The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven -Orisdelighted to introducetheir latest co-creation, the Sun Wukong Limited Edition, a 2,000-piece limited-edition version of our high-performance Aquis Date divers watch thats been designed and produced in partnership with the Shanghai Animation Film Studio Co. (SAFS).
The watch celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Chinese animated feature film, The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven, which was produced by the Wan brothers and originally released by SAFS in 1961 during the Second Golden Era of the Chinese film industry.
The Monkey King, or Sun Wukong in Mandarin Chinese, is a legendary mythical figure from the 16th century Chinese classic novel Journey to the West. The story tells of how Sun Wukong, a monkey born from stone, acquires supernatural powers before rebelling against heaven.
In the story, the Monkey King acquires a red pillar with golden tips that he shrinks to become a staff to fight his enemies and their unjust ways, creating the uproar described in the title. Today, the Monkey King is an icon of Chinese culture recognized around the world.
Reimagine a Familiar, Culturally Huge Significance in a Watch -The challenge with this charming collaboration was to reimagine a familiar, culturally significant story in a watch. Watches offer a small, largely static canvas howdoes one show the furious motion of a monkey with superpowers in such a small space?
Oriss designers saw an opportunity in the Monkey Kings staff, a magical red and golden pillar he uses to defeat his enemies. The seconds hand became that weapon, red with golden tips. To express how fast the Monkey King spins it in battle, the designers abstracted the form, adding repeating flashes of blue that diminish and return in size and color to suggest constant motion.
The effect is intoxicating, creating a tangible and yet otherworldly impression of a fast-spinning staff, which becomes almost audible as you look at it.
Beyond its unique, playful aesthetic, the Sun Wukong Limited Edition carries the same quality signifiers and refined silhouette the Aquis Date has become known for.
It has a 41.5 mm stainless steel case and a unidirectional rotating bezel thats equipped with an ocean blue ceramic bezel that plays an appreciable role in delivering the watchs singular character. Crown protectors, a screw-down crown and a stainless steel bracelet with an extendable folding clasp serve as a reminder of the watchs impeccable underwater credentials as the dial indicates, the watch is water-resistant to 30 bar (300 meters). Inside it is an automatic mechanical movement that provides the watch with its sweeping, spinning central seconds hand.
Completing the story, the case back is engraved with the head of Sun Wukong and his staff, while the same dial abstraction repeats on the special presentation case. Only 2,000 pieces will be made.
- Stainless Steel
- 41.5mm
- Blue Dial with Abstract Detailing
- Indices and Hands Superluminova BG W9
- Sapphire, Domed on Both Sides, Anti-Reflective Coating Inside
- Ocean BlueCeramic Minutes Scale Top Ring
- Round Unidirectional Rotating Bottle Cap Edge Bezel
- Special EngravedCase Back
- Automatic Winding Date Movement
- Three-Row Stainless Steel Braceletwith Deployment Clasp
- Limited Edition: 2000 Total Pieces
- Includes Special Box with Certificate