These are a little hit-or-miss: The Kamasu is a bang-for-buck rock star, while the Defender...I can dig an asymmetrical dial, but the dial texture makes things busy in an off-putting way to my eye. Orient Star has a ton of appealing models, including the Classic, but I think there's are nicer variations on this one.
I have 4 Orients. Epic quality, attention to detail & they're cheap as chips. I struggle looking at other brands now as they just can't compete with the Japanese quality. I love them.
They have been doing the same thing they always have - they aren't killing as if they are doing this just now - it is just what they have always done and every single watch you just mentioned has been hyped up by cheap watch reviewers on youtube who tend to get affiliate dollars from shilling them.
@@corail53 completely disagree. The newer models they’ve brought out over last 4 or 5 years are better quality and much better design. Not to mention, with Seiko departing the really affordable entry level, they are one of the only big brands operating under the $250 mark…. Hence, they’re killing it!
How are they the new Seiko? Orient has raised prices just the same and Seiko haven't really done anything different in their line and neither has Orient. If you want a 3-500 watch then either or would make good choices.
@@corail53 Saphire glass, in house movement , screw down crown , better bezel action . That’s for 200 bucks buddy . Entry level Seiko divers aren’t even dive watches anymore plus they are 300 bucks. It’s as plain as anything to see???
Thanks Russell, this is a much needed video! Too many TH-camrs ignore Orient. I already have my 3 watch collection consisting of older classics. The amazing orange bezel 44.5mm Mako XL for my big wrist, a Japanese domestic market Chronograph, can't remember the model number and finally a beautiful Tristar dress watch with an ocean blue dial that is now no longer available on the interwebs!! I do like your list too by the way. A very solid trio!
I'm jealous. There are a number of tristars I've seen images of that I'd love to own but I just can't find one. I do have a Bambino and it's one of the favorites in my collection.
No one has ignored Orient - almost every one of the cheap watch reviwers has videos on Orient - they have been around for a very long time as a brand. Orient is just one of those cheap watches that cheap collectors grab and those who need a not bad looking watch they don't really care if they mess up will buy - just like Seikos.
I have the Orient RA-AA0C06E19B, got it for like 120 EUR and I love this thing. Green and gold do the job, there's a day & date complication, a see-through case and a lovely rotor. Just the leather croc strap was stiff, but I have replaced it with comfy suede NATO. And the glass is mineral, but hey, Seiko Presage costs 3 times the money and also only has a mineral. I am very happy with the watch and the deal.
I have the same one since January. Was my first automatic watch (and the start of my journey as a watch collector). Underrated watch in my opinion. That lume is also quite impressive. I can still read the time at night about 6 hours after I charged the lume.
I bought a Bambino, I loved the looks of it. Beautiful looking watch. But the noisy rotor and the odd lug width were enough to make me sell it. I can see why people enjoy them though.
Answering your question, yes you kinda can have everything....with the Citizen NB1050 lol I really don't understand how that watch isn't talked/praised on TH-cam. Probably the best bang per buck watch currently on the market, from major brands. It does have everything. AR coated sapphire, 4hz movement, milled clasp, solid links and endlinks, pins and collars, incredibly well finished (better than that Orient Star imo)...for less than 500bucks. 38mm, available with a black, blue or white dial.
It’s the reason why I do t really like Citizen . The watch bores me my friend . I don’t know what it is about Citizen but when they do simple, it’s boring and when they do complicated it’s still boring! It’s my weird thing I have with the brand .
@@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTOR Well it certainly is a boring watch, and that's why it is a great GADA watch, just like the Seiko SARBs were. I don't think it is more boring than the Orient Star - in fact it is more interesting when you look at the different case edges and finishes. But that's fair, obviously - we can't all like the same things :) I do think Citizen is doing great things. With their Tsuyosa models, their NY0040 divers, the NB1050, their various solar models, etc. To me Citizen and Orient are way better than Seiko nowadays and it hurts to say it, because Seiko was the brand that made me fall in love with watches when I was a kid.
Citizen offers incredible finishing and QC for the price (I bought an NJ0100 for $110 and love its teak dial!), but Miyotas 82xx in their non-premium lines come straight out of 1970s...
@@vatazhka Yes the 8 series aren't as great,but they are not that bad imo. I own a Tsuyosa with an 8 series and I've owned a full lume dial Ny0040 with the updated 8204 (with hacking). Sold it because it was a little misaligned and had some excess of black paint on the dial. They certainly are noisier than the Seiko NH36 and the rotor is unidirectional, but the truth is that mine were way more accurate than the NH36s I have owned (and I have owned plenty). BUT the watch I was talking about (the NB1050) comes with a 4hz 9series movement. And that is a whole different "beast". Mine is doing +2 a day (it is the only one I ever experienced though).
@Tiago Teixeira I was speaking of non-premium lines - in order to get a 9xxx from Citizen, you have to pay much more (north of $400). When we're at it, my favourite is NB1060!
Aha! I started my mechanical diver collection with an Orient Ray 2 with the awesome blue sunburst dial. If had to pick 3 Orients from Jomashop, I would go for these ones: 1- RA-AC0K02E10B - Orient Triton with a green dial. Lovely green color and very SKX inspired shape. I like the date window at the 4 o'clock position with a half loom pip. 2- RA-AC0L08Y00B- Orient M-Force with an orange dial. Really pops! 3- RE-AU0404N00B - Orient Star with a silver dial. Dressier watch with a classic touch. Love the black date window. Awesome video!! Thanks for your great work!
