Each day, in the world of reputable and renowned watches, information that guides the ardent watch lover in the right direction is much sought after. It is here that we collect and put together noteworthy info on Orient watches and the value they add or could to your everyday life.

Today on the radar is the Orient brand of watches. Starting with the question, are Orient watches good?

The answer stands in the affirmative. The Orient watch stands out as a good watch brand that resonates positively amongst watch owners and collectors alike. Orient watches are amongst the best and most recognizable timepieces of Japanese origin.

The Orient is simply a widely trusted brand. The Orient watches carry with them the quality and value that the Japanese are known for.

The brand excellence of Orient timepieces is achieved year in year out courtesy of the in-house building of their movements. Owners of Orient watches have sworn on the great quality of Orient watches. Several Orient owners and collectors claim the Orient’s accuracy and affordability coupled with in-house manufacture are simply unbeatable.

Ever heard someone say their choice of an Orient timepiece was a wrong one? I bet not, and you definitely won’t be hearing one any time soon. None of the Orient lines of watches will ever disappoint if you ever had the thought of owning an automatic watch.

You might be asking, what are these qualities that give the Orient watch band such a confident rating amongst watch enthusiasts? It must be acknowledged that there are key aspects of watches that set them apart from each other. The Orient follows suit in this regard.

Consequently, should you be engrossed with or in the search for your next mechanical timepiece or that automatic that fits your budget, then your search ends here. Below are some qualities that set the Orient watch apart from the rest in the market.

Craftsmanship and Quality from Japan

If it is Japan made then it definitely will showcase the highest levels of quality as well as top-notch craftsmanship.

Orient timepieces follow suit in this regard. The manufacture, building, and design that is done by the Orient brand are founded upon the principles of delivering the highest of standards and maintaining optimum levels of quality. In addition to this, the Orient brand name is synonymous with precision to which they are wholly dedicated to in every timepiece they create.

Having a dedicated, serious and reliable watchmaking company as your source of timepieces will guarantee you plenty of good times from their timepieces. Additionally, the tradition of handing down of automatic or mechanical timepieces becomes something that you can begin doing generation after generation. An Orient watch will be truly worth it here.

Heritage of Watchmaking Prowess

There always comes a time when you think of choosing and purchasing a timepiece. The watchmaking prowess a watchmaking company is known for is one key consideration you will make. Moreso, if you are looking for an affordable watch with the ideal mechanical or automatic movement.  

The Orient watch brand carries plenty of heritage behind its name. The founder of the Orient brand was well into the watch selling in the year1901. This is long before the operations of the Orient watch company began in 1950. Through the decades, in 1912, 1920, 1934, up to 1950 – with a brief shut down in 1949 – the Orient watch brand was dedicated to and focused on the production of quality timepieces.

Looking at this today, it is a testament to the Orient watch brand having a heritage of pure watchmaking prowess.

Time Keeping Reliability

A watches reliability in keeping time is often gauged by the experience that wearers express about it. Case and point the timekeeping capabilities of the Orient Bambino and Orient Ray. These timepieces have been recorded by yours truly to gain between +6 and +7 seconds each day. The mentioned timepieces deliver a decent time accuracy in comparison to their pricing, with ratings close to the COSC set standards of -4 to +6 seconds per day.

On the contrary, however, timepieces will differ in specifications as well as timekeeping accuracy. It will eventually come down to how well you take care of your timepiece and knowing when to turn it in for servicing.

Where are Orient Watches made?

You have gone through some bit of the good stuff that Orient watches have to offer. Now we turn to the where question. Where are Orient watches made?

The globally acclaimed Orient watch movements are made in the oriental land of Japan. The region of manufacture of the watches is however subject to debate. There isn’t much concrete info as to where the actual creation of movements and assembly of parts takes place.

However, plenty of debates have revealed the likelihood of some Orient watches being manufactured in Japan while assembly takes place in other countries like Hong Kong, albeit under tight quality control by Orient officials. Additionally, the more luxurious line of Orient watches, think of the Orient Star, are entirely made in Japan, for obvious reasons.

Is Orient a luxury watch?

The Orient timepieces have grown to be the symbol of automatic timepiece affordability and reliability.

