’s natural lustre. The hands follow the familiar sword‑like outlines of the Aquis family, defined and purposeful with strong luminous material. The date window remains discreet, positioned at six o’clock, keeping the dial balanced and symmetrical. It is functional, but it is clear that Oris has resisted the temptation to let it disturb the aquatic, almost liquid beauty of the dial surface.
The calibre within – Oris 733
Turning the watch over, one finds a closed steel caseback specially engraved for the edition, reminding the owner of its limited run. Behind this, however, ticks Oris Calibre 733, a movement deeply rooted in Swiss reliability. Based on the venerable Sellita SW200-1 architecture, it is not a manufacture calibre, but one that has stood the test of time in terms of serviceability and robustness.
Calibre 733 runs at a modern 4Hz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour, ensuring precise sweep of the seconds hand. The movement delivers approximately 41 hours of power reserve, reasonable for a watch in this category, though short of today’s increasingly longer autonomy standards. Oris has wisely retained the stop-seconds function, reliable quick‑set date, and fine timing device, giving the wearer a practical suite of functionalities.
What the movement may lack in luxurious finish it recovers in pragmatism. It is hidden anyway, permitting the watchmaker in Hölstein to direct the cost savings towards other areas of craftsmanship, while ensuring that the end wearer receives a accurate, durable calibre. This is the philosophy of Oris: honest watchmaking for daily use rather than unnecessary pretence. In a way, it echoes the project it supports—the emphasis lies not on ostentation but on practical, tangible impact.
The architecture of the case
The New York Harbor LE II remains faithful to the Aquis Date’s reputation as one of the most competent and versatile modern divers. Its multi‑piece stainless steel case measures 43.5 millimetres in diameter, with a thickness of 13.1 millimetres and 51 millimetres lug‑to‑lug. These proportions place the watch squarely in the realm of contemporary diving instruments, delivering wrist presence without becoming ungainly. The dimensions are supported by careful case design—the tapering lugs and integrated bracelet construction balance the scale when worn.
The unidirectional bezel, also in stainless steel, features a relief minutes scale, a tactile and precise mechanism that holds its place securely with each click. Both dial and movement are shielded beneath a sapphire crystal, domed on both sides with anti‑reflective coating applied internally to ensure clarity under all angles of light.
Water resistance is rated to 300 metres, or 30 bar, satisfying the functional promise of a professional diving watch. The crown is screw‑down, secure and protected by finely integrated guards, while the caseback, screwed in steel, carries striking engravings for the edition.
Completing the case is Oris’s versatile bracelet system: a multi‑piece stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp and diver’s extension, matched by an additional aqua green rubber strap, also on folding clasp. It is a thoughtful inclusion, recognising that the character of the watch shifts considerably depending on the chosen strap, steel for urban daily wear, rubber for literal immersion in the element it celebrates.
A watch with a harbour’s worth of meaning
The Oris Aquis Date New York Harbor Limited Edition II is not simply a watch that borrows the ocean’s colours for visual effect. It is anchored to a tangible, ambitious project that has already restored some 150 million oysters to New York’s waters, helping to filter and revitalise the harbour. Each watch supports this effort not symbolically but financially, carrying forward the work of educating thousands of students and engaging entire communities.
As an object on the wrist, it delivers precisely what one expects from an Oris Aquis: robustness, clarity, capability in water, and daily‑wear comfort. As a story, it resonates well beyond specification sheets: it is about connecting the individual to the collective, about reminding us that change happens when many small efforts align.
Priced at CHF 2,550 and limited to 2,000 pieces, this Aquis is more than a special dial executed for a charity. It is the continuation of Oris’s role as an activist brand, where every limited edition is linked to a real cause that extends hope. If oysters are to the ocean what trees are to the forest, then this watch is a seed: a small but significant catalyst in the long‑term restoration of New York’s waters.
A Collector‑Minded Perspective
When Oris released the first New York Harbor Limited Edition in 2022, it struck a particular chord with collectors because it came out of nowhere. The 41.5 mm Aquis with its shimmering green mother‑of‑pearl dial was unlike anything else in Oris’s catalogue. It wasn’t a sterile nod to “green for the ocean,” but an artistic execution that looked alive, unique under each ray of light. Collectors understood instantly: this was one of those Oris cause‑driven limited editions that was both wearable and story‑rich, and because only 2,000 pieces existed, supply was tight from the beginning.