You asked us to look through Jomashop for a three watch collection … 1. Kamasu Automatic RA-AA0003R19B red dial. I have this one, so have to put that in there! Wears great on my 7.2” wrist. And fairly accurate at +6 secs/day. Can’t beat that for the money. 2. The Bambino is a bit predictable, but nice. Bambino Version 4 Automatic Blue Dial FAC08004D0 blue/black dial. Nice. I was torn between a gada and a true diver in the Orient Star line. I haven’t dived / dove(?) In years, but I have G-Shocks that can get wet, so I’d go with the dressier gada. 3. Orient Star Automatic Blue Dial RE-AU0005L00B without the open heart.
I have a burgundy-dial Kamasu - it punches way above its weight. Orient is not a mall watch; you have to put in a little work to get one. When I see an Orient on-wrist while out and about, I know I’m in the company of an enthusiast.
I think that it depends on a market - Orient has been quite popular in Poland since 1970s at least. They have been known for being inexpensive yet extremely reliable.
Seiko (watches) do not own Orient. Orient are owned by the Seiko-Epson Corporation, who own Seiko watches, the printer company Epsom, and Orient among other companies. It would be more accurate to say Orient are owned by/part of the same company as Seiko. Orient are also selling movements to microbrands as 'Epson' movements
I did a Orient three watch set too. I picked up an Orient Mako 3 champagne, Orient Multi-Year Calendar white, and Orient RA-AC0E green. I did the bracelet changes too. I changed the oysterband on a 38mm Seiko with the mesh bracelet on the RA-AC0E. I owned two other Orients. One had a misaligned screwdown crown and the other was solar powered which was so big it was uncomfortable to wear.
A great show MWC, Thanks! I'm a huge fan of Orient and have said before that the best value Seiko is an Orient! I have the earlier generation Kamasu with the teal/green dial. Yet, its not one of the ones I chose for the 3 watch collection! I centred this collection around tool watches that would actually fit my lifestyle and with a Sea, Land and Air theme: Sea: Orient Star Diver RE-AU0301B00B black dial. Proper Diver's 200m certified and the cornerstone of the collection. $530 Land: Orient Defender RA-AK0403N10B black dial, black pvd case on a green NATO. Stealthy field watch vibes for your adventures. $177 Air: Orient RA-AC0H03B10B black dial on black leather. Classic Type-B flieger styling. $155 All that tooly goodness for $862 USD!
Great three madman, I have a bambino iv and it would have been on my list for sure it’s a beautiful dress piece with lots of variations to it. Smoke em if you got em lol
Nice video as always. I recently purchased a second hand almost mint condition Orient Star Classic, the one with gold toned case and hands, white/champagne dial and brown leather strap and oh boy it's beautiful.
UK Orient customers just be aware that it is so hard to get a broken Orient repaired. There’s a UK service centre that do not hold spares and no idea when they will be available! Orient UK & Europe have been no help. I loved my Kamasu until the stem broke. Had a couple of nice strapecode bracelets and now it’s all junk in the drawer. Such a shame !!!
Orients design language reminds me a lot of vintage stuff from the 70s (neo 70s pandas aside lol). the subtle glints from indicies, the shape of indicies, case design etc. and i love it because anything 70s is right up my alley. The aftermarket for divers is pretty good too, i put my green gen 2 kamasu on a miltat jubilee & i honestly haven’t taken it off since!
I wear that kamasu daily and no matter how many more watches I aquire it's still on my wrist 90% of the time. I ordered a stainless steel bracelet from island watch and it fits perfectly.
One of my favorite watches is a black dial Mako II that I modded with a blue-tint sapphire dome, glass retro minimal bezel insert, coin edge bezel, and Islander jubilee brac. Looks great, feels great... FF vibes but it's all mine and 1-of-1 (actually kinda more 👑 Milsub with the sword hands, but again, those Arabic cardinal numbers... I love it).
I have only owned one Orient watch. When I bought it new around 12 years ago, it was called the Orange Mako; now I suppose we would call it the Mako I. It's a delightful Orange dial diver with very similar dimensions to the SKX. It has two crowns, one at 3 O'clock for setting the time/date and another at 2 O'clock for setting the day. It contains an in-house automatic non-hacking, non-hand winding movement that appears to be tough as nails. The rotating bezel is a simple aluminum insert and the crystal is mineral glass. The lume is beyond great, even better than on my Citizen ProMaster Diver. Orient has some good things going on!
I prefer the original Kamasu (green dial version) with rectangular applied indices, and the second hand that is red. That version is so different than anything else out there at that price point, and really stands out!!!
Just bought Orient Kamasu green , it's actually dark teal.. and it's awesome 😎.. far better than Seiko can offer for $200.. better calibre, sapphire crystal, 200m diver's, what more we can hope for ?
That was the exact watch I just bought (Kamasu I). The green really looks like black until you hold it in the light, which i think is pretty cool. Cheers!
Late comment on Orient looking for a first automatic watch and have been seriously considering Orient instead of the usual homage brands and I like the fact they produce their own movement so thank you for the review 👍
I have Orient Kano (blue and orange) and Orient Flight 2 (with sunburst blue dial) - both are amazing watches. Did replace a bracelet on Flight for sturdy leather one to achieve more flieger look. Love them.
That kamasu looks great in that color! I had the green one a while back, the only negative I can say about that watch is the really tricky crown. Too small and polished so you can’t grip it easily.
Yup, it's not easy to screw it in properly for the first time because of the size and the spring, but I got used to it after a few times. I wish it was a little bit bigger.
I purchase this Defender and really love it. I wish it had a sapphire crystal but that would be a price increase so I'm sure they want to keep the costs down. Personally, I have no problem with the bracelet on the mako or ray. But this bracelet is a bit more flimsy so I put it on a rubber strap for summer. It looks fantastic on the rubber strap and I will switch to a nato during colder months. I picked up mine for under $145 including tax and shipping. Since picking up the watch it has gotten more wrist time than any other in my collection.
