Over the course of the past several months, Orient has aggressively released new diver and dive-style watch models. Initially we saw the release of three ISO compliant Orient Star divers, and then a series of Semi-Skeleton diver-style Orient Stars followed that. If you thought that was it, you were wrong.
In late March Orient announced 4 new diver-style watches. Most noticeably here these divers aren’t part of the Orient Star line (unlike the other recent diver releases); they’re in the regular Orient product line (like the Mako or the Ray). If there was someway to quickly qualify these pieces with a headline it’d be: these are Orient Tritons without the power reserve.
However these new divers are thinner than the Tritons (12.8mm vs 13.6mm). This new thinness comes from these new divers featuring Orients new F6722 caliber movements (where the Triton features the previous generation’s 40N5A caliber). Both watches are 43.3mm in diameter and 51mm lug to lug.
Orient’s use of the power reserve is often quite controversial among watch enthusiasts. So it’s possible that Orient’s choice here to essentially offer the Triton without the power reserve may be the impetus for these new divers. Of the 4 new releases, two are quite standard: A dark green dial/bezel model (Ref: RN-AC0K02E) and a blue dial pepsi bezel (Ref: RN-AC0K03L). However, the remaining two are interesting stylistic departures.
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- RN-AC0K02E | Stainless steel, dark green dial, and dark green bezel on bracelet
- RN-AC0K03L | Stainless steel, blue dial, and pepsi bezel on bracelet
- RN-AC0K04E | Bronze plated, green dial, and green/oj bezel on nylon
- RN-AC0K05G | Bronze plated, brown/gold 70th anniversary dial, and black bezel on leather NATO
Unusual for the brand, Reference numbers RN-AC0K04E and RN-AC0K05G feature bronze plating. The first reference features an interesting dark green and orange colorway, which plays very interestingly with the bronze plated case. The second reference is actually part of Orient’s 70th Anniversary Releases, where we’ll be seeing additional releases from new as well as iconic Orient models in this brown/gold color way.
Initial impressions from TBWS crew in regards to this 70th Anniversary model didn’t really leave any room for ambiguity.
However, the Orange and Green option in bronze plating did catch our attention. It’s not a normal color combination for the brand. But given how experimental they were with the recent Orient Kamasu line and Orient Star Semi-Skeleton Divers, it’s not totally surprising we’re seeing more exploration with colors. But that 70th Anniversary colorway? That’s a hard pill for us to swallow. Share your thoughts on this release in the comments and check out the models directly on Orient’s Japanese site (these are not part of OrientUSA).
• F6722 (in house mechcanical)
• +25 / -15 seconds per day
• 40 hours power reserve
• Manual winding and hacking
• 20 Bar WR
• 22m lug width
• 46,000 yen- 48,000 yen ($426 USD – $445 USD)
https://www.epson.jp/osirase/2020/200316_2.htm
https://www.orient-watch.jp/product/category/?category_id=265
Co-Founder and Senior Editor
Kaz has been collecting watches since 2015, but he’s been fascinated by product design, the Collector’s psychology, and brand marketing his whole life. While sharing the same strong fondness for all things horologically-affordable as Mike (his TBWS partner in crime), Kaz’s collection niche is also focused on vintage Soviet watches as well as watches that feature a unique, but well-designed quirk or visual hook.
I like all four of them. Even the brown one- sure it looks kinda weird on its own against a stark white backdrop, but on darker skin tones, with the right shirt and jacket, it would look dope. They took a bold step- I can’t think of another diver that has anything like it. Well… maybe vostok, but of course vostok.
I mean that’s a great point. The 70th Anniversary brown/gold one may actually look better in a proper lifestyle photo or real life scenario paired with an outfit and such.
Im sure Orient will include pop up fashion shows in hipster neighborhoods as a part of their Nike-esque, unified, global marketing campaign “Just Google Us”
I mean that’s probably what Orient USA would do if they had these, but these seem to be for Orient Japan mainly. Orient USA operates (poorly) as an independent entity from Orient headquarters in Japan. That’s why Orient USA is totally whacked out in regards to their marketing. I honestly do my best to never buy from Orient USA. There are some Asian based retailers I prefer to buy from.
In my opinion major watch brands should use one marketing platform for all markets centered around the internet.
Absolutely. We’ve been staying that for a long time. Maybe a silver-lining out of all of this will be brands waking-up and realizing they need to do that.
The all-green one ticks all the boxes for me….. does anyone know how the quality of the strap is? Solid end links? I’ve never understood why makers cheap out on a few grams of steel in the end links…..
I own both the Green/orange on nato and the 70th anniversary. I like them both equally.
From my experience, you can hardly rely on what you read on social medias or WUS as far as general taste is concern. Usually, haters are speak out much louder than people who like it.
They are indeed Triton’s without the power meter but with the uprated F6722 engine. I really like the Green Triton… so much I bought one !