Adopt-A-Coral: Introducing The Milus Archimèdes Orange Coral

Supporting a good cause is always a virtuous act. But being able to contribute to Earth’s preservation by acquiring a cool and efficient tool-watch is a proposition that my collector’s heart can’t pass up.

Nowadays, there is no doubt sustainability is an issue everyone should be working towards through daily action. You never know how the smallest shift in the direction of better sustainability could help the ecological cause. After all, even the mightiest rivers are made of little streams.
 

As such, Milus recently introduced the Archimèdes Orange Coral and announced a long-term partnership with Coral Guardian – an international marine conservation organization dedicated to protecting coral ecosystems. So we here at Watchonista decided it was important to cover this initiative and the fruits of Milus’ new partnership.

Yet, despite its importance, I certainly wasn’t expecting to order one of the 50 specimens of the Milus Archimèdes Orange Coral for myself when I decided to do this review. As I did when my friend Eric Giroud and I discovered the Milus Snow Star at Baselworld 2019, I was so completely seduced by the quality and simplicity of the Archimèdes Orange Coral that I once again immediately ordered one.

Since its founding in 2012 by co-founder and marine biologist Martin Colognoli, the Indonesia-based Coral Guardian worked with a team of experts to find the best method for introducing relocated coral and other marine wildlife. And after years of research and development, the team finally found an efficient technique via the attachment of coral to stainless steel wires within larger, easy-to-make metallic frames.
 

Then, to help the organization make use of this important technique, Coral Guardian developed a program called “Adopt a Coral,” whereby donors physically adopt and name a section of coral used to restore the damaged reefs around Hatamin island. Donors even receive a certificate of adoption with a picture and all information about the location. Thus far, Coral Guardian has transplanted 40,000 corals as a result of the “Adopt a Coral” initiative.
 

With the release of the 50 limited edition pieces of the Milus Archimèdes Orange Coral, the brand will contribute a portion of the sales to Coral Guardian by adopting a coral in the name of each clientIt didn’t take me long to pick the name of my adopted coral. I am happy to introduce you to “Watchonista,” which was transplanted onto a reef in the Flores Sea near Hatamin island on August 2^nd, 2021.
 

While it is true that by purchasing a Milus Archimèdes Orange Coral, you will definitely have a personal impact on coral preservation, you will primarily own one of the most legendary tool watches on the market in a cool contemporary execution.
 

Introduced by Milus in 1960, the Archimèdes 666 used a patented case design developed by case manufacturer Ervin Piquerez (EPSA) in 1956. The innovative “super compressor” case included a revolutionary spring-loaded caseback that pressed against the rear gasket as water pressure increase and an inner bi-directional timing bezel activated by a dedicated screw-down crown. At the time of the Archimèdes 666’s introduction, only a few watch brands decided to use this innovative case, so now, “super compressor” cases are considered collectibles and appreciated for their continued relevance as a technical approach.
 

But it wasn’t until the 1970s, with the release of the Archimèdes Super Compressor, that the brand introduced the Archimèdes models with the most similarities to today’s collection.