Great picks Russell. I am a fan of Orient. I have had my eye on a Defender 2 for awhile. The Orient Star is nice I actually like the power reserve meter but I just never wear a dress watch.
You know what Daniel! I’ve worn this Star for 2 days and I’m struggling to take it off! It’s so comfortable!!!! Love the 50’s look and if I keep the bracelet on it still keeps it semi sporty!
Rolex, Omega, Blancpain, Doxa and several others aren't officially ISO 6425 compliant either but they're proper dive watches. They do their own in-house testing and don't bother with ISO regs.
Kamasu, Bambino, G-Shock and you got yourself a solid sub 400$ watch collection! Also, I really like the orient logo, don’t like the orient star logo though
Been buying Seiko since 1975. Never been disappointed with Seiko and never been tempted with an Orient. How could they be the 'new' Seiko ? Decades of catching up to do ? and have you ever seen an Orient 'mod site' or Orient 'mod market ? . Will never get close in reputation or popularity for me . Good video though, you managed to confirm my thoughts on them....
Cheers my friend. It’s what they offer at the entry level for me that gets me excited about Orient. That new Seiko 5 was 300 bucks! Dive style watch, hardlex , 100 mWR . That Kamasu 200m WR screw crown, caseback, Saphire glass, in house movement . Over 100 bucks cheaper . Orient have a 73 year old history that’s the problem;) Seiko are well over a hundred! I prefer Seiko definitely!!! Don’t get me wrong but if I was directing a new watch enthusiast to a good value for money entry level diver…… I wouldn’t go to Seiko anymore
I have the Kamasu. The red one. I love it, my only complaint being that the signature in the crown vanished after a few uses ..not sure how it’s applied but it didn’t last
Orient's QC also sucks. I had to return a Flight and a Kanno due to manufacturing faults (one of numerals not lumed and a wonky bezel, duh), but I liked both watches so much that I opted for a replacement rather than money-back.
@@vatazhkaYes buts thats why its way less expensive then sekio. You will pay double for sekio with some of the same QC issues..... I love sekio but they have been disipointing recently.. Also Sekio seems to be moving up market hence the price increase tho without QC increasing. Orient is not the best in quality but for the price, may be worth it. I think they are the new Value watch. Maybe
I don't think they are quite the new Seiko because the final finish quality isn't as sharp. But in all fairness, they do make some nice looking watches. Great review
Orient are great at the sub £200 Mark. I love my mako 33 owned various seiko 5s until I got to that. And it's one of my favourites.... so wearable and great value
I own 3 Orients , A kamasu, a Mako and a Mako XL. Last year I was setting the time on the Mako when I pulled out the crown the stem snapped, same thing happened on my Kamasu last week, in 40 years of watch collecting this has never happened on any other watches I own, so sad to say I'll not be buying any more Orients.
I Love Orient, i've got several of them. 2 of them I never wear but I just had to have them, a bambino and a mako. My favourite is the sun and moon, blue dial. Absolutely incredible watch. I even like the logo which I know puts a lot of folk off.
Orient is fantastic. I have a few and love them. I will say though, they need to put sapphire on all their watches or offer a sapphire glass so I can install myself.
I own the same black Orient Star Classic. Love the reflection of the hands and indices when they catch the light. Looks like a much more expensive watch than it is. Although great on the bracelet it’s a strap monster as well. Only wish it was a sapphire crystal.
You should definitely try an Orient. Designs are a matter of taste, but the movements tend to have less positional variance and to be better regulated out of the factory than Seiko 4R family. They can often be regulated to -4...+6 spd in all positions, which is quite a feat for a cheap 21600 bph movement.
@@vatazhka thank you! I will definitely be taking a better look at them going forwards, I am a Seiko lover but recently they are hiking the prices a little and not giving what I see as Value for money whilst also shirking the work in the QC dept.. it makes it harder for me to want to give them my money
@@BulldogBadger Beware, their QC might be dodgy at times. I had to return 2 Orient watches so far - one was missing lume on one of the numerals (!), and the other had a wonky bezel. But I liked the watches so much that I chose to get a replacement in both cases - so choose a dealer which has a good return policy. Both replacements are flawless and keep great time - +2 and +4 spd when worn.
Great video! I used to have a Bambino, it looked great but the hands were too short for the dial so it didn’t get mush wrist time so I sold it. I’ve always found it weird that there is no official UK distributor for Orient, it has put me off buying another.
I've got 2 Orients and couldn't recommend to try this brand enough. If you like the design, you won't be dissapointed. I think they still make the 3 Stars model - an affordable homage to Rolex. It was very popular in the 90's and the 00's. And Kamasu is the best diver for the price hands down. I wish they didn't raise the prices on the updated 38 mm Bambino. That cream dial with blue hands looks nice, but my Kamasu cost me around 200eur
Diver - Divers Automatic Black Dial Men's Watch RA-AA0810N19B (possibly a future addition to my collection) Everyday - Automatic Black Dial Men's Watch RA-AC0H03B10B (swap strap for a NATO strap) Dress - Men's Watch RA-AK0007S10B. (Recently purchased the white dial w/black leather strap version)
I just ordered a kamasu watch based on watching this video. I spent alot of time trying to decide which brand and features to get since i haven’t owned a watch in years. This would be only my second automatic watch also. I bought a used breitling chronomat on eBay a few years back and it got stolen. I had my eye on an omega watch but I saw the orient kamasu and thought why spend all that money on a used watch when I can get this brand new one that has the same features and looks awesome. It’s like buying a brand new Toyota instead of a used BMW but they both drive and I’m happy 🎉😂. I’ll let you all know how it is when I receive it.
