Tuesday, February 16, 2021

ORIS – AQUIS GMT Whale Shark Edition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORISDIVING AQUIS GMT Date Whale Shark Limited Edition 2021

 Oris’s mission to bring Change for the Better
turns to the Earth’s delicate ecosystem and to a
watch that highlights the threat to the largest
fish in the ocean, the magnificent whale shar

Back into the deep

Oris’s mission to bring Change for the Better was born out of our conviction that we must act now to restore and protect the world’s delicate ecosystem

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Most of life as we experience it is on land. Because of this, it has taken us far longer to explore and understand the world’s oceans, but with every passing year, the picture becomes clearer. We now know, for example, that oceans cover three quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97 per cent of the Earth’s water, and represent 99 per cent of the living space on the planet by volume.

Evidence also shows us that oceans absorb around 30 per cent of the carbon dioxide we produce, offsetting the impacts of global warming. According to the United Nations, more than three billion people depend on the oceans for their livelihoods. And incredibly, $3 trillion dollars, or 5 per cent of the world’s GDP, is generated by marine and coastal industries. The oceans are the source of life.

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“$3 trillion dollars, or 5 per cent of the world’s GDP, is generated by marine and coastal industries”

Despite this, we continue to abuse our oceans. Pollution levels are now critical (particularly plastics – the UN estimates one million plastic bottles are sold every minute), and ocean temperatures are at record highs, leading to events such as coral bleaching, as highlighted by previous Oris releases.

As worrying is that according to the Smithsonian Ocean Portal, there are as many as 2,270 species currently listed as endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

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One of those is the whale shark, the ocean’s largest fish, which is the focus of the Oris Whale Shark Limited Edition. The new watch (see page 10), has been created as part of our mission to bring Change for the Better and to clean, restore and protect the world’s water. Specifically, it’s made in support of the work of Oris ambassador Gerardo del Villar, an experienced explorer and photographer, who began photographing whale sharks more than 15 years ago. 

We’re not going to stop drawing attention to the issues facing the world’s water, ” says Rolf Studer, Oris co-CEO. “We’re proud to work with Gerardo and support his work, but this is a drop in the ocean. To bring Change for the Better, everyone needs to play their part.”

Gentle giants

The whale shark can grow to be as long as a bus while feeding only on small fish.
But this fascinating creature’s future is in grave danger

The name is confusing. A whale or a shark? Scientists describe the whale shark as a fish, and not a mammal, like a whale. More than that, they say it’s the largest fish in the ocean.

Whale sharks are the ocean’s gentle giants. They can grow to more than 40 feet in length and over 20 tonnes in weight, giving them proportions similar to a yellow school bus. But they’re docile and have been known to allow swimmers to grab on for a ride, like a dolphin.

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They’re mainly found in tropical waters, and are known to migrate to the continental shelf off the central west coast of Australia every spring. They feed by jutting out their huge jaws and passively filtering everything in their path, consuming plankton and small fish, making them one of only three breeds to use the technique. Left to a healthy life,
they can live up to 70 years.

Without whale sharks, ecosystems will collapse in the future
Gerardo del Villar


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Open future

The whale shark feeds on plankton and small fish using a filtering technique. 
It’s not too late to save it

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But according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the whale shark is endangered and the population is decreasing. In 2016, the IUCN made the stark announcement that the global population of whale sharks had halved over the previous 75 years.

The causes of this steep decline? The IUCN said legal and illegal fishing, entrapment in fishing gear, and collisions with boats were responsible for the most deaths. In other words, human activity is largely to blame.

What makes whale sharks so important? “As top predators, sharks play an important role in the ecosystem by keeping species below them in the food chain, and as indicators of ocean health, ” says Oris ambassador and underwater photographer Gerardo del Villar, who has been documenting whale sharks for more than 15 years. “They help to eliminate the weak and sick and to maintain balance with competitors, thus guaranteeing species diversity. Without whale sharks, ecosystems will collapse in the future.”

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO


What can be done? This is the question that drives Gerardo. “We need to create marine protected areas,” he says. “We need to educate people about the importance of whale sharks. We need to curb pollution of the sea. And we need to fight against climate change. These are all essential to the conservation of this species.”

Over the page, Gerardo tells us his story and talks about his vision, his motivations and how we can all play a part in bringing the Change for the Better that will help secure the whale shark’s future.

A man on a mission

After 15 years photographing them, Oris ambassador Gerardo del Villar has a unique take on how to conserve the whale shark Gerardo, please do introduce yourself...

Gerardo, please do introduce yourself...

