ORIS Aquis Date SUN WUKONG Limited Edition [monkey magic]

This is a bit of stretch but does anyone remember the crazy Japanese TV show, Saiyūki AKA Monkey from the late 70s? 

You know the one with Pigsy, and they were always battling with monsters and demons? I used to watch reruns on Saturday afternoons when I was a little nipper back in the 80s.

What on Earth are you talking about? I hear you say.

Well, that whacky show was indeed based on a 16th-century Chinese novel about the legend of Sun Wukong AKA The Monkey King which is probably the most enduring piece of Chinese mythology that there is. 

The story tells of how Sun Wukong, a monkey born from stone, acquired supernatural powers before rebelling against heaven. 

The Monkey King was said to have acquired a magical red pillar with golden tips that could shrink down to become a fighting staff for battling his many enemies.

Now, just in time for Chinese New Year which btw is year of the tiger this year, not the monkey, Oris has dropped a pair of special Sun Wukong animated film inspired timepieces both of which use the Aquis diver’s watch as their base. 

The watches are collaborative effort between a Chinese animation film studio (which I might add is state run so likely churning out propaganda for the CCP) who famously created an animated film about the story of Sun Wukong.

The first monkey diver is the Aquis Sun Wukong Limited Edition of 2000 pieces which has been designed and produced in partnership with the Shanghai Animation Film Studio Co. (SAFS). 

The watch has been created in celebration of said Chinese animated film’s 60th anniversary, Uproar in Heaven, which was produced by the Wan brothers and released by SAFS in 1961.

There are of course one or two special Wukong features such as the use of the Monkey King’s staff which has been realized as the watch’s sweeping seconds pointer. 

There is also the dial itself which represents the Monkey King’s supernatural powers with its special dazzling blue radial effect.

Besides the watch’s whimsical Monkey King elements; at its core it remains an Aquis Date so comes with all the spec. that you’d expect to find on any model bearing the same name. 

It has a 41.5mm multi-piece, Stainless steel case with a unidirectional rotational bezel, equipped with an ocean blue ceramic inlay – 

while crown protectors, a screw-down crown and a Stainless steel bracelet with an extendable folding diver’s clasp, brightly glowing lume and 300m of water-resistance complete its diving credentials.

Power come from an automatic mechanical movement, protected from the rear by a solid steel case-back engraved with Sun Wukong and his magic staff, while the same radial effect of the dial is repeated in its special presentation box. 

The ORIS Aquis Date Sun Wukong Limited Edition watch has a Swiss retail price 2’350CHF. It is available now.

Thoughts? I’ll pass but here’s your chance to get a diver with a bit of Chinese mythology thrown in and let’s face it Wukong himself is pretty cool. 

If The Monkey King existed I’m sure he’d use his magical staff against Winnie the Pooh, if you get my drift?