Man, I LOVE this watch! It’s perfect. I got it last Wednesday and now I wear it all the time. It’s just so handy to have a watch because I can use the diver bezel for tracking time plus the sapphire crystal looks amazing. It keeps time really well. I’ve figured out that it will go ahead a couple seconds a day so now I’ve gotten used to using the screw down crown I just pull it out and stop the watch to adjust time. So fun!
Great value watches- and their current lineup looks fabulous. You can't beat them at the moment for an affordable automatic.Currently waiting for delivery of a Blue Dial Bambino as a partner for my Pearl Dial Bambino.
Good picks. I would have chosen the Bambino Small Seconds instead of the Orient Star. That Defender is begging for a quality NATO strap! I own three Orients, love them all.
I do love an orient watch. I actually have both versions of the defender one and two I couldn’t decide which one I like better in the words of Jimmy Buffett Indecision may or may not be my problem
If I was picking 3 from Jomashop now I’d go for the bambino small seconds, the blue dial sun and moon and a Kamasu, would have preferred the Neptune/Triton with the power reserve but alas it’s no longer in production. I do own a Neo 70s panda and love it.
I have Orient Triton Diver (Black/Gold) and Orient Star "Elegant Classic" in Gold PVD - The Triton is one of my favorite watches to wear and the Gold Orient Star is a great watch to wear "Under the Cuff". The biggest change Seiko has made to Orient is the lower end Orient's are Cased/Assembled in Southeast Asia - Whereas the higher-end Orient/Orient Star watches are "Made in Japan" - I personally prefer having "Made in Japan" on the Caseback and will pay a few hundred more for it.
Have to admit, I only really know about the Bambino, and love my 38mm! But it was great to see these other options. Have to say, that Defender looks amazing!
I have the Orient Star classic with the white/silver dial and black strap, and it definitely punches above its weight. Truly a fantastic watch. I also have a Bambino, and there's nothing wrong with the Bambino, it's just a tad large at 40.5mm and all dial for my wrist. Lol, and my wife says to stop buying cheap watches and just got for that Patek or Vacheron I want... If only.
Can't go wrong with Orient if on a budget or just testing having an automatic watch for the first time. Yeah, ain't Swiss luxury brand, but you won't loose your shirt if you loose it or smack it against a table.
im so pleased with my purchase, these watches feel like a very expensive watch. the first watch you mentioned is actually the one i got and im am very impressed, it has all the features you would expect on a fancy brand. sapphire glass , automatic, 200 bars water resistent ? i mean come on
“The logo looks like a cigarette packet” had me rolling 😂 and reminded me of mom’s cheap 1980’s off-brand smokes.
I'm waiting for the Orient Marlboro 😁 ...
The Wife said it first. 😅
These are a little hit-or-miss: The Kamasu is a bang-for-buck rock star, while the Defender...I can dig an asymmetrical dial, but the dial texture makes things busy in an off-putting way to my eye. Orient Star has a ton of appealing models, including the Classic, but I think there's are nicer variations on this one.
It’s not the first time he’s said this, but I will never ever be able to unsee this a cigarette logo lol. So accurate.
I quite like the logo, better than the solder splat Sam Martin use
I have 4 Orients.
Epic quality, attention to detail & they're cheap as chips.
I struggle looking at other brands now as they just can't compete with the Japanese quality.
I love them.
Orient is killing it at the affordable level. I personally have two Kamasu’s, two baby tritons, a mako2, and a bambino!!! :)
I've got 2 Sun & Moons, a Bambino and a gorgeous all Black Ray 2 divers.
The Ray is my daily driver but I love them all, fantastic bang for the buck.
The Kanno looks pretty good too.
They have been doing the same thing they always have - they aren't killing as if they are doing this just now - it is just what they have always done and every single watch you just mentioned has been hyped up by cheap watch reviewers on youtube who tend to get affiliate dollars from shilling them.
@@corail53 completely disagree. The newer models they’ve brought out over last 4 or 5 years are better quality and much better design. Not to mention, with Seiko departing the really affordable entry level, they are one of the only big brands operating under the $250 mark…. Hence, they’re killing it!
That Kamasu is a banger! Gorgeous dial. I own Four Orient's. The Kanno is another winner from Orient. They definitely are the new Seiko in my books
Superb my friend!
How are they the new Seiko? Orient has raised prices just the same and Seiko haven't really done anything different in their line and neither has Orient. If you want a 3-500 watch then either or would make good choices.
@@corail53 Saphire glass, in house movement , screw down crown , better bezel action . That’s for 200 bucks buddy . Entry level Seiko divers aren’t even dive watches anymore plus they are 300 bucks. It’s as plain as anything to see???
You can't go wrong with the kamasu, together with the Kano and the Mako XL, love them all, great review
Cheers Russell
Thanks Russell, this is a much needed video! Too many TH-camrs ignore Orient. I already have my 3 watch collection consisting of older classics. The amazing orange bezel 44.5mm Mako XL for my big wrist, a Japanese domestic market Chronograph, can't remember the model number and finally a beautiful Tristar dress watch with an ocean blue dial that is now no longer available on the interwebs!! I do like your list too by the way. A very solid trio!
I'm jealous. There are a number of tristars I've seen images of that I'd love to own but I just can't find one. I do have a Bambino and it's one of the favorites in my collection.
@@Pye422 Bambino is a great watch my friend. It's definitely one of the most iconic Orient watches. Enjoy it!
No one has ignored Orient - almost every one of the cheap watch reviwers has videos on Orient - they have been around for a very long time as a brand. Orient is just one of those cheap watches that cheap collectors grab and those who need a not bad looking watch they don't really care if they mess up will buy - just like Seikos.
I managed to get a 1970's king diver and it keeps almost perfect time which is a testament to orient for an almost 50y old watch .