Billion Oyster Project (2022)
On the secondary market today, the first edition often appears above its retail launch price, depending on condition and completeness of packaging. Its relatively modest size by professional diver standards (41.5 mm) and its position as the first of the line give it a special desirability, particularly since Oris’s LE strategy for environmental causes has tended to spawn follow‑ups, creating a hierarchy where the original becomes the pioneering reference.
The second wave – wider, louder, potentially stronger?
The new Aquis Date New York Harbor II at 43.5 mm clearly appeals to a slightly different profile of buyer. It is not the discreet Aquis that surprised collectors with its softer dimensions. Instead, it is the full‑bodied professional case size that Oris usually reserves for impact. This watch is bold, assertive, and designed to wear with presence. For long‑time Oris fans, the larger case feels coherent with the line’s DNA. For purist collectors, though, the earlier 41.5 mm carries more charm, almost boutique in its restraint.
From a collectability standpoint, the II has several factors in its favour. Oris wisely included a stainless steel bracelet and an additional green rubber strap, which increases practicality and versatility—traits that help resale traction in the long run. The identical 2,000‑piece limitation places it on equal footing with the first edition in terms of rarity. And crucially, the timing speaks volumes: three years into the partnership, with 150 million oysters restored, the watch now connects to real-world results rather than just ambition. That ecological credibility is something collectors, particularly younger ones, deeply value.
Positioning in the Oris LE ecosystem
Oris has built a distinct niche in limited editions tied to environmental or cultural causes. From the Great Barrier Reef trilogy to the Dat Watt tidal editions and the Lake Baikal LE, the brand has used its Aquis platform to elevate causes with consistent narrative depth. The New York Harbor partnership is one of the most urban and community-centric. It is not about a distant natural wonder, but about a gritty, human‑touched harbour in the heart of the world’s busiest city. That framing is unique, and it gives both editions long‑term resonance in the Oris timeline of purpose‑driven LEs.
For collectors, having both the original and the sequel creates a diptych that tells the full story, where it began and where it matured. Typically in such pairings, the first edition ages into “the classic,” while the sequel benefits from improved detail execution and market availability at retail, at least initially.
Market outlook – what to expect
In the near term, the LE II is likely to be easier to acquire than the 2022 debut, if only because awareness has shifted, and Oris produces in considerate but not hyped volumes. But as seen with other Oris environmental editions, once the allocation dries up, secondary availability shrinks quickly. The $2,550 retail price keeps it accessible to a large enthusiast base, adding pressure to the limited pool.
Collectors will likely maintain a preference for the 2022 first edition as the category pioneer with the more compact and versatile 41.5 mm case. Yet over the long term, the 2025 follow‑up will hold real significance because it marks the phase where the Billion Oyster Project had already proven effectiveness. It will always be remembered as the “results edition,” tethered to the milestone of 150 million oysters.
Final collector’s note
For anyone weighing whether to add the Aquis Date New York Harbor II to a collection: if you already own the first, the second makes a natural continuation, a thematic pair that no other brand offers. If you missed the initial release, this sequel is the stronger daily wearer thanks to its bracelet and bolder scale, and it keeps the same rare link to tangible ecological work. Oris has proven that it does not treat collaborations as marketing one‑offs but as multi‑year journeys. That consistency is exactly what collectors look for: a brand building an archive of meaning, not just a catalogue of novelties.
Oris Aquis Date New York Harbor Limited Edition II Technical Specifications
Ref. 733 7789 4187 07-Set – CHF 2’550 / 2.550,00 EUR, Limited edition 2,000 numbered pieces
Movement
- Oris Calibre 733
- Functions: Centre hands for hours, minutes and seconds, date window, instantaneous date, date corrector, fine timing device and stop-second
- Winding: Automatic
- Power reserve: 41 hours
- Frequency: 4Hz / 28,800 vibrations per hour
Case
- Multi-piece stainless steel case and uni-directional rotating bezel with stainless steel insert and minutes scale in relief
- Size: 43.50 mm
- Thickness: 13.10 mm
- Lug to lug: 51.00 mm
- Top glass: Sapphire, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating inside
- Case back: Stainless steel, screwed, special engravings
- Operating devices: Stainless steel screw-in security crown
- Water resistance 30 bar (300 m)
Dial
- Aqua green mother-of-pearl
- Luminous material Hands and indices filled with Super-LumiNova®
Bracelet/strap
- Multi-piece stainless steel metal bracelet with folding clasp
- Additional aqua green rubber strap with stainless steel folding clasp
