Could A $19,000 Solid Gold Oris Dive Watch Be The Key To Saving The Coral Reefs?

Located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Carysfort Reef is part of the third-largest barrier reef in the world. CRF has been working diligently since 2014 to restore Carysfort Reef to its former glory, which was at its peak just over a half-century ago. But thanks to human-made pollution and climate change, most of Florida's reefs have been decimated.
 

This is why the Carysfort Reef Gold Limited Edition is so important. As a non-profit organization, CRF’s efforts are funded via private donations and public grants. After the launch of the Oris Aquis Staghorn Restoration Limited Edition, the CRF saw a surge in interest and awareness of their cause. With this second edition timepiece, the motive remains the same. Bring awareness and much-needed funds to the CRF.

“Coral Reefs have been around for over 500 million years, and they are the oldest and most biodiverse systems on this planet. In the last 30 years, we have lost over 50% of our world's coral reefs – and in the next 80 years, if things don't change, we're at risk of losing all of our reefs. We're talking global extinction. This is unacceptable in our eyes. We're not prepared to have an ecosystem completely go extinct on our watch." - Martha Roesler, Chief Development Officer at Coral Restoration Foundation

On the surface, Oris’ new Carysfort Reef Gold Limited Edition may appear like any other solid-gold dive watch. But in true Oris fashion, there is a meaning behind this release. And as we learned, CRF is always in need of funding to continue and expand their work. CRF had over 27,000 hours of volunteer time in 2018 and their methods are cost-effective, which allows them to replicate the practices of coral restoration in countries around the world. As we learned CRF will soon be expanding the scale of their restoration work. As Roesler explained, "We’ll soon be out planting greater numbers of corals to strategic reefs in the Florida Keys (including Carysfort) to achieve ecosystem-level recovery."

To start, Oris has donated three of the new Carysfort Reef Gold Limited Editions directly to the Coral Restoration Foundation for upcoming charity auctions, slated to occur in the united states in February, March, and April. These auctions will all feature a Carysfort Reef Gold Limited Edition in their lots. The hope is that the funds generated during these auctions will provide much-needed support for the CRF's ongoing project to restore Carysfort Reef.

Additionally, Oris has advised that funds raised via the sales of the remaining limited edition pieces (47 pieces in total) will go towards support the CRF’s work. I implore you to visit the Coral Restoration Foundation’s website to learn more.
 

“This partnership is central to our continuing mission to bring Change for the Better. Through the Oris Carysfort Reef Limited Edition, we’re really stepping up our ambitions and our contribution to returning the world’s corals to their original state. It’s a hugely important project, and we're excited by everything Coral Restoration Foundation is achieving through it.” – Oris Co-CEO Rolf Studer
 

(Photography by Watchonista)