Orient watches can be considered and classified as luxury watches. As has been mentioned before, at the core of Orient’s principles, is the focus on the production of elegant, accurate, and reliable timepieces. Furthermore, you will always hear of how affordable Orient timepieces are in comparison to the awesome complications they showcase.

Orient timepieces easily carry the luxury tag, and with plenty of justifiable reasons. Having a choice Orient watch will not only guarantee you stunning looks and perfect timekeeping but also durability and that much-admired trait, reliability.

Let’s delve a bit deeper.

Orient has had a long and rich history of quality timepieces that have included some very affordable ranges. A look at the Orient Maro range will quickly confirm this. It then becomes clear that Orient is truly an expert in the watchmaking industry. The Orient Mako is the epitome of an affordable classic timepiece. The Mako is classy, stylish and bears great level craftsmanship. Additionally, there is a choice of exciting dial colors in the Mako range. Choose between (the limited edition) yellow, black, orange and blue.

The Orient watches deserve the luxury timepiece tag as they are;

• Creatively and Innovatively Designed 

The Orient name has stated its claim on the world stage due to the watches they manufacture. These timepieces are a sight to behold. Creativity and innovation are truly at the heart of Orient. At Orient, they are very intentional in having unique and identifiable designs. The end purpose is to attract buyers who will eventually purchase their awesome timepieces.

Despite going under the Seiko Epson group from 2007, the Orient has continued in its production of outstanding watches.

Pushing on in the niche of innovation and uniqueness continues to hold the Orient brand among the ranks of affordable luxury watches.

• Feature/Complication Rich in Comparison to Price Tag

This must be unarguably one of the most appealing traits of an Orient watch. A watch that showcases complications that are ideally absent in timepieces of its price range gives you that inner “woo-hoo” feeling. It is only an Orient that will feature automatic movements, day-night indicator, and open heart all in a price range of within $300.

The team at Orient love to manufacture watches featuring GMT’s, Multi-Year Calendars, and Power Indicators at a whooping fraction of what watchmaking giants from the Swiss would ask for in their timepieces.

• Built Upon In-House Movements

The Orient brand is considered a true watchmaking brand due to their reputation for building watch movements in-house. Orient doesn’t procure cheap component arts form external sources. The brand sticks to its strict quality control and production guidelines. The result is a stunning, perfect timekeeping watch filled with useful features. A combination that you will discover is hard to find in other brands of watches. Orient takes much pride in being able to achieve this not so common feat.

Amongst the popular in house movements is the Cal. 46 series. This movement though considered as entry-level is very sturdy and tough when and if properly maintained. The Cal. 46 has been present in popular Orient models like Ray I and Mako I for many years. This is a testament to the excellent movements that Orient produces in-house.

In recent times, Orient has gone a step higher and upgraded the Cal. 46 movements to the bolder, tougher Cal. F6. This movement series has bolstered functionality like hand winding and hacking. Orient is continually upgrading and innovating their movement caliber and, design functionalities. A definite bonus for you, the ardent Orient watch follower.​

Why are Orient Watches so cheap?

Of the timepieces available in the market today, battery-run watches are considered as the cheapest. However, a battery-run or quartz watch isn’t the only available pocket-friendly alternative out there.

The automatic Orient watches noted for being reliable, as well as, affordable are an inexpensive yet worthy option available to you.

The Orient watch brand has always been at the forefront in the production of stunning, reliable, durable, and accurate timepieces for a price that matches the health of your wallet.

Orient automatic watches won’t hassle you battery change needs every other time. The watch constantly converts the energy generated by your hand movements into an electric charge that is stored in a rechargeable battery. This in turn powers the watch. The Orient watches are, therefore, very affordable due to this fact.

In addition to this, you won’t be opening your watch case to make battery changes. This keeps your timepiece free of dust and dirt. Furthermore, you won’t need to take the timepiece for maintenance for a very long time. This high-level reliability saves you a lot in service-related costs.

Another plus in owning an Orient timepiece is that you are doing some good service to mother nature by not discarding used batteries. 

Where do Orient Watches Rank?

Ranking of timepieces is often a subjective area with plenty of debate pegged to it. Chiefly, due to the variable that is used as a means of either gauging or comparing timepieces.