I have the Orient RA-AA0C06E19B, got it for like 120 EUR and I love this thing. Green and gold do the job, there's a day & date complication, a see-through case and a lovely rotor. Just the leather croc strap was stiff, but I have replaced it with comfy suede NATO. And the glass is mineral, but hey, Seiko Presage costs 3 times the money and also only has a mineral. I am very happy with the watch and the deal.
I have the same one since January. Was my first automatic watch (and the start of my journey as a watch collector). Underrated watch in my opinion. That lume is also quite impressive. I can still read the time at night about 6 hours after I charged the lume.
Worth also checking out the Bambino, I personally love the cream dial with Roman Numerals. The red dial Kamasu would be my go to diver as well.
I bought a Bambino, I loved the looks of it. Beautiful looking watch. But the noisy rotor and the odd lug width were enough to make me sell it. I can see why people enjoy them though.
Answering your question, yes you kinda can have everything....with the Citizen NB1050 lol I really don't understand how that watch isn't talked/praised on TH-cam. Probably the best bang per buck watch currently on the market, from major brands. It does have everything. AR coated sapphire, 4hz movement, milled clasp, solid links and endlinks, pins and collars, incredibly well finished (better than that Orient Star imo)...for less than 500bucks. 38mm, available with a black, blue or white dial.
It’s the reason why I do t really like Citizen . The watch bores me my friend . I don’t know what it is about Citizen but when they do simple, it’s boring and when they do complicated it’s still boring! It’s my weird thing I have with the brand .
@@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTOR Well it certainly is a boring watch, and that's why it is a great GADA watch, just like the Seiko SARBs were. I don't think it is more boring than the Orient Star - in fact it is more interesting when you look at the different case edges and finishes. But that's fair, obviously - we can't all like the same things :) I do think Citizen is doing great things. With their Tsuyosa models, their NY0040 divers, the NB1050, their various solar models, etc. To me Citizen and Orient are way better than Seiko nowadays and it hurts to say it, because Seiko was the brand that made me fall in love with watches when I was a kid.
Citizen offers incredible finishing and QC for the price (I bought an NJ0100 for $110 and love its teak dial!), but Miyotas 82xx in their non-premium lines come straight out of 1970s...
@@vatazhka Yes the 8 series aren't as great,but they are not that bad imo. I own a Tsuyosa with an 8 series and I've owned a full lume dial Ny0040 with the updated 8204 (with hacking). Sold it because it was a little misaligned and had some excess of black paint on the dial. They certainly are noisier than the Seiko NH36 and the rotor is unidirectional, but the truth is that mine were way more accurate than the NH36s I have owned (and I have owned plenty). BUT the watch I was talking about (the NB1050) comes with a 4hz 9series movement. And that is a whole different "beast". Mine is doing +2 a day (it is the only one I ever experienced though).
@Tiago Teixeira I was speaking of non-premium lines - in order to get a 9xxx from Citizen, you have to pay much more (north of $400). When we're at it, my favourite is NB1060!
I have the Red Kamasu on a jubilee and the green dress Maestro with 10atm and Sapphire on mesh .Both absolutely stunning.Just need a 3rd!
Aha! I started my mechanical diver collection with an Orient Ray 2 with the awesome blue sunburst dial.
If had to pick 3 Orients from Jomashop, I would go for these ones:
1- RA-AC0K02E10B - Orient Triton with a green dial. Lovely green color and very SKX inspired shape. I like the date window at the 4 o'clock position with a half loom pip.
2- RA-AC0L08Y00B- Orient M-Force with an orange dial. Really pops!
3- RE-AU0404N00B - Orient Star with a silver dial. Dressier watch with a classic touch. Love the black date window.
Awesome video!! Thanks for your great work!
I just bought an Orient Star diver. It's an awesome watch. Definitely a noticeable step-up from the standard Orient line, which I also love.
You asked us to look through Jomashop for a three watch collection …
1. Kamasu Automatic RA-AA0003R19B red dial. I have this one, so have to put that in there! Wears great on my 7.2” wrist. And fairly accurate at +6 secs/day. Can’t beat that for the money.
2. The Bambino is a bit predictable, but nice. Bambino Version 4 Automatic Blue Dial FAC08004D0 blue/black dial. Nice.
I was torn between a gada and a true diver in the Orient Star line. I haven’t dived / dove(?) In years, but I have G-Shocks that can get wet, so I’d go with the dressier gada.
3. Orient Star Automatic Blue Dial RE-AU0005L00B without the open heart.
Great choices!!!
Thanks for bringing up the Star. Beautiful piece that's not quite Presage level but still a looker. Love that power reserve complication.
I only have one, the long since discontinued 300m Orient saturation diver. It's a very high quality piece.
I have a burgundy-dial Kamasu - it punches way above its weight. Orient is not a mall watch; you have to put in a little work to get one. When I see an Orient on-wrist while out and about, I know I’m in the company of an enthusiast.
I think that it depends on a market - Orient has been quite popular in Poland since 1970s at least. They have been known for being inexpensive yet extremely reliable.
Seiko (watches) do not own Orient. Orient are owned by the Seiko-Epson Corporation, who own Seiko watches, the printer company Epsom, and Orient among other companies. It would be more accurate to say Orient are owned by/part of the same company as Seiko. Orient are also selling movements to microbrands as 'Epson' movements
Yup, YN55 found in Vostok Europe and San Martin watches is an unbranded version of F6922.
Love that Orient Star, they're such nice watches for the money. Also you're right, taken Seiko's spot
Cheers Jason! I’m Lovin that Star! So comfortable!!!
There was no spot to take? They have shared the same spot for literally decades. They, like Seiko have also raised their prices.
I did a Orient three watch set too. I picked up an Orient Mako 3 champagne, Orient Multi-Year Calendar white, and Orient RA-AC0E green. I did the bracelet changes too. I changed the oysterband on a 38mm Seiko with the mesh bracelet on the RA-AC0E. I owned two other Orients. One had a misaligned screwdown crown and the other was solar powered which was so big it was uncomfortable to wear.
