In case you missed it, last week Swiss watchmaker Oris launched its latest in-house movement with the now much lauded Caliber 400. Today, the brand unveils the first timepiece to contain the new mechanism, the new Aquis Date Calibre 400. The new model uses the same design as previous standard Aquis Date models, while containing, as its name implies, the updated, in-house automatic movement.

This Aquis Date Calibre 400 release follows what will likely be a predictable release schedule, as Oris works to update many of its well-known and most appealing models with the new movement. However, that the brand chose the Aquis Date as its first model to update with the caliber indicates the watch?s importance and market popularity.
The Aquis Date Calibre 400 is a 43.5-mm steel dive watch with angled lugs that provide an integrated appearance with the triple link bracelet; screwed-in, flat edged crown guards; and a large screw-down crown. Surrounding the nonreflective-coated, domed sapphire crystal is a sturdy ceramic unidirectional bezel with a 60-minute diving scale, its turquoise blue color matching the gradient blue used on the dial.

That gradient dial, which the Aquis collection is possibly best identified by, has a simple white-printed minute ring on its outer edges punctuated by lume-filled applied markers for each hour. The only exception is at the bottom of the dial, with the subtle 6 o?clock date window from which the model partly draws its name. (This...