Oris continues to show that mechanical watches can be more than just instruments for measuring time. With the Yangtze Jiangtun Limited Edition, the brand presents a new version of its well-known Aquis Date, created in collaboration with the Changjiang Conservation Foundation (CCF). The result is a limited dive watch that combines technical performance with a clear message about nature conservation.
A collaboration with a long-term focus
Oris has for many years worked closely with organisations actively dedicated to protecting the world’s water environments, through its “Change for the Better” programme. In this case the focus is on the Yangtze River in China and the critically endangered finless porpoise, locally called jiangtun. It is today the last remaining freshwater cetacean in the country, and the population has long been under heavy pressure. Through the collaboration with the CCF, Oris wants both to contribute financially and to create awareness around the ongoing conservation work. The watch is made in 1,249 pieces, a figure that is not random — it corresponds to the most recently estimated population of the species (recorded in 2022, up from just 1,012 in 2017).
Aquis Date 43.5 mm — familiar base, new details
The base is the Oris Aquis Date in 43.5 mm, a model that has established itself as one of the brand’s most robust and usable sports watches. The case is made of stainless steel and combined with a unidirectional rotating diving bezel with a tungsten insert, which gives both wear resistance and a distinct feel. The water resistance is specified at 300 metres, and the watch is equipped with a screw-down crown, clear guards, and generously sized indices and hands with Super-LumiNova. Recently updated with shorter, more ergonomic lugs and a slimmer 13.1 mm profile, this is fundamentally a dive watch built for active use rather than a pure concept piece.
The dial that tells the story
What sets the Yangtze Jiangtun Limited Edition apart is above all the dial. Here Oris uses a blue-green mother-of-pearl material that catches the light in a lively way, inspired by the surface of the Yangtze River. On top of the mother-of-pearl a wave-form pattern has been applied — a motif that takes its shape from the sound waves of the porpoise’s echolocation (the ultrasonic clicks it uses to navigate the cloudy water). It is a discreet but considered detail that gives the dial depth without compromising legibility. The overall impression is technical, modern, and clearly connected to the story behind the model.
Engraved caseback and limited numbering
On the back of the case the theme continues. Here there is a relief engraving of the Yangtze porpoise, together with individual numbering from 1 to 1,249. It is a clear marking that this is a limited edition, but also a reminder of why the model exists at all. Inside works the Oris Calibre 733, a Swiss automatic movement based on the Sellita SW200-1. It offers central seconds, date display, quickset, and hacking seconds, plus a power reserve of around 41 hours (4 Hz) — proven technology that suits the Aquis line’s tool focus.
An Oris model that suits collectors and users
The Yangtze Jiangtun Limited Edition is aimed at those who appreciate Oris’s philosophy: functional watches with a clearly values-driven content. The size of 43.5 mm makes the model present on the wrist, but thanks to the ergonomics of the Aquis case it is worn in a balanced way even over longer use. The steel bracelet with folding clasp reinforces the feeling of a serious sports watch, while the design is understated enough to work in everyday life.
Availability and context
The model (reference 01 733 7789 4197) launches in January and is sold in a limited edition globally, priced at CHF 2,550 (around USD 3,000). A part of the proceeds goes to the Changjiang Conservation Foundation’s work, where the focus is on research, education, and practical efforts to secure the species’ future and improve the Yangtze River ecosystem; Oris also donated eight watches to be auctioned for the foundation. For another recent Oris limited edition, see our look at the Oris Year of the Horse Limited Edition.
What is the Oris Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun Limited Edition?
A 43.5 mm Aquis Date dive watch made with the Changjiang Conservation Foundation to support the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise, with a blue-green mother-of-pearl dial.
How limited is it and why 1,249?
1,249 pieces — the number matches the most recently estimated population of the Yangtze finless porpoise, and each caseback is numbered 1 to 1,249.
What movement does it use and what does it cost?
The Oris Calibre 733 (based on the Sellita SW200-1) with a 41-hour power reserve, priced at CHF 2,550 (around USD 3,000).
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