I've had 2 kamasus and really enjoyed them, a bit on the heavy side though. But a great value for the money.
I own two Orients. One Tri-Star with blue dial and one moonphase version 3 with the Roman Numerals. I love it.
A great show MWC, Thanks! I'm a huge fan of Orient and have said before that the best value Seiko is an Orient! I have the earlier generation Kamasu with the teal/green dial. Yet, its not one of the ones I chose for the 3 watch collection!
I centred this collection around tool watches that would actually fit my lifestyle and with a Sea, Land and Air theme:
Sea: Orient Star Diver RE-AU0301B00B black dial. Proper Diver's 200m certified and the cornerstone of the collection. $530
Land: Orient Defender RA-AK0403N10B black dial, black pvd case on a green NATO. Stealthy field watch vibes for your adventures. $177
Air: Orient RA-AC0H03B10B black dial on black leather. Classic Type-B flieger styling. $155
All that tooly goodness for $862 USD!
Great three madman, I have a bambino iv and it would have been on my list for sure it’s a beautiful dress piece with lots of variations to it. Smoke em if you got em lol
Nice video as always. I recently purchased a second hand almost mint condition Orient Star Classic, the one with gold toned case and hands, white/champagne dial and brown leather strap and oh boy it's beautiful.
Wow that’s awesome! I have honestly struggled to take it off it’s that comfortable!
I've had the Defender II with PVD case and rubber strap, and it's great. Accurate and durable.
UK Orient customers just be aware that it is so hard to get a broken Orient repaired. There’s a UK service centre that do not hold spares and no idea when they will be available! Orient UK & Europe have been no help. I loved my Kamasu until the stem broke. Had a couple of nice strapecode bracelets and now it’s all junk in the drawer. Such a shame !!!
Orients design language reminds me a lot of vintage stuff from the 70s (neo 70s pandas aside lol). the subtle glints from indicies, the shape of indicies, case design etc. and i love it because anything 70s is right up my alley. The aftermarket for divers is pretty good too, i put my green gen 2 kamasu on a miltat jubilee & i honestly haven’t taken it off since!
That is because they haven't really changed their looks since the 70s.
I wear that kamasu daily and no matter how many more watches I aquire it's still on my wrist 90% of the time. I ordered a stainless steel bracelet from island watch and it fits perfectly.
That orient star looks beautiful!
One of my favorite watches is a black dial Mako II that I modded with a blue-tint sapphire dome, glass retro minimal bezel insert, coin edge bezel, and Islander jubilee brac. Looks great, feels great... FF vibes but it's all mine and 1-of-1 (actually kinda more 👑 Milsub with the sword hands, but again, those Arabic cardinal numbers... I love it).
I currently own an Orient Flight. It's a great watch. I think the finish is on par with the more expensive Laco I used to own.
I have only owned one Orient watch. When I bought it new around 12 years ago, it was called the Orange Mako; now I suppose we would call it the Mako I. It's a delightful Orange dial diver with very similar dimensions to the SKX. It has two crowns, one at 3 O'clock for setting the time/date and another at 2 O'clock for setting the day. It contains an in-house automatic non-hacking, non-hand winding movement that appears to be tough as nails. The rotating bezel is a simple aluminum insert and the crystal is mineral glass. The lume is beyond great, even better than on my Citizen ProMaster Diver.
Orient has some good things going on!
I have a green kamasu. Daily driver, loads of nicks and bangs in them already but they are so sturdy and they are a beauty!
I prefer the original Kamasu (green dial version) with rectangular applied indices, and the second hand that is red. That version is so different than anything else out there at that price point, and really stands out!!!
The green/dark teal is the best, very unusual color. And the sharp indices make this first version of the "barracuda" stand out.
Just bought Orient Kamasu green , it's actually dark teal.. and it's awesome 😎.. far better than Seiko can offer for $200.. better calibre, sapphire crystal, 200m diver's, what more we can hope for ?
That was the exact watch I just bought (Kamasu I). The green really looks like black until you hold it in the light, which i think is pretty cool. Cheers!
I ended up getting the green baby triton over the Kamasu, and it’s great
@@idunoh1902 I have the green baby triton as well!!! Nice!
I have a Kamasu just like yours and a green Triton, and I ❤ them.
Orient is currently one of my favourite brands.
I intend to get a Defender next.
Late comment on Orient looking for a first automatic watch and have been seriously considering Orient instead of the usual homage brands and I like the fact they produce their own movement so thank you for the review 👍
I have Orient Kano (blue and orange) and Orient Flight 2 (with sunburst blue dial) - both are amazing watches. Did replace a bracelet on Flight for sturdy leather one to achieve more flieger look. Love them.
That kamasu looks great in that color! I had the green one a while back, the only negative I can say about that watch is the really tricky crown. Too small and polished so you can’t grip it easily.
Yup, it's not easy to screw it in properly for the first time because of the size and the spring, but I got used to it after a few times. I wish it was a little bit bigger.
Alright. I’ll use your Jomashop code even though it was the Just the Watch channel that introduced me to them. 😂 Gonna get me a Victorinox
I purchase this Defender and really love it. I wish it had a sapphire crystal but that would be a price increase so I'm sure they want to keep the costs down. Personally, I have no problem with the bracelet on the mako or ray. But this bracelet is a bit more flimsy so I put it on a rubber strap for summer. It looks fantastic on the rubber strap and I will switch to a nato during colder months. I picked up mine for under $145 including tax and shipping. Since picking up the watch it has gotten more wrist time than any other in my collection.
