The sinking of the former USS Kittiwake as an artificial reef off Seven Mile beach took place a year ago this month. It was a momentous occasion, one worth celebrating and remembering. In this spirit, Island Companies approached Oris, a watchmaker with deep roots in the diving community, to create a limited edition watch to celebrate the unique dive site as well as the Cayman Islands.

According to Michael Jappert of Islands Companies, the cooperation with Oris produced a truly unique watch.

“Oris creates real watches for real people, and here in Cayman we have such a lifestyle with ocean specific sports that watches that are functional and purpose built are the perfect fit,” he says.

“Last year right after the sinking of the Kittiwake we saw a great opportunity and synergy. Rarely do you get the opportunity as a company to work with a brand partner like Oris on the creation of a limited edition like the Oris Kittiwake.”

The resulting watch truly reflects the functional and purpose built nature of Oris watches, and includes a full rotation safety system that allows you to gauge your time under water, with a screw down crown to prevent any accidental adjustments. For those who attempt really deep dives, it even includes an automatic helium valve. The bracelet also includes an extension for use over a wetsuit so you do not have to adjust the strap.

However, in order to keep all of this from weighing you down, the bracelet is made from titanium, which results in a watch that is remarkably light for its size and functionality.

The watch also features the diver down flag on the front, with the Kittiwake logo on the back, making it a true limited edition piece. And with only 500 pieces created, you won’t find many people wearing one.

“When it’s over, it’s over,” says Michael.

The first watch, number one of 500, never left the Oris factory and as with all limited edition watched went straight into the company collection, while watch number two was auctioned off at the Hedge Funds Care event last year.

Until March this year, Island Companies in Cayman has the global exclusive on the watch, fittingly so for the company who initiated the creation of this limited edition.

“The USS Kittiwake is a great dive site. People are coming here specifically to dive the site, and they get the opportunity to purchase a limited edition watch that is specific to Cayman. It is a great memento of a trip to Cayman and this very unique dive site,” says Michael.

However, the watch is not merely for those who come to visit Cayman.

“For those of us who are fortunate enough to live here it is a Cayman watch by a very well renowned Swiss mechanical watch maker,” says Michael.

The Kittiwake dive site will also benefit from the sales of the watch, with $200 from each sale going towards the preservation and upkeep of the site.

Oris does not limit itself to dive watches though, and also creates lines of classic watches you can wear every day, as well as upscale evening watches, including unique limited edition watches celebrating the music of greats like Myles Davis, Frank Sinatra and others.

“We have a commitment to quality, purpose built watches, not gadgetry, and that is what we bring into our stores,” says Michael.

The Oris Kittiwake is available exclusively at The Mansion in Camana Bay, as well as the Island Times stores in the Flagship Building and The Island Plaza.