10 Best Orient Watches You Can Buy
December 6, 2018
A follow-up article from “8 Reasons Why You Should Own an Orient Watch”.
Orient watches have been around since 1951 and has contributed a lot of fantastic mechanical timepieces that is easy on the pocket. It hasn’t received the same limelight as other more popular watch makers like Seiko (who happens to own them now) but Orient does provide a similar value for money proposition for almost all their watch lines and models.
What I truly love about Orient is that they are quite understated especially outside of the WIS (Watch Idiot Savant) world. It hasn’t received too much hype hence their pricing is still affordable and that is a good thing for all of us who know Orient as a brand.
So, while prices are still sane and in control, we may still purchase our ideal and goal watches made by Orient. I have gathered the 10 best Orient watches that you can buy now whether its brand new or second hand.
1. Orient Ray I or II
Source: Here
The Orient Ray is one of the popular affordable diver’s watches for the Japanese watchmaker together with the Orient Mako. It’s a straight-forward watch that provides awesome value to its owners.
The newer Orient Ray II now has better functionalities than the first-generation Ray like hacking, hand winding and an improved luminous material on the dial. It also has a new movement to boot (Cal. F6922) which is an enhanced version of Orient’s popular Cal. 46943.
Visually, the Orient Ray and Mako would look like the same watch from a far. They are technically brothers but with a few differences aesthetically. The Orient Ray uses round circle indices on the dial and uses a thicker hour hand. The Ray also sports a different bezel with bolder font and uses an “oyster” style bracelet with polished accents.
You just can’t go wrong on how Orient has presented the Ray as one of their top affordable dive watches.
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2. Orient Mako I or II
The Orient Mako, together with the Orient Ray, forms Orient’s two flagship affordable diver’s watches. It presents its no-frill design and functionality that also provides excellent value proposition to its owners.
Quite similar to the Ray, the Mako also uses the same Cal. F6922 movement on the newer generation Mako II. It also hacks, hand winds, and has better luminous material. The only difference again lies on the aesthetics as there are some few differences on the watch face between the Mako and Ray.
The Mako uses a different stainless-steel design bracelet than the Ray though. On the Ray, it uses an “oyster” style design with polished accents but on the Mako, it uses a standard brushed metal “oyster” style bracelet.
You can also notice the difference on the dial between the Ray and Mako. The Mako now uses stick design indices and has the hour “12”, “6”, and “9” marked on the dial.
Preference on design would just be the difference on what will help buyers of the Ray and Mako choose but make no mistake, these watches are up there with the best for affordable automatic watches.
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3. Orient Bambino 2nd Gen Ver. 1
The Orient Bambino line is the Japanese watchmakers try into penetrating the classy dress watch scene (which is known to produce expensive timepieces especially from the Swiss giants) but on an affordable budget and price range.
That is the best way to describe the popular Orient Bambino line. I like to use the 3 C’s for this (Clean, Classy, and Cheap in price). The Bambino’s are basically the perfect watch for the starting office worker or one who wants to look classy without breaking the bank.
It’s thin enough to fit under your dress shirt cuffs and its product line colorways are subtle and subdued for a more serious and respected feel. Probably the best aesthetic feature of all Bambino’s is its domed crystal and dial which adds a touch of vintage feel to its already timeless design.
The newer generation Bambino’s now sport the updated Cal. F6724 movement which already hacks and hand winds which makes it even a better proposition for an affordable dress watch. Certainly, you get so much for the money you pay for this sure shot classic.
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4. Orient Triton
The Orient Triton is one of Orient’s latest releases on their diver’s watch lineup. It takes design cues from the other Orient diver’s watches like the Ray and the Saturation Diver. Basically, Orient took some nifty features and combined them into one watch that would fit the bill for some.
One noticeable change on the dial is that the Orient Triton now sports a power reserve meter (similar to the Orient Saturation Diver) and sports the “DIVER’S 200M” on the dial because of its compliance to JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) for a Class 1 Diver watch.
The lume on the round indices are noticeably thicker than the Orient Ray’s and the Triton uses a matte dial to highlight its set of hands and indices better. You can also notice that the crown placement is set at the 4 o’clock mark for added comfort on the wrist while wearing the watch.
Probably the best feature I found out about the Orient Triton is that it uses the same movement (Cal. 40N5A) as the Orient Saturation Diver. It also hacks, hand winds, and has about a good 40-hour power reserve.
If you are looking for an upgrade on the Orient Mako or Ray, you have to take a good look at the Orient Triton as it could very well be your next affordable serious diver’s watch.
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5. Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart
For the readers of my website, you are already familiar on how I reviewed in detail this fully-loaded dress watch from Orient. You can take a look at the article here (“Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart”). I mean what is not to like with the Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart? It has all the bells and whistles that the higher-end dress watches possess but offer it at a much lower price range.
The three things that I really loved about the Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart are its white guilloche-patterned center of the dial, Day/Night indicator or Sun and Moon, and its Open Heart window.
Honorable features mention would be its see-through case back and blue-tinged hands. The Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart also sports hacking, hand winding, and a 40-hour power reserve using the Caliber F6L24.
Pictures does not do the watch justice and it can be fully appreciated in the metal. The watch, with all its features, would make you realize that you do need a dress watch in your arsenal and the Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart could be the best candidate for that.
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6. Orient Polaris GMT
Orient has been known in the WIS circles are makers of affordable mechanical simple dive and dress watches. But a lot still don’t realize that Orient also produces quality GMT watches. I wouldn’t fully explain how a GMT works but basically, GMT watches allow its users to track 2 time zones in the same watch mechanically.
