Supplied in a huge (as a matter of fact, it measures the whole 46 millimeters in diameter!) titanium body, this gorgeous Oris Aquis Titan Chronograph (Ref. 674 7655 7253) offers you everything that you can expect from this kind of a timekeeper: an impressive water resistance rating, a bullet-proof self-winding movement, and an easily recognizable, iconic design. The whole nine yards, so to say. The only thing that may scare a number of people away is, perhaps, the recommended minimum retail price of almost $4000 USD, although it still seems justified to yours truly.
The timekeeper was originally presented during the last Baselworld 2012 trade show together with another rugged beauty: the limited-edition Tubbataha Regulator with a regulator-style dial layout.
Looking almost identical to the last year’s Carlos Coste Edition Cenote and, too, rated for pretty much impressive 500 meters of water resistance, the new Aquis Titan comes in a slightly smaller body, but, thanks to the nice combination of polished and machine-brushed surfaces and different materials, looks a lot more imposing and, well, professional.
While many recently presented divers are offered with either wholly or partly ceramic bezels, this new model features a not-so-common tungsten inlay, which, with its hardness of 7.5 on the Mohs scale, is even harder than most ceramic materials used in the watchmaking industry.
According to official info, some parts, such as the screw-down crown and the chronograph push-pieces at 2 and 4 o’clock, are done using high-grade stainless steel. Together with the inevitable helium escape valve (HEV, placed at 9 o’clock), they make the watch look even more interesting.
As usual for divers, the Aquis Titan has its applied hour markers generously covered with Superluminova. The hours, minutes and small seconds hands are also luminous, although they could have been slightly broader in order to increase legibility.
Inside this model is beating the well-known ETA Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph caliber. Graciously combining great reliability with impressive serviceability, the movement is still considered a de facto industry standard, even despite its advanced age.
A nice timekeeper, that. Also, Oris somehow managed to set the price right: at $3900 MSRP, you may spend a great deal of time trying to find a time-measuring device that would combine a titanium case, a good reliable mechanism, and an almost impeccable styling into the same extremely lightweight package: on a metal bracelet, it tips the scales at just over 180 grams, which makes it almost unnoticeable on a wrist of a normal man, but still gives it a sort of presence one expects from a well-built watch.
See also: Oris Artix GT Chronograph (Ref. 674 7661 4434)
Photos: Oris
Oris Aquis Titan Chronograph 674 7655 7253 specification
Price: $3900 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, caliber ETA Valjoux 7750, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 25
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 44 hours
Movement decoration: Branded, red-colored oscillating weight
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Case: Titanium
Bezel: Titanium ring with tungsten inlay
Shape: Round
Size: 46.00 mm
Dial: Dark grey
Numerals: Arabic
Hour markers: Luminous, applied
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 500 meters
Strap: Titanium bracelet with adjustable folding clasp
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Solid