Introducing: The Oris Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun Limited Edition — Featuring An Engraved Blue-Green Mother-Of-Pearl Dial
Oris is on a roll in 2026. We’re only three weeks into the new year, and the popular Swiss independent already presents its third novelty. After an Artelier model dedicated to the Chinese Year of the Horse and a new tuxedo-dial Big Crown Pointer Date, here comes the limited-edition Oris Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun. It features a tungsten bezel insert and an engraved blue-green mother-of-pearl dial. The funds raised from sales and an additional auction will support the Changjiang Conservation Foundation (CCF). This foundation’s goal is to save endangered species and restore the Yangtze River to its former state as a lifeline while promoting social participation in its protection.
The Oris Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun focuses on the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise. The CCF is already on the right track: in 2017, there were only 1,012 of these porpoises, but by 2022, they had increased to 1,249. This is exactly the number of watches available for this limited-edition Aquis Date. Let’s take a look at the new Oris Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun Limited Edition.
The Oris Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun Limited Edition
I’ll start with the basics. Oris picked its muscular 43.5mm Aquis Date for this limited edition. That means the stainless steel case has a 13.1mm profile and a 51mm lug-to-lug span. This case features an almost fully brushed finish, except for the high-polished tops of the screwed-on crown guards and the steep slopes on the lugs. The finishing complements the brushed and polished three-row bracelet. As mentioned, the unidirectional bezel features a tungsten insert.
The limited-edition Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun is powered by Oris’s caliber 733. This is a Sellita SW200-1-based movement. It runs at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, holds a power reserve of 41 hours, and features 26 jewels. Its custom red Oris rotor isn’t visible this time. Instead, it lies behind a solid stainless steel screw-in case back featuring an engraving of a Yangtze finless porpoise and the watch’s unique number out of 1,249.
An engraved blue-green mother-of-pearl dial
The star of the show, though, is the engraved blue-green mother-of-pearl dial. Based on the press renders/pictures, the top layer appears to be matte, while the engravings seem glossier. The waves are inspired by the echolocation sounds produced by the Yangtze finless porpoise, and the blue-green color comes from the water of the Yangtze River. At each hour, there’s an applied marker, except at 6 o’clock, where you’ll find a cutout for the date window. Both the indexes and hands feature a substantial amount of lume for proper readability in low-light conditions.
The Changjiang Conservation Foundation’s 10th anniversary
As mentioned, the sales of the limited-edition Oris Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun support the Changjiang Conservation Foundation. The foundation’s goal is to save endangered species, restore the Yangtze River to its former glory, and promote social participation in its protection. Thanks to the foundation’s efforts, the population of Yangtze finless porpoises is growing. In 2017, there were just over 1,000, while in 2022, that number increased to 1,249.
This March will be the CCS’s 10th anniversary. Oris donated eight limited-edition Aquis Date watches that will be auctioned during the celebrations. The proceeds from the auction will fund public welfare projects aimed at protecting finless porpoises.
Available now
The Oris Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun Limited Edition is very on theme with its blue-green dial and engraved case back. It also fits within Oris’s long-term commitment to nature conservation. But even if you’re not directly drawn to the cause it supports, its design may resonate with you. I quite like the combination of the blue-green dial and the dark gray tungsten bezel insert. Sometimes, wavy patterns on dials can be a bit too much, but here, it feels quite toned down, and it nicely ties into the supported cause.
The Oris Aquis Date Yangtze Jiangtun is available now for €2,550 / CHF 2,550 / US$3,000. Let me know what you think of this new limited edition in the comments below.
