Orient Star has announced the Sakigake Three Hand, and I think the easiest way to understand this watch is to look at everything that disappeared. There’s no date. There’s no power-reserve indicator. The dial text has been cut down to the Orient Star logo and a small “Automatic” above six. If you’ve spent any time looking through the Orient Star catalog, that’s a big cleanup.
This is also the first release under what Orient Star calls its Sakigake Design Project. And, Orient is framing the project as the beginning of a new design approach for the brand. I’m curious about that claim because the first watch feels weirdly restrained for Orient Star. I’m also a little conflicted about it.
The power-reserve indicator has been part of the Orient Star look for years, and I’ve always associated it with the brand. Removing it gives up some of that immediate recognition. There’s room to actually see the hour markers, hands, dial finishing, and rehaut without another display competing for attention.
Those hour markers are probably my favorite detail so far. They’re applied, faceted, and have ribbed upper surfaces, with a wider marker at 12. Orient talks about flower petals as the inspiration. I don’t really need the nature story. I just think they look good in the supplied photos, especially with all 12 markers left intact.
There’s also a radial finish across the dial and concentric grooves around the raised rehaut. Neither the hands nor indexes have lume, which surprised me given the otherwise fairly versatile specifications. I don’t think that ruins the watch, though it’s something I’d keep in mind if this were meant to cover everyday duties. The stainless-steel case measures 38.7mm wide, 47mm lug-to-lug, and 11.8mm thick. To me, those numbers sound about right for this design. You also get 100 meters of water resistance, a dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, and a sapphire display back.
Orient has spent a fair amount of time talking about the new bracelet and how comfortably it should integrate with the case. I think it looks promising. The polished outer portions of the lugs transition into brushed inner surfaces, and the bracelet appears to continue that treatment nicely. Comfort is another matter. I’d need to wear one before making that call.
Inside is the new F7542 automatic movement with more than 50 hours of power reserve and a stated accuracy of +15/-5 seconds per day. I think this is one of the more important details of the release. The Sakigake becomes the least expensive Orient Star to get this improved accuracy standard, which makes the €880 starting price more interesting.
There are four references. Yellow-gold, blue, and silver dial models cost €880. The copper version costs €960, gets black-plated hands and markers, and is limited to 900 pieces. Sales begin in September 2026.
My take on the price is pretty simple: pricing seems fair from the information we have. I wouldn’t go much further without seeing the watch. With a design this simple, I think the case finishing, bracelet, dial furniture, and overall feel are going to determine whether the price holds up. Mostly, I want to know what Orient Star does next.
Calling Sakigake a new design project sets an expectation that this idea will continue somewhere. I like the older watches, and I think removing the power reserve was a risky choice that paid off visually. I’m still not sure whether Orient Star has found a new identity here or simply made a very clean three-hander.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.