Fingers-On: Orient Star 200m Diver RE-AU0307E Watch

The place I’m in america, the Orient Star reference RE-AU307E Japanese diver’s type watch can authentically be thought of unique. To my data, you’ll be able to’t purchase one in any retailer on the town, and so far as I do know, america Orient Watches distributor carries little to no of the extra elevated “Orient Star” merchandise. If you’d like one, you first must study 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 find out about it and discover it on-line.

The watch may be very cool and a very good worth, that means it’ll make quite a lot of lovers comfortable. That mentioned, there’s a kind of antiquated comedy to buying this watch that’s, for some individuals, a part of the allure. For instance, I can’t really let you know what the retail worth is. The Orient Star web site definitely lists the RE-AU307E watch, however and not using a worth. Some Google looking for the watch results in a low of $660 USD for this timepiece out of Singapore I consider and as much as $1,099 USD for the watch — additionally from a supplier in Singapore. Costs in between got here from sellers delivery the product from nations equivalent to Malaysia again to Japan.

I’m not shocked or significantly perturbed by this. Orient Japan doesn’t really set retail costs. My understanding is that its retail mannequin permits every nation that sells the watches to provide you with their very own pricing, which is a margin on prime of the wholesale worth. That is very a lot how issues “was once,” however has been a lot much less frequent just lately given the nice “flattening impact” of the web, specifically right here by way of transparency of worldwide worth 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 be technically a part of the Seiko watch group (underneath EPSON), although their operation and manufacture are completely totally different since they have been, traditionally, an impartial firm. That can be much less cash than the value of among the finest Orient watches of all time (although outdated now), which is the Orient Computerized Saturation Diver 300m CFD0C001B that I reviewed again in 2009 right here.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 customary Orient merchandise. Orient Star actually began as costume watches, I consider, however later adopted extra sporty fashions equivalent to this diver’s watch. Orient Star isn’t a lot better than customary Orient watches the way in which that Grand Seiko watches would possibly examine to plain Seiko (even then the strains can blur a bit). As a substitute, Orient Star watches have modest however appreciated little additional touches that put them into a category of merchandise that timepiece lovers can simply get behind. In one of the best methods, Orient continues to be a top quality Japanese model that’s laborious to beat in terms of options and high quality for the cash.

Some Orient watches are definitely extra eye-pleasing than others. There are occasions when Orient watches merely don’t seem like created for aficionados, however at different occasions, 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 elegance of the fingers with their prolonged counterweights provides the dial quite a lot of character. Whereas Orient produces this identical 200m Diver’s watch with totally different colour dials, this specific model has a deep hunter inexperienced face and bezel. The fingers and hour markers are cleverly satin-finished, which creates wonderful legibility in addition to low dial glare. The fingers are a bit on the quick finish however not by a lot, so it isn’t that massive 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 chrome 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 fascinating inward slope to it on the skin, which does assist to cut back the visible measurement of the watch.

Connected 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 steel 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 power 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, kind of, one of the best motion that Orient at the moment produces, so far as I do know. The F6N47 operates at 3Hz (21,600 bph) with 50 hours of energy reserve. I feel a very powerful worth right here is in having a contemporary computerized motion that has a power-reserve indicator in a lovely device watch that prices nicely 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 shall be way more acceptable for precise sporting or lively duties — until you actually like to do all that with a heavier timepiece on a steel 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, quite a lot of these cool merchandise have began to formally ship internationally, which has really had the impact of constructing them a bit much less attractive, for some customers. Orient has maintained the thriller of merchandise solely out there in far off lands, though they will, in fact, 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 type, it additionally has an interesting, barely retro aesthetic and hip coloring that might additionally make seasoned watch lovers take discover once they’re on the lookout for an fascinating “beater watch.” Simply don’t be shocked while you maintain it in your wrist lengthy after you’ve executed the gardening and brought a swim. Value averages about $800 – $900 USD. Study extra on the Orient watches web site right here.