Therefore, the ranking that will follow herein could be considered debatable in a variety of scenarios.

The points of consideration while ranking the Orient watches relate to manufacturing, design, reliability, durability, and brand stature. Having said this, the Orient watch brand ranks at 24 from a list of 114 of the best watch brands currently.

The list of best watch brands considers the popularity, effectiveness for daily and occasional use, safety and pricing.

Top watch brands can always be found online in most household name online stores. Watch seeking shoppers can easily search and locate a quality watch brand then select and purchase their ideal timepiece. When a purchase is made it must be made from a brand that suits the end-user best. This is all about satisfying the customer. Poor user rating often arises from negative experiences such as watches being too bulky or a timepiece with bad battery life. For a timepiece to stand out it has to offer the best value for money.

Timepieces do wear down with time. Regardless of this, a watch brand must have long-lasting timepieces. This is a definite sign of product quality which translates to consumer appeal.

As for the pricing aspect, watch brands bear different price tags for their timepieces. The difference is mainly driven by materials used, and durability of the timepieces. However, top watchmaking brands always have in mind what’s best for the end-user. Hence, timepieces are tailor-made to best suit the wearer’s needs either at home or the outdoors. In the end, the watch brand ratings will relate to overall user satisfaction.

Most watch aficionados like yourself, have an affinity for a particular watch brand. Additionally, if you are tasked with putting together a list of favorites, a majority of the recognizable and well know brands will be listed. Notably, all top watch brands claim to be the most trusted in the market. However, don’t forget that the best watch brand for one person may be a disaster for another. Besides, it is wise and sound to make a thorough analysis of consumer feedback and ratings as you shop for your next timepiece.

Top 5 Orient Watches

It is amazing how Orient timepieces have been underrated over the years. With the diluted hype around the Orient watch brand, has come affordable pricing. This is a great state of things for those of us who truly know what having and owning an Orient timepiece means.​

Therefore, while the prices are still within our reach, we may go on and purchase our dream Orient luxury watch. As you paint that wonderful picture in your mind, here are some of the titanic names in the Orient watch series;

The Orient Ray II

The Orient Ray is one popular timepiece of the diver type. The Japanese maker of the Ray delivered a timepiece that is straightforward in delivery value and functionality to the wearer.

The recently presented Orient Ray II has enhanced functionality such as hand winding, better lumination material on the dial, and hacking. In addition to this, is a new movement Cal. F6, which is an upgrade of the famous Orient movement version Cal. 46.

The Orient Ray is a must-have for its;

• 40 Hours Power Reserve
• Upgraded to Caliber F6922
• 13mm Case Thickness
• Hand Winding and Hacking
• 120-click unidirectional diving bezel
• Water Resistant to 200 meters (660 feet)
• 41.5mm Case Width

The Orient Mako II

At first glance, the Orient Mako may be confused with the Orient Ray.

However, the Orient Mako features a brushed metal oyster styled standard bracelet. Additionally, the dial on the Mako is characterized by indices that are stick-like in design and marking of the 12, 6 and 9 hours appear on the dial.

Despite the difference between the Ray and Mako being in design, they still are amongst the top affordable and feature-rich automatic timepieces.

The Orient Mako is a must-have for its;

• 120-click unidirectional diving bezel
• Upgraded to Caliber F6922
• 13mm Case Thickness
• Hand-Winding and Hacking
• 40 Hours Power Reserve
• Water Resistant to 200 meters (660 feet)
• 41.5mm Case Width

Orient Bambino (2nd Gen Ver. 2)

Perhaps one of my favorite dress watch that cost less than $150, the Orient Bambino is neat, classy in appearance, and very pocket-friendly in pricing. As a fresh recruit in an office, the Bambino would be a perfect accessory to complete a classy look at a wallet-friendly price.

The Bambino is slim and slips under you shirt cuffs easily. The subdued and subtle colorways in the Bambino series command that respected and serious aura. In addition to the mention features, the Bambino’s dial and dome-shaped crystal top up on the vintage look that is already present in its timeless design.

The Orient Bambino is a must-have for its;

No pictures can describe how the Orient Bambino really looks in reality, the shine, the curves and the reflection that comes off the watch is definitely a dress watch that looks elegant and expensive.

