Thoughts on Orient watches

[bdmicarta]

Here is my Kano. I like the style of the dial and hands and I like the size. It is fairly thin for its size and not overly heavy, and it is fairly economical. On the minus side it does not have a sapphire crystal, it does not have lume on the dive bezel, and the bracelet links are one piece instead of 3 piece. None of those things really bother me.

https://imgur.com/5eLMvDx

 

[jbmonkey]

Original Mako

View attachment 1941041

This was Orient's entry level dive watch 13 years ago. I don't remember the list price, but if you shopped around it cost $98 with the bracelet or $93 with a silicon strap no one liked. It had a pusher at 2 o'clock you can barely see in my photo, which changed the day in the day/date window. The pusher and the crown both screwed down: they were water-tight and they worked fine. The movement didn't hack or hand-wind, but it was more accurate than Seiko's entry level 7S26 mechanical movement. The bracelet's end links were folded but the rest were solid and the clasp was well made. You could wear it and it wouldn't fall apart, unlike the Snorkler's bracelet. The crystal was mineral glass and it scratched pretty easily, but not any worse than Citizen's mineral glass. Seiko's hardlex crystals are better but not as good as sapphire. The bezels were REALLY HARD TO TURN because Orient didn't lubricate them and I don't know why but it was notorious. Most watch forums have instructions on removing these old Orient bezels, and you need a microscopic amount of silicon grease, not the plumber's supply crap but Trident which you can buy at any dive shop or on Amazon. The lume on the hands was good for about an hour, not ideal but all you really need for open water diving to 10 feet.

View attachment 1941101

When Seiko took over Orient in 2009, they raised all of Orient's list prices 15% and gave the Mako a sapphire crystal. They blew the old Makos out the door on clearance and that's when I bought mine.

seikos hardlex scratches as easily as citizens. there isn't anything magic or better about it, except its marketing name.

I have a few skxs that have stuck bezels. they require removal and cleaning of the glue from the bezel insert that gets down and jams it up. it also helps with silicon or teflon to be able to turn it at all, but never had an issue like this from any swiss brand or even a citizen diver. anyways that isn't an orient only issue.

while I like seikos and own many of them over decades of collecting and still have them all...... they have been the worst in quality control of the four big Japanese companies...citizen, casio, orient and seiko.

I also own that same button date mako orient you have, but in full lume dial. lume dial isn't as bad as the others in lasting brightness..not as good as citizen ny full lume though. mine doesnt have a bezel issue. works without lube or cleaning. its a great watch..still wear it sometimes......

 

[DangerZone98]

Original Mako

View attachment 1941041

This was Orient's entry level dive watch 13 years ago. I don't remember the list price, but if you shopped around it cost $98 with the bracelet or $93 with a silicon strap no one liked. It had a pusher at 2 o'clock you can barely see in my photo, which changed the day in the day/date window. The pusher and the crown both screwed down: they were water-tight and they worked fine. The movement didn't hack or hand-wind, but it was more accurate than Seiko's entry level 7S26 mechanical movement. The bracelet's end links were folded but the rest were solid and the clasp was well made. You could wear it and it wouldn't fall apart, unlike the Snorkler's bracelet. The crystal was mineral glass and it scratched pretty easily, but not any worse than Citizen's mineral glass. Seiko's hardlex crystals are better but not as good as sapphire. The bezels were REALLY HARD TO TURN because Orient didn't lubricate them and I don't know why but it was notorious. Most watch forums have instructions on removing these old Orient bezels, and you need a microscopic amount of silicon grease, not the plumber's supply crap but Trident which you can buy at any dive shop or on Amazon. The lume on the hands was good for about an hour, not ideal but all you really need for open water diving to 10 feet.

View attachment 1941101

When Seiko took over Orient in 2009, they raised all of Orient's list prices 15% and gave the Mako a sapphire crystal. They blew the old Makos out the door on clearance and that's when I bought mine.

Thanks for sharing, friend. Lots of interesting pieces from Orient. I just got my first two Seikos this year and I just stumbled on Orient’s dive watches.

 

[DangerZone98]

Here is my Kano. I like the style of the dial and hands and I like the size. It is fairly thin for its size and not overly heavy, and it is fairly economical. On the minus side it does not have a sapphire crystal, it does not have lume on the dive bezel, and the bracelet links are one piece instead of 3 piece. None of those things really bother me.

https://imgur.com/5eLMvDx

Lack of a lume pip is a bit of a bummer, but the size is just right for a tool watch I think. Beautiful piece there.