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The place I’m in the US, the Orient Star reference RE-AU307E Japanese diver’s fashion watch can authentically be thought of unique. To my data, you possibly can’t purchase one in any retailer on the town, and so far as I do know, the US Orient Watches distributor carries little to no of the extra elevated “Orient Star” merchandise. In order for you one, you first have to find out about it, after which both journey to Asia (which hasn’t been attainable for a lot of the world for some time) or one of many different small variety of locations that promote these watches, or occur to learn about it and discover it on-line.
The watch may be very cool and a superb worth, that means it is going to make a whole lot of fans pleased. That stated, there’s a form of antiquated comedy to buying this watch that’s, for some folks, a part of the attraction. For instance, I can’t truly let you know what the retail value is. The Orient Star web site actually lists the RE-AU307E watch, however with out a value. Some Google looking for the watch results in a low of $660 USD for this timepiece out of Singapore I imagine and as much as $1,099 USD for the watch — additionally from a seller in Singapore. Costs in between got here from sellers transport the product from nations similar to Malaysia again to Japan.
I’m not shocked or notably perturbed by this. Orient Japan doesn’t truly set retail costs. My understanding is that its retail mannequin permits every nation that sells the watches to give you their very own pricing, which is a margin on prime of the wholesale value. That is very a lot how issues “was,” however has been a lot much less widespread lately given the nice “flattening impact” of the web, particularly right here by way of transparency of worldwide value distinctions on the click on of some buttons.
Because of this most individuals shopping for this Orient Star 200 meter diver can pay underneath $1,000 — and for that, it’s a nice deal. Orient can also be technically a part of the Seiko watch group (underneath EPSON), although their operation and manufacture are completely completely different since they had been, traditionally, an unbiased firm. That can also be much less cash than the worth of the most effective Orient watches of all time (although previous now), which is the Orient Computerized Saturation Diver 300m CFD0C001B that I reviewed again in 2009 right here.
Orient Star is meant to be a extra premium assortment of timepieces from commonplace Orient merchandise. Orient Star actually began as costume watches, I imagine, however later adopted extra sporty fashions similar to this diver’s watch. Orient Star isn’t significantly better than commonplace Orient watches the best way that Grand Seiko watches may evaluate to plain Seiko (even then the strains can blur a bit). As a substitute, Orient Star watches have modest however appreciated little further touches that put them into a category of merchandise that timepiece fans can simply get behind. In the perfect methods, Orient continues to be a high quality Japanese model that’s exhausting to beat in relation to options and high quality for the cash.
Some Orient watches are actually extra eye-pleasing than others. There are occasions when Orient watches merely don’t look like created for aficionados, however at different instances, they actually get the design of a brand new product proper. The RE-AU0307E (I want I had a greater title to name it) is a genuinely good-looking watch and in addition occurs to be not less than distinctive sufficient. The rounded hour markers and magnificence of the palms with their prolonged counterweights provides the dial a whole lot of character. Whereas Orient produces this similar 200m Diver’s watch with completely different shade dials, this specific model has a deep hunter inexperienced face and bezel. The palms and hour markers are cleverly satin-finished, which creates wonderful legibility in addition to low dial glare. The palms are a bit on the quick finish however not by a lot, so it isn’t that huge of a deal.
The metallic inexperienced dial and matching bezel are genuinely engaging, and the general giant heft of the case is suitable given the retro-chic tool-watch vibe of the product. The principally brushed stainless-steel case is waterproof to 200 meters and has an AR-coated flat sapphire crystal over the dial. The case is 43.6mm-wide, 14mm-thick, and has a 51mm lug-to-lug distance. The unidirectional rotating bezel is extra-tall and has an attention-grabbing inward slope to it on the surface, which does assist to scale back the visible measurement of the watch.
Hooked up to the case is a three-link-style (makes use of single hyperlinks, however with a polish that actually does create a three-link impact) metal metallic bracelet that tapers just a bit bit and that has a Seiko-style triple locking fold-over deployant. There’s a small fold-out diver’s extension, in addition to the flexibility to micro-size the bracelet. Sadly, there is no such thing as a on-the-fly micro-adjust system just like the Orient 300m Saturation Diver I linked to above.
Contained in the 200-meter diver is a motion that may make the 300m Saturation Diver jealous. That motion was an computerized however wasn’t in a position to be manually wound. Inside this watch is the in-house-made Orient caliber F6N47 computerized motion with time, date, and power-reserve indicator. That is, roughly, the perfect motion that Orient at present produces, so far as I do know. The F6N47 operates at 3Hz (21,600 bph) with 50 hours of energy reserve. I feel an important worth right here is in having a contemporary computerized motion that has a power-reserve indicator in a sexy device watch that prices effectively underneath $1,000.
It’s a uncommon factor, however this watch additionally comes with a strap. It’s s a easy black silicone strap, however it’s good that Orient included it, and it’s true that on the silicone strap, the watch might be way more acceptable for precise sporting or lively duties — until you actually like to do all that with a heavier timepiece on a metallic bracelet.
A decade in the past it was nonetheless attainable to get enthusiastic about flying to Japan and buying a JDM (Japan home market) watch (or any variety of different objects). Since then, a whole lot of these cool merchandise have began to formally ship internationally, which has truly had the impact of constructing them a bit much less attractive, for some shoppers. Orient has maintained the thriller of merchandise solely obtainable in far off lands, regardless that they’ll, after all, be bought on-line (although, for a lot of, they’re nonetheless shipped from afar). Though the Orient Star RE-AU0307E 200m Diver Computerized is a contemporary Japanese diver’s watch that marries good worth with fashion, it additionally has an interesting, barely retro aesthetic and hip coloring that would additionally make seasoned watch fans take discover after they’re on the lookout for an attention-grabbing “beater watch.” Simply don’t be shocked while you maintain it in your wrist lengthy after you’ve achieved the gardening and brought a swim. Value averages about $800 – $900 USD. Be taught extra on the Orient watches web site right here.
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