• 40 Hours Power Reserve
• Upgraded to Caliber F6724
• Hand Winding and Hacking
• Domed Dial and Crystal
• 40.5mm Case Width
• Water Resistant to 50 meters
• 11.8mm Case Thickness

Orient Triton

If you are in the hunt for an upgrade from the Ray of Mako, then the Orient Triton is worth consideration.  

The Orient Triton follows in the steps of Orient diver timepieces by putting together nifty features and packaging them into a single timepiece to match the tastes out there.

You will notice that the Triton’s dial features a power reserve meter and a water resistance of 200M characteristic of Class 1 Diver watches and compliant with the Japanese Industrial Standards.

Best of all, the Orient Triton features the Cal. 40N5A movement, similar to the Orient Saturation Diver. You will also notice the illumination on the round indices is much thicker than those in the Orient Ray. The characteristic matte dial is incorporated to better highlight the indices and hands. The crown position is set at the 4 o’clock position for enhanced comfort whilst wearing the Triton timepiece.

The Triton is a serious contender in the serious and affordable diver’s watch category. 

The Orient Triton is a must-have for its;

• Caliber 40N5A
• 40 Hours Power Reserve
• JIS Shock-Absorption Casing
• Hand Winding and Hacking
• Screwed-Down Crown
• Water Resistant to 200M
• 43.4mm Case Width
• 13.6mm Case Thickness

The Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart

This Orient timepiece simply ticks all the right stuff concerning what a luxury dress watch possesses all at a highly affordable price bracket.

The outstanding features in this Orient timepiece that are guaranteed any watch lover include the Sun and Moon/Day-Night indicator, patterned white dial center (guilloche pattern), and the Open Heart window.

Worth mentioning is the hands that have a tinge of blue in them and the case back that is see-through.​ If the Rose Gold is not favorite color, the Orient Sun and Moon comes in 4 different beautiful variations and my favorite color is this.

 The Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart is a must-have for its;

• 40 Hours Power Reserve
• Caliber F6L24
• Hand Winding and Hacking
• Open Heart Window
• Sun and Moon Display
• 42mm Case Width 
• Water Resistant to 50M
• 14mm Case Thickness

More Information

Affordable and Economical

The brand notoriety of the Orient is its acclaimed affordability and economic potential to aspiring owners and buyers. If you haven’t had the chance to dig deep into the Orient watch brand, it will come as a great surprise the number of mechanical Orient timepieces you can acquire in comparison to a single average Swiss mechanical timepiece.

The Orient is your ideal entry into the tribe of affordable mechanical watch adherents. In case you are into experimentation with automatics before plunging in, the Orient offers an affordable avenue for you.

You will in no way ever find yourself breaking the bank to own an Orient timepiece. The Orient brand of watches feature models that are priced within the $100 and $300 price range. Owning a mechanical timepiece is no longer a dream, with Orient, it is an achievable reality.

​Many Markets and Budgets Catered For

In similar fashion to Seiko, the Orient watch brand has come up with a variety of models aimed at satisfying every budget level represent in the market. This move can be termed as wise and well thought out. It aims at attracting potential watch owners from the diverse walks of life while also maximizing on the buyers present in the target markets.

The Orient timepieces are well categorized with the models named Orient being entry-level, Orient Star being mid-level, and Royal Orient being high end (though these have been discontinued). The Orient watches command a global fan base that is drawn to its delivery of affordable mechanical timepieces. There is plenty to like about the entry-level Orient timepieces. However, what you should set your eyes on are the mid-level models in the Orient Star series. These timepieces strike it hot in the design, affordability and functionality mix.

With the unfortunate discontinuing of the Royal Orient model series, you are left with the facts, figures, and opinions it has evoked throughout the years. The Royal Orient is claimed to have rivaled the Grand Seiko in every aspect. As of now, you will have to settle for the mid-level models of the Orient timepieces. The Orient Star models are a great value for money.

In conclusion

It is undeniable that the Orient watches will be around and aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Orient will continue with its signature standards in offering mechanical watches at great price brackets. To the followers and dissidents alike, it is time you got an Orient watch and join in on the line of those who purchase using their wits.