Jewellery & Watch News
C W Sellors is proud to announce it is now a stockist of Orient watches. Want to learn more about this value-based watchmaker? Let’s delve into this introductory guide on Orient watches.
Value-based Japanese watch brand Orient is loved among vintage fanatics but also the modern-day gent in need of a solid, good-quality daily beater. Some of the brand’s better-known references are bold 1970s forays into degrade dials and sporty dive watch features. Its offerings have cemented its reputation as a solid and respectable manufacturer of daily beaters with designs like the Mako, the Star, the Bambino and the Ray. Those who love the Seiko SKX also find the Orient and Ray watches particularly appealing, especially for their price point. The Kamasu is another popular offering – the tough divers watch, which carries the storied history of this famous Japanese brand, underscoring the company’s values of reliability and affordability.
The Orient watch catalogue is absolutely massive, which is one reason it attracts such a huge following. Enthusiasts love the choices available to them and enjoy exploring various versions of the brand’s most popular ranges. Many of the most loved Orient watches sit right in the middle of the price range, bridging the gap between quality materials, enduring styles, and an appealing price point. Whether you’re willing to spend a couple of hundred pounds on one or prefer to drop a few thousand on something a little more sophisticated, Orient’s catalogue has a little something for everyone. With any model, you can expect an immaculate fit, with good proportions and a superior finish that you will struggle to match in any other brand of a similar price.
The company’s entry-level timepieces will stand the test of time and outperform their competitors. Even more appealing is the brand’s ability to manufacture its own in-house movements from top to bottom. Granted when you tell fellow watch enthusiasts that your timepiece sits in the sub-£500 bracket and comes complete with an in-house movement, you’re sure to be in for an interesting conversation with them. Orient has credibility throughout the watch industry as a reputable manufacturer of stylish timepieces that are both robust and functional too. Even when you attend a horological event wearing something like the Orient Star, the snobbiest of watch enthusiasts would be silly not to acknowledge the value and craftsmanship of its design. And wearing something like the Kamasu or Mako in front of a dive watch collector is sure to get an approving nod from those who frequently take to the water with their favourite diver.
If you’re considering adding an Orient watch to your collection, our selection offers everything from the classic and refined Bambino dress watch to the more technical-looking models from collections that boast power reserve indicators and second time zones. Before you choose your perfect timepiece from the range, let’s delve back into the history of the brand to explore the special story of its evolution and growth.
A Brief History of Orient Watches
Although Orient watches date back to the early 1950s, the brand spans roots that date right back to half a century earlier when a watchmaker named Shogoro Yoshida opened up his business called the Yoshida Watch Shop. For a decade, the brand imported and distributed watches before manufacturing its own cases and soon ventured into clockmaking. During the 1930s, the company began making its own wristwatches but production was short-lived when watchmaking ceased due to the declining Japanese economy. The workers from the manufacturing facility, however, realised the potential for these special timepieces, which combined expertise with state-of-the-art materials. The company returned under a new name in the 1950s and was known as Orient a few years later.
During the 1950s, Orient became known for its focus on affordability and its drive to create high-quality in-house movements. It’s what sets this brand apart from others in the industry. Its first mass-produced watch was the Star, which took inspiration from shooting stars and featured striking blued steel hands and high-end finishes. Towards the end of the 1950s, Orient released the Royal Orient – a practical water-resistant watch that boasted luxurious finishings on the movement. During the worldwide boom of the Scuba dive watch, Orient spotted a chance and created the Original Diver’s Watch in 1964 but was also flexing its design muscles with more avant-garde creations, as well as slimmer movements and cases, and eventually, the digital quartz-powered Touchtron, with an innovative button that illuminated the display.
The early 2000s marked the launch of the Mako – a robust and stylish diver watch with impressive mechanical performance and water resistance. Recently, the brand celebrated its 20th anniversary of this popular sports watch and marked 8 years this year since the release of the second generation – the Mako II. The Kamasu is what we call the Mako III. It’s an awesome dive watch fitted with a genuine in-house Orient calibre.
Orient has always enjoyed exploring new materials (such as the use of titanium in the Orient Star) and has advanced in areas where complications are concerned. In 2015, the brand released the Orient Star World Time watch, which made for the perfect travelling companion. Whether Orient watches are new to you or not, the brand’s history and its approach to affordable watchmaking are two of the most appealing features to appreciate in any of its designs. The large choice of designs and styles, together with the company’s in-house movements make our collections here at C w Sellors some of the most fascinating to explore.
If you’d like some assistance in choosing the perfect Orient watch for you, call and speak to a member of our C W Sellors sales team on 01335 216004 or email us on sales@cwsellors.com.