The Orient Polaris GMT is a good example of a fantastic value GMT watch that is both reliable and aesthetically pleasing. This travel-essential timepiece would go best for the avid corporate traveler or anyone who wants to use a GMT watch in class and style.
A good feature for the Polaris GMT is that it also sports a power reserve meter that tracks its 40-hour power reserve coming from the Caliber 40P51 movement. Just like a lot of the newer Orient calibers, it offers hacking and hand winding which makes it more appealing to use.
It also features a see-through case back for a more mechanical feel and rich embellishments on its white dial. I liked the added 24-hour markers on the chapter ring for a more global time telling scale.
So, if you are looking for a perfect and affordable watch/travel companion, the Orient Polaris GMT maybe the perfect watch for your next business or recreational travel.
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7. Orient Star Seeker GMT
You have read about how Orient does GMT watches pretty well from the Orient Polaris GMT talked about previously. But Orient released a similar GMT watch in their mid-level Orient Star range in the form of the Orient Star Seeker GMT.
The Orient Star Seeker uses the same Caliber (40P51) from the Orient Polaris GMT and that would indicate it has the same hacking, hand winding, and 40-hour power reserve from the GMT capable automatic movement. But there are a few noticeable differences on how Orient has presented this GMT watch in their Orient Star range.
The Orient Star Seeker has two identifiable crowns (2 o’clock and 4 o’clock position) that dictates separate functions for the watch. The 2 o’clock crown controls the winding function, date, and GMT hand. While the 4 o’clock crown controls the rotation of the inner 24- hour bezel. This is nifty and provides more segregated control to the multiple watch functionalities of the Orient Star Seeker.
Another difference seen on the Orient Star Seeker is its exhibition case back that showcases the mechanical movement and signed Orient Star rotor. It also sports a useful deployment clasp with push button release which is normally seen on bracelets from the Orient Star lineup.
Overall, the Orient Star Seeker would be a good GMT watch to own if you are looking for a sportier GMT watch but still promotes the classiness of the Orient Star brand.
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8. Orient Mako XL
The Orient Mako XL is another generation of Orient’s affordable dive watch range which was obviously influenced by their original Mako line. Taking from the watch’s nickname, the Mako XL is the bigger brother (because of overall size and weight) of the regular Mako.
A few years ago, the upward trend in watches was “the larger, the better”. Orient decided to heed to this call by releasing a bigger version of their popular Mako line and this garnered a whole new crowd of Orient watch lovers.
The Mako XL is about 3mm wider than the original Mako (44.5mm vs 41.5mm) and 1/3 of a millimeter thicker. There were a few noticeable design changes on the Mako XL though like the change in minute hands and use of a lollipop-style seconds hand. Also, the lume pip on the Mako bezel was removed.
However, the Mako XL still used the classic but reliable Caliber 46943 automatic movement. It lacks the newer functionalities of the new F series movements like hacking and hand winding which would make it at par with the newer generation divers from Orient. I guess that would be an improvement and next step if Orient does indeed decide to release sort of a “Mako XL II” in the future.
But if you are into bigger and affordable diver’s watches, then no need to look beyond the current Mako XL because it can provide you with years of reliable service.
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9. Orient Star Retrograde
The Orient Star Retrograde is in this list because of its utter uniqueness and craftsmanship. In paper, its really is a basic dress watch without special functions like a GMT hand or Chronograph. But its has separated itself from the plethora of Orient’s dress watches because of the way it presented telling the day and date.
The Orient Star Retrograde uses the Caliber 40A50 which hacks, hand winds and provides ample 40-hour power reserve. But what really sets the watch apart it how the dial has separate registers sort of carved in the dial. These separate registers are the power reserve meter, date register (up to 31st), and the day (7 days of the week).
Seeing all of that made the watch very mechanical and at the same time you can appreciate the craftsmanship and design efforts made by Orient. Also, the overall build quality of the case and bracelet of the Orient Star Seeker compliments the unique 3 register dial. The fine polishing and brushed metal combinations of the watch case and bracelet has further highlighted the dedicated Japanese craftsmanship and dedication in watch making.
Also, the watch case comes at a very reasonable 39.5mm size which is proportionate to what a dress watch size should be in. The exhibition case back also reveals the signed Orient Star rotor and sports both sapphire crystal for the dial and case back glass.
If you are looking for a unique but truly mechanical feel dress watch, I would suggest you seriously look into the Orient Star Retrograde as it would never disappoint you in the metal.
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10. Orient Pro Saturation Diver
The last on my list is one of Orient’s rarer divers but can still be owned to this day given you know which channels to buy them from. I am talking about the elusive Orient Pro Saturation Diver.
The watch itself is 45.4mm wide and about 16.6mm tall and a truly serious diver’s watch aesthetically. It is water resistant to about 300M (stamped in red font on the dial) hence Orient naming it the Saturation Diver.
The Orient Pro Saturation Diver also sports 40-hour power reserve meter which is not usually seen in the lower range Orient dive watches. It also hacks and hand winds with the Caliber 40N5A.
Looking into the case, it proudly uses a corrosion resistant steel that is quite useful when you regularly expose your watch to harsh elements and salt water (through diving). The dial sapphire glass as well is pretty thick and sturdy which gives users confidence to test out its 300m water resistance capability.
The best feature for me is the design and material of the watch bezel. The numbers and markers are engraved which is not seen the lover Orient dive watch line up. The bezel thickness and dark greyish color adds up to why this is one of my favorite bezels to date in any dive watches I’ve seen or owned.
This massive flagship diver from Orient is now discontinued but I’d wish Orient re-releases a newer and upgraded version of this classic as it would guarantee to sell.
If you can get your hands on one now, I suggest you do so before its too late.
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