Hands-On With The New Oris Aquis New York Harbor Limited Edition II

We know Oris as a watchmaking company dedicated to reducing its environmental impact and supporting good causes around the globe. Today, I got a chance to go hands-on with the brand’s latest effort in that spirit. This is the Oris Aquis New York Harbor Limited Edition II.

This 2,000-piece limited edition supports the Billion Oyster Project in the Big Apple. Join me for a closer look!

The Billion Oyster Project

The Billion Oyster Project is one of New York City’s most ambitious environmental initiatives. Founded in 2014 by educators Pete Malinowski and Murray Fisher, the non-profit aims to restore one billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2035. Over 150 million oysters have already been reintroduced across 17 reef sites, filtering vast amounts of water and creating ecosystems that attract marine life. Each adult oyster can clean up to 50 gallons of water per day, while reefs act as natural storm barriers, much like coral in the tropics. As the founders put it, oysters are to the ocean what trees are to the forest.

Billion Oyster Project founder Pete Malinowski

Equally important is the project’s focus on people. Since its founding, it has engaged over 15,000 volunteers and 30,000 students in hands-on restoration work. This offers New Yorkers the chance to learn about marine science while actively improving their city’s environment. Millions of pounds of oyster shells are collected from restaurants and recycled to create reef structures, while students and community scientists monitor water quality and biodiversity.

The broader goal lies in changing attitudes toward stewardship. Challenges remain, from pollution to regulatory hurdles, but the trajectory is clear: collective action works. The Billion Oyster Project shows how even in one of the busiest cities on Earth, people and nature can come together to build resilience and create a healthier future. Oris has been involved since 2022, when it launched its first limited edition in support of the project.

The Oris Aquis New York Harbor Limited Edition II

The New York Harbor Limited Edition II is based on the regular Aquis Date, with a substantial 43.5mm multi-piece stainless steel case. It measures 13.1mm thick with a 51mm lug-to-lug span. The unidirectional bezel features a stainless steel insert with its 60-minute scale in relief. On the reverse side, the screw-in stainless steel case back features special New York harbor engravings. Oris rates the case’s water resistance at 300 meters. The watch comes on a stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp, and an additional aqua-green rubber strap is included for a more casual look.

Inside ticks the Oris 733, an automatic movement based on the Sellita SW200-1. It provides central hours, minutes, and seconds, along with a date aperture at 6 o’clock. Oris promises 41 hours of autonomy on a full wind.

The dial is where this limited edition makes its strongest visual statement. Its aqua-green mother-of-pearl offers the perfect thematic tie-in to the Billion Oyster Project. The rich texture plays with light, offering depth and great visual appeal. The applied indexes and hands come filled with Super-LumiNova, ensuring excellent low-light legibility.

Wearing the Oris Aquis New York Harbor Limited Edition II

A good story and a good cause go a long way, but in the end, the watch itself has to be great. So, is it? Admittedly, I have never been a fan of the 43.5mm version of the Aquis. This is purely subjective, but it feels a bit overpowering on my 18cm wrist.

This version is no exception. Still, how I perceive its size is barely relevant if you like it on your wrist. If that’s the case, I think you could do much worse than this New York Harbor LE, especially on the excellent rubber strap that brings out the dial perfectly. Let me elaborate on that…

Enjoying the color

Fit aside, the Oris Aquis New York Harbor Limited Edition II’s primary attraction is its dial. I first saw this new model in a relatively dark room, and I immediately thought it was a Bracenet edition. As I took the watch into the light, I noticed this was something else entirely. It appears bluer than the earlier Bracenets, and once the light hits the dial, you are in for something special.

The mother-of-pearl shimmers and glistens, as you would expect from the material. However, the effect is somewhat more subdued than typical, probably thanks to the aqua-colored treatment. What remains, though, is a surface that looks like water. It feels like you are staring at the surface of a tropical sea gently stirred by the wind. It doesn’t have that typical jewelry-esque appearance of most mother-of-pearl dials. Instead, it blends in with the oceanic theme of the watch, both conceptually and visually.

I particularly enjoyed the watch on its rubber strap, which mimics the darker shades of the dial. It makes for a very sporty and summery dive watch.

Closing thoughts on the Oris Aquis New York Harbor Limited Edition II

I am partial to the 39.5mm version of the Aquis. Still, that is about the only quarrel I have with the Oris Aquis New York Harbor Limited Edition II. I like that Oris opted for the Sellita-based caliber 733 to keep it accessible. I like the color and the unique mother-of-pearl dial. And then there is the Billion Oyster Project, which gives the watch relevance and a purpose.

All in all, there is a lot to like here and little to complain about. The Oris Aquis New York Harbor Limited Edition II is limited to 2,000 pieces and priced at CHF 2,550 / €2,550 / US$3,000.

What do you think of this limited model from Oris? Let us know in the comments section below!