 Hi, my name is Gerardo del Villar and I’m an explorer, photographer and speaker. I started life on a ranch in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. I was a restless boy and once was a bullfighter, but now I’m one of the world’s most recognised underwater photographers. In normal times, I travel a lot, sometimes exploring, or giving motivational speeches at international conferences.

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Time to bring Change for the Better

Oris and ambassador Gerardo del Villar share a passion for conserving the world’s marine ecosystems

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What is a whale shark and why are you so fascinated by them?

Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean and are the only members of the prehistoric Rhincodontidae family. Scientists believe that the whale shark species originated around 60 million years ago. I’m fascinated by that, but also by their importance to the ecosystem. They’re also often considered to be the friendliest giants in the ocean thanks to their peaceful nature and their diet of microscopic plankton and ocean nekton. Worryingly, the global population of the whale shark has decreased more than 50 per cent in the last 75 years. It’s now listed on the IUCN Red List as endangered globally.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO


Coming up for air

Despite the name, the whale shark is considered the gentle giant of the ocean. Not many know its story

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How long have you been tracking them?

I’ve been photographing sharks for more than 15 years. My fascination with sharks came from my parents and my grandfather, who told me about their adventures in the sea.

Why are whale sharks so important?

As top predators, sharks play an important role in the ecosystem by keeping species below them in the food chain, and as indicators of ocean health. They help to eliminate the weak and sick, and to maintain balance with competitors, thus guaranteeing species diversity. Without whale sharks, ecosystems will collapse in the future.

What are its main threats?


The whale shark is a delicacy in many parts of the world and people pay very high prices for its meat, gills, oil and fins for shark fin soup.
Demand in international markets is high and whale sharks continue to be fished to meet this demand, especially in areas where fisheries are not regulated. We mustn’t forget that accidental fishing is a threat, too.

How can we overcome these threats?

We need to create marine protected areas. We need to educate people about the importance of whale sharks. We need to curb pollution of the sea. And we need to fight against climate change. These are all essential to the conservation of this species.

How can we as world citizens play our part in whale shark conservation?

I always say there are 10 things we can do from our own homes. 

1. Do not eat shark fin soup. 
2. Help spread the word so that we can change the persecution of these misunderstood predators. 
3. Understand why they are fundamental for the balance of marine ecosystems. 
4. Learn about the shark species that are in danger of extinction. 
5. Do not consume products that are produced or derived from the organs of sharks. 
6. Do not encourage the purchase of souvenirs that come from sharks. 
7. Don’t buy or keep shark species in fish tanks. 
8. Avoid eating shark meat. 
9. Find out what measures exist in your country for the protection of sharks. 
10. Join an association dedicated to protecting sharks.


Why did you partner with Oris and how has it impacted your work?

I liked Oris’s passion for taking action to protect marine ecosystems, and its dedication to communicating it to people. Our partnership has helped me spread the word, make documentaries, host exhibitions and conserve endangered marine creatures, such as the whale shark.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

“The Oris Whale Shark Limited Edition is like a message to this beautiful animal – go your own way”

You’re about to release a series of short films with Oris – what are these about?

The idea is to help people get to know the wonderful whale shark more closely, and to encourage them to get involved in conservation, before it’s too late.

What do you think of the watch?

The watch is an inspiration, showing us that even in difficult times we have to keep pressing ahead. I’m so excited that the whale shark has its own watch, with a special shark skin effect dial. It’s like a message to this beautiful animal to always go your own way.

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Technical Specifications

Collection: DIVING   

Model: AQUIS Whale Shark Edition

Ref. no. 01 798 7754 4175 – Set

Limited to 2,016 pieces

Case
Material Multi-piece stainless steel case,
bi-directional rotating blue and black (day/night) ceramic bezel with GMT scale
Size 43.50 mm, 1.713 inches
Top glass Sapphire, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating inside
Case back Stainless steel, screwed, special engravings with the
 limited edition number and a special Whale Shark motif
Operating devices  Stainless steel screw-in security crown
Water resistance 30 bar/300 m
Interhorn width 24 mm
Movement
Number Oris 798, base SW 330-1

Dimensions Ø 25.60 mm, 11 1/2’’’ 
Winding Automatic
Power reserve 42 hours
Vibrations 4 Hz (28’800 A/h)
Jewels 25

Functions  Centre hands for hours, minutes, seconds and 
24 hours, date window at 3 o’clock, instantaneous  date,
date and 24-hour corrector, fine timing device and stop-second  
Dial
Blue, with special engraved pattern nspired by whale shark skin
Hour markers and hands filled with Super-LumiNova®
Strap  
Stainless steel metal bracelet with stainless steel security folding clasp with extension

Availability February 2021
Swiss retail price CHF 2800

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 Special presentation box


Limited to 2,016 Pieces
 
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Press Release - 2021
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