ORIS – DIVING 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.”
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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.
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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.
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.
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“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.
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
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 2’800
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Special presentation box
Press Release - 2021
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