Why The Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 Is My Grail Watch

Grail watches are supposed to embody the best. Best, however, is a subjective term. Thats why everyones grail is different. What I consider best for me is a watch that doesnt require careful handling. My best is a watch that can keep up with me in all that I do. Beyond that, I want the ultimate expression of capability in specs and design, as well as efficiency of material and cost. Thus, as far as my judgment is concerned, I want an Oris. And if Im buying tomorrow, I want an Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400.If my grail is a watch, the tower that keeps it is Oris, and I admit Im more enamored with the tower than the various potential grails within. Oris has spoiled me these past couple of years, and Im almost content with holding off to see what else the brand has up its sleeve (Caliber 402, anyone?). But if were all naming our grails (and we are), its easy enough for me to point to mine the 41.5mm Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 in blue.Not much of a grail, is it?For any of you keeping up with my most recent articles, there may be an exasperated of course and a throwing up of hands. Seriously, how many consecutive articles on Oris can I write? But this is a pre-meditated ending to a trilogy of sorts exhibiting Oris as Ive come to know it. All these articles played a part in building my case. Everyone else took one article to announce their grail. Me? I took three. Ill argue that its compensation (or an extended pitch) for such a humble grail.Regardless of whether you read the article on Oriss sustainability or the argument I made for the watch Oris is missing to make it the best, I expect most everyone can agree that sub-$10K is hardly grail territory. Grails are supposed to be an almost unattainable pinnacle of all that is sacred (in horology). They are what inspire knights (or us watch nerds) to embark on quests to attain them. But, as in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the holy grail need not be ornate. In my case (as for Dr. Jones spoiler alert), the grail is humble, plain, and full of piety. But it didnt use to be that way.My quest for the grail watchI started my watch journey drooling over the Omega Speedmaster no wonder I ended up at Fratello. Then I branched out to , Patek, and Vacheron Constantin. My head was on a swivel, daydreaming about one watch or the next. For a minute, I thought I wanted one of VCs M??tiers dArt the Les A??rostiers, the hot air balloon watch. A worthy choice, seeing that it costs over $100K. Choosing a grail at this echelon took on a form of escapism. If I were a person that owned that watch (dealers choice), I wouldnt be in the situation I was underpaid, overworked, and unfulfilled. Well, spending a luxury cars amount of money on a watch doesnt solve problems like that.Arriving at sensibleInstead, I transitioned out of the situations making me so miserable, and I continued window shopping for watches. But I was looking less at watches that took me out of my reality, and instead began mentally trying on watches that I saw accompanying me from where I actually was. Thats when I really started having fun. And I found that there is the best in regards to craftsmanship, materials, and pedigree, and best as far as how good a fit it is for me. Now entered into the game all manner of watches from Seiko, Sinn, and the like. Thats when Oris became a serious contender.Now theres a difference between a watch thatll work for me right now and a watch thatll work for me from now on. Ive purchased a couple of in-a-pinch watches that arent leaving my collection any time soon. Those arent grail watches, at least not to me. Its hard to game out until death do us part, but people get married all the time. If I could prepare for making that decision, buying a watch to wear forever is a piece of cake. And Oris in its product specs and design and my interpretation of what it stands for as a brand is a watch I can wear forever.Oris is plain, perfectedBecause when looking for the one, its almost all a specs game for me. I had Oris on my radar for years, but the release of the Calibre 400 changed everything. With the five-day power reserve, 10-year service interval, and 10-year warranty, Oris stepped to the conceivable end of whats possible in a workhorse mechanical movement. This snapshot in horological history in and of itself is almost reason enough for me to choose the Oris Aquis Calibre 400, but the reduced frequency of repair added an element of economy that sweetens the deal.If Im going to be marrying this watch, I want to have an idea of what to expect. A 10-year warranty is an unprecedented assurance in a watch. I dont know where Ill be in 10 years it seems far away enough to be a dream. But I expect Ill still be interested in watches and enjoying the outdoors. Thats a win for the Aquis Calibre 400 with the above-mentioned specs and 300 meters of water resistance.A company I can purchaseMy purchase and servicing of an Oris Aquis is an investment in the company as well. Yes, financially, but also as a brand and all the minutiae that comprise it. Im going to have the watch on my wrist. It will undoubtedly be representing something about myself, whether I like it or not (I do). Its all that Oris is doing on the whole environmentally, socially, technically that sells me on any particular watch. I love what Oris has done, and Im looking forward to seeing what it will do in the future.Torn between now and thenTherein lies the predicament. If Im choosing today, my grail watch is the Aquis Date Calibre 400. Its design appeals to me, of course. More importantly, it is a slice in Oriss and the greater watch industrys history marking the 10-year repair standard milestone (I know that the 41.5mm Calibre 400 wasnt the very first). But Oris is just ramping up, and I think theres a lot around the corner to look forward to. Honestly, I could buy the Aquis now and not beat myself up if and when Oris releases the next 400 variant. Like marriage, Ill make my commitment and then not look too closely at anything else. I have experiences to live and stories to make with the watch. Im a simple man (obviously), and besides, there isnt much that Oris could do that would make me want something more than a Calibre 400. Theres simply not anything more that I need.Not an exit watchThats not to say I wont buy another watch ever again. As much as I entertain the notion of a one-watch collection, which my grail would comprise, Im not letting go of the watches I already have without good reason. Im also open to purchasing more watches in the future. The role of the Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 as a grail is to become the one for me a watch that encompasses all of my serious interests in watches. After that, I can play. I can explore novelties, funky fashion pieces, and yes, I might even get a Speedmaster. But I will do so resting assured that Ive achieved my grail.And you know what? The secret is that grails change. The (usually) unattainable nature of them makes that an easy adjustment to make. Once attained, however, it becomes a different matter. But if I purchase the Aquis and my grail does change, at least I will have had the opportunity to have my grail. Thats more than most knights can claim.