The novelty celebrates the ORIENT’s 70th anniversary of the Japanese watch brand as a manufacturer of mechanical watches.
Since 1950, the Japanese ORIENT has been manufacturing mechanical watches known for their good value for money. In addition to competitive pricing, I consider the manufacturer’s strength to be a versatile and extensive collection (ORIENT and ORIENT STAR), where you can find interesting alternatives for different situations. A great thing for watch lovers is the good availability of watches through the world.
In recent years, ORIENT has introduced models based on a rich history to this day in modernized versions. One of these models is the limited edition model of 2,500 by the manufacturer celebrating its 70th anniversary, which simply bears the name ORIENT 70th Anniversary Limited Edition.
The ORIENT 70th Anniversary Limited Edition
The specs of the anniversary model are in line with ORIENT’s renewed diver’s watch collection. This means a 43.4-millimeter-sized steel case, a four-o’clock screw down crown, a screw down caseback, Sapphire crystal and 200-meter water resistance. The bezel is, of course, only counterwise. There is a slight tolerance around the bezel, so there is a slightly chance that it can remain between two clicks.
What sets the anniversary model apart (positively) from the normal collection is the look for which heritage spirituality has been sought quite successfully. First, attention is drawn to the personalized, gradient-colored dial described by the manufacturer as “Jaguar Focus”. The name comes from a watch model of the same name and popularity published by the manufacturer in the 1970s, which is much the same color like a real jaguar.
The dial is comfortable and easy to look, as it has large elevated indexes with shiny gold edges and fair-sized luminance in the middle. The same color scheme with luminance is also repeated on the hour, minute, and second hands, with a red effect color that brings a small twist to the top of the latter.
The case is made of stainless steel with a beautiful brown folding coating. This brings a warmer and deeper shade to the steel. What I particularly like about the design of the watch case is the alliance of shine and matte; the sides of the case and lugs as well as the bevels surrounding the case are polished, while the areas on top of the case and lugs have a matte polishing.
This gives the watch a small edge, as when viewed from the side the watch looks shiny on the wrist, but when viewed from above it looks more subdued. This subdued essence is accentuated by a matte counterclockwise bezel that allows the dial with its sapphire crystal to come into its own.
The ORIENT 70th Anniversary Limited Edition relies on its own Cal.F6722 movement with a speed of 3 Hz. At a lower beat frequency, the movement has a 40-hour power reserve, which is in line with the competitors in this price class. As a small note, I could mention that the rotor is easily moved when I rotated the watch a few times in my hands. The rotor is therefore sensitive – which is good.
The crown goes well with its threads. In terms of feel, there is a small gap for setting the time for the minute hand and you have to be careful with the positioning. Then, when the pointer is in place, pressing the crown down with a fairer grip does not swing the pointer from its set position.
The watch comes with a brown leather nato strap. Used leather is not the softest of all, but it does matter. The leather of the strap is reasonably thin, which has minimized the increase in watch height on the wrist caused by the strap construction. Replacing the two-piece strap makes the watch feel a degree smaller on the wrist, so those with a smaller wrist should consider that. This is facilitated by a standard 22mm lug width.
Summary
ORIENT is still quite unknown as a watch brand in Finland, for which the best medicine is interesting and attractively priced watches. In the ORIENT 70th Anniversary Limited Edition watch, these aspects meet in a good way, even though the watch represents the more expensive end of the manufacturer’s range.
The watch is delivered in a blue special package and its recommended price is 745 euros.
In a nutshell
- Manufacturer: Orient Watch Company
- Model: ORIENT 70th Anniversary Limited Edition
- Reference: RA-AC0K05G
- Movement: Cal.F6722 (inhouse automatic)
- Frequency: 21,600 (3 Hz)
- Power reserve: 40 hours
- Case: stainless steel
- Width without crown: 43,4mm
- Glass: Sapphire crystal
- Water resistance: 200m (20 bar)
- Lug width: 22mm
- Strap: leather nato strap
- Guarantee: 2 vuotta
- Price: 745 €