Introducing The Oris Aquis Hölstein Edition 2023 With A Purple Dial

Other than the purple dial and lack of a date window, this Aquis is an Aquis: 41.5mm diameter, grey ceramic bezel insert, steel case, and bracelet. It's powered by Oris' own caliber 400 with a five-day power reserve (we've gone in-depth on the movement before) for which Oris promises 10-year service intervals and provides a 10-year warranty. On the caseback, there's Oris Bear diving in his scuba gear. Why? "Because why not," Oris says. Fair enough – it is still a dive watch rated to 300 meters, after all. The watch will be limited to 250 pieces, available on Oris' website from June 1 for CHF 4,000 (~$4,400), a slight premium over the standard Oris Aquis Date Caliber 400. 

Oris makes clear that the Hölstein Edition is about having fun and making watches that hardcore Oris lovers are going to want. It's fan service, plain and simple. Some of the Hölstein Editions – take last year's travel-time Full Steel, for example – are more conceptual in nature. But Oris kept things a little simpler this year: It's the first no-date Aquis, something that Oris fans have surely been asking for, combining that with a gradient purple dial, one of the "it" dial colors of the past few years. 

It's a good-looking watch, and I have no doubt it'll sell quickly, which will have the rest of us asking: when will we have a non-limited Aquis with no date? For now, Oris says not to read into the Hölstein Edition releases too much. After all, it's not like they've added a Full Steel to their core collection. Unlike the Full Steel, though, a no-date diver is a commercial hit waiting to happen, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. 

Perhaps no brand is having as much fun as Oris right now, best illustrated by the Kermit Pro Pilot. What I love about this purple-dial Aquis (besides the removal of the date window) is that they didn't try to sell it too hard. There's no over-selling advertising copy about how the purple is inspired by the majestic sun rays that bounce off the mountains of Hölstein during the vernal equinox. Nope. Enthusiasts have been asking for a no-date Aquis, and purple dials have proven popular over the past few years. It's a pretty simple formula, really. And when you make good watches that people are asking for, you don't need to oversell them. 

Brand: Oris Aquis
Model: Aquis

Diameter: 41.5mm
Thickness: 13mm
Case Material: Steel with ceramic bezel insert
Dial Color: Purple
Lume: Yes, Super-LumiNova on hands and indices
Water Resistance: 300 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Steel bracelet; security folding clasp with clasp extension

Caliber: Oris Caliber 400
Functions: Time-only
Diameter: 30mm
Power Reserve: 120 hours (5 days)
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,000 beats per hour
Jewels: 21
Additional Details: Accurate to -3/+5 seconds a day; 10 year extended warranty with MyOris sign-up (applies to watch and movement)

Price: CHF 4,000 (~$4,400)
Availability: June 2023, on oris.ch
Limited Edition: Yes, 250 pieces