For a while now, shopping Orient’s dive watch lineup has meant running into the same common fork in the road. The AC0Q wore beautifully at 40mm but always felt a little plain up top, while the Kamasu had the stronger dial and handset in a slightly larger package. Orient has apparently been paying attention, because the new AC0Q Diver II takes the familiar AC0Q case and drops the Kamasu’s dial design straight into it. The watch is available now through Orient Watch USA at $530, and a 30% launch promotion brings that down to $370 for the time being.
The case carries over from the first generation without any changes. You still get 40mm of stainless steel with brushed surfaces and polished chamfered edges, along with a 120-click unidirectional steel bezel featuring an etched and lacquered 60-minute track. The Oyster-style three-link bracelet returns with its folding safety clasp, and the signed, fluted crown remains unguarded. Water resistance holds at 200m, which keeps this firmly in proper dive watch territory.
Inside is the same Caliber F6722 automatic, running at 3Hz with a 41-hour power reserve. It also supports manual winding, which is one of those small conveniences that matters more in daily use than it sounds. Orient hasn’t reinvented anything mechanically here, and honestly, that’s fine. This release was always going to be about the dial.
And that dial is pure Kamasu. The arrow-tipped hour hand, sword minute hand, and applied hour markers all make the jump, with lume that carries a slightly yellowed tone for a touch of vintage warmth. The standard production run includes sunburst dials in blue, brown, and green. Two limited editions join them at launch: a smoky gray with a monochromatic, all-steel vibe, and a smoky beige that Orient is confusingly also calling brown. The gray version is the only one with the logo and water resistance text printed in black, a small detail that nerds like me will appreciate.
At first glance, this feels like the configuration plenty of Orient fans have been quietly assembling in their heads for years. The pairing addresses the most common complaints about both models without inflating the price into Seiko Prospex territory