Great picks Russell. I am a fan of Orient. I have had my eye on a Defender 2 for awhile. The Orient Star is nice I actually like the power reserve meter but I just never wear a dress watch.
You know what Daniel! I’ve worn this Star for 2 days and I’m struggling to take it off! It’s so comfortable!!!! Love the 50’s look and if I keep the bracelet on it still keeps it semi sporty!
Orient Star has really nice divers with power reserve meter in their line-up - if that's your thing.
Like your watch choice. Couldn't have chosen better myself.
The Orient Kamasu is not a proper diver as it is not ISO certified, BUT, is an insane value nontheless. I have the Mako II USA and I love it.
Rolex, Omega, Blancpain, Doxa and several others aren't officially ISO 6425 compliant either but they're proper dive watches. They do their own in-house testing and don't bother with ISO regs.
Kamasu, Bambino, G-Shock and you got yourself a solid sub 400$ watch collection!
Also, I really like the orient logo, don’t like the orient star logo though
Bro., your wife can have her own channel! She nails it every time
Been buying Seiko since 1975. Never been disappointed with Seiko and never been tempted with an Orient. How could they be the 'new' Seiko ? Decades of catching up to do ? and have you ever seen an Orient 'mod site' or Orient 'mod market ? . Will never get close in reputation or popularity for me . Good video though, you managed to confirm my thoughts on them....
Cheers my friend. It’s what they offer at the entry level for me that gets me excited about Orient. That new Seiko 5 was 300 bucks! Dive style watch, hardlex , 100 mWR . That Kamasu 200m WR screw crown, caseback, Saphire glass, in house movement . Over 100 bucks cheaper . Orient have a 73 year old history that’s the problem;) Seiko are well over a hundred! I prefer Seiko definitely!!! Don’t get me wrong but if I was directing a new watch enthusiast to a good value for money entry level diver…… I wouldn’t go to Seiko anymore
I have the Kamasu. The red one. I love it, my only complaint being that the signature in the crown vanished after a few uses ..not sure how it’s applied but it didn’t last
I would agree that Orient are what Seiko used to be before QC issues and price increases.
Orient's QC also sucks. I had to return a Flight and a Kanno due to manufacturing faults (one of numerals not lumed and a wonky bezel, duh), but I liked both watches so much that I opted for a replacement rather than money-back.
@@vatazhkaYes buts thats why its way less expensive then sekio. You will pay double for sekio with some of the same QC issues..... I love sekio but they have been disipointing recently..
Also Sekio seems to be moving up market hence the price increase tho without QC increasing. Orient is not the best in quality but for the price, may be worth it. I think they are the new Value watch. Maybe
not long ago I bought a defender2 with a black nato strap, its a great looker quite chunky on a smaller wrist. definitely worth its money
Orient Star is an awesome value proposition. They have a amazing number of great pieces in their back catalogue too.
Man orient has really been catching my eye. Between them and maybe an eco drive for the next choice!
I don't think they are quite the new Seiko because the final finish quality isn't as sharp. But in all fairness, they do make some nice looking watches. Great review
I agree Ray. I would however recommend some of these of Seiko’s when we are talking entry level for sure
Orient are great at the sub £200 Mark. I love my mako 33 owned various seiko 5s until I got to that. And it's one of my favourites.... so wearable and great value
Joma is great bought a few lux pieces from them. Glad to see the collaboration.
I think I would be very happy with your first two picks but would want a 38mm bambino, probably the silver version instead of your last pic
I own 3 Orients , A kamasu, a Mako and a Mako XL. Last year I was setting the time on the Mako when I pulled out the crown the stem snapped, same thing happened on my Kamasu last week, in 40 years of watch collecting this has never happened on any other watches I own, so sad to say I'll not be buying any more Orients.
Are you an aggressive watch operator my friend?! That is sad news! How old were they?
Love my Orient Open Heart , best looking watch in my small (but expanding) collection
I Love Orient, i've got several of them. 2 of them I never wear but I just had to have them, a bambino and a mako. My favourite is the sun and moon, blue dial. Absolutely incredible watch. I even like the logo which I know puts a lot of folk off.
I have that defender. Love it
Great video. Orient deserves more of my attention.
Orient is fantastic. I have a few and love them. I will say though, they need to put sapphire on all their watches or offer a sapphire glass so I can install myself.
My three orient watch collection is the orient pilot Chronograph, the orient kamasu, and the orient bambino
they are great timepieces, I have the Kamasu and the Homage style RA-AA0810N19B, there solid.
I like all your choices, but I wanted to be different: Kanno red dial, Bambino 2 gen. blue dial, and the flieger b...
Great video again mwc the logo observation is spot on its what I see every time I look at my kamasu 😂😂
Unfortunately no updated model of the long discontinued Saturation diver 300 professional which is by far the best watch orient have ever produced.
I own the same black Orient Star Classic. Love the reflection of the hands and indices when they catch the light. Looks like a much more expensive watch than it is. Although great on the bracelet it’s a strap monster as well. Only wish it was a sapphire crystal.
That light powder blue strap on the orient you changed it is a banger for sure😮
Three great watches and tbh I feel like I may be swayed more towards Orient than Seiko in the future👍
DO IT!!!!!!;)
You should definitely try an Orient. Designs are a matter of taste, but the movements tend to have less positional variance and to be better regulated out of the factory than Seiko 4R family. They can often be regulated to -4...+6 spd in all positions, which is quite a feat for a cheap 21600 bph movement.
@@vatazhka thank you! I will definitely be taking a better look at them going forwards, I am a Seiko lover but recently they are hiking the prices a little and not giving what I see as Value for money whilst also shirking the work in the QC dept.. it makes it harder for me to want to give them my money
@@BulldogBadger Beware, their QC might be dodgy at times. I had to return 2 Orient watches so far - one was missing lume on one of the numerals (!), and the other had a wonky bezel. But I liked the watches so much that I chose to get a replacement in both cases - so choose a dealer which has a good return policy. Both replacements are flawless and keep great time - +2 and +4 spd when worn.
@@vatazhka good to know their customer services is good enough to switch them if you have an issue 👍
Lol your wife is a national treasure. Her thoughts are the best part of the videos
Wondering if the curved end straps for skx will fit these cases?
Brilliant review. I'm not an Orient person but i always watch vids for the way you do the reviews and the wife's thoughts. 😂😂👍👍
Thank you my friend!
That diver on rubber looks fantastic!
Great video!
I used to have a Bambino, it looked great but the hands were too short for the dial so it didn’t get mush wrist time so I sold it.
I’ve always found it weird that there is no official UK distributor for Orient, it has put me off buying another.
For the last couple of months, Orient are now officially in the UK
@@rickardo522 cheers… I must resist looking…
I've got 2 Orients and couldn't recommend to try this brand enough. If you like the design, you won't be dissapointed. I think they still make the 3 Stars model - an affordable homage to Rolex. It was very popular in the 90's and the 00's. And Kamasu is the best diver for the price hands down.
I wish they didn't raise the prices on the updated 38 mm Bambino. That cream dial with blue hands looks nice, but my Kamasu cost me around 200eur
Diver - Divers Automatic Black Dial Men's Watch
RA-AA0810N19B (possibly a future addition to my collection)
Everyday - Automatic Black Dial Men's Watch
RA-AC0H03B10B (swap strap for a NATO strap)
Dress - Men's Watch
RA-AK0007S10B. (Recently purchased the white dial w/black leather strap version)
I just ordered a kamasu watch based on watching this video. I spent alot of time trying to decide which brand and features to get since i haven’t owned a watch in years. This would be only my second automatic watch also. I bought a used breitling chronomat on eBay a few years back and it got stolen. I had my eye on an omega watch but I saw the orient kamasu and thought why spend all that money on a used watch when I can get this brand new one that has the same features and looks awesome. It’s like buying a brand new Toyota instead of a used BMW but they both drive and I’m happy 🎉😂. I’ll let you all know how it is when I receive it.
Superb my friend! Let me know how you get on!
Man, I LOVE this watch! It’s perfect. I got it last Wednesday and now I wear it all the time. It’s just so handy to have a watch because I can use the diver bezel for tracking time plus the sapphire crystal looks amazing. It keeps time really well. I’ve figured out that it will go ahead a couple seconds a day so now I’ve gotten used to using the screw down crown I just pull it out and stop the watch to adjust time. So fun!
Jomashop is pretty good I've got my first 2 Seiko watches ⌚️ cant wait for an orient Jomashop hook it up with a discount!🎉
Ohhhh, that Orient Star! Perfect for my mid-50s Bebop gigs! Fantastic video as always!
I love that thing! So comfortable!!!
Fun video Russ!
Great value watches- and their current lineup looks fabulous. You can't beat them at the moment for an affordable automatic.Currently waiting for delivery of a Blue Dial Bambino as a partner for my Pearl Dial Bambino.
Good picks. I would have chosen the Bambino Small Seconds instead of the Orient Star. That Defender is begging for a quality NATO strap! I own three Orients, love them all.
I do love an orient watch. I actually have both versions of the defender one and two I couldn’t decide which one I like better in the words of Jimmy Buffett Indecision may or may not be my problem
Nice little bunch of Orients. I do like my Kamasu. The wife is insightful as always.
Hahaha thanks man
Do a three watch collection with San Martin . Orient Kamasu in red is on my list with a red rubber strap
I love the orient star
Brilliant video. Great format. I'll have to give Orient Star a go.
If I was picking 3 from Jomashop now I’d go for the bambino small seconds, the blue dial sun and moon and a Kamasu, would have preferred the Neptune/Triton with the power reserve but alas it’s no longer in production. I do own a Neo 70s panda and love it.
I have Orient Triton Diver (Black/Gold) and Orient Star "Elegant Classic" in Gold PVD - The Triton is one of my favorite watches to wear and the Gold Orient Star is a great watch to wear "Under the Cuff". The biggest change Seiko has made to Orient is the lower end Orient's are Cased/Assembled in Southeast Asia - Whereas the higher-end Orient/Orient Star watches are "Made in Japan" - I personally prefer having "Made in Japan" on the Caseback and will pay a few hundred more for it.
Orient Kamasu was my first dive watch and god, it's just so good. I don't even know what to say. It just does everything right.
Have to admit, I only really know about the Bambino, and love my 38mm! But it was great to see these other options. Have to say, that Defender looks amazing!
Your wife never fails to make me smile.
Absolute value, great choices Russ .... now I need all 3 😁
Triton orient, classic blue and a Bambino v4 champagne. The first one is my favourite. How much was import tax on three watches
I have the Orient Star classic with the white/silver dial and black strap, and it definitely punches above its weight. Truly a fantastic watch. I also have a Bambino, and there's nothing wrong with the Bambino, it's just a tad large at 40.5mm and all dial for my wrist. Lol, and my wife says to stop buying cheap watches and just got for that Patek or Vacheron I want... If only.
Did you hear that Seiko? A $240 watch with a sapphire crystal. The bezel lines up with the indices too.
Can't go wrong with Orient if on a budget or just testing having an automatic watch for the first time. Yeah, ain't Swiss luxury brand, but you won't loose your shirt if you loose it or smack it against a table.
im so pleased with my purchase, these watches feel like a very expensive watch.
the first watch you mentioned is actually the one i got and im am very impressed, it has all the features you would expect on a fancy brand. sapphire glass , automatic, 200 bars water resistent ? i mean come on
My Favorite Brand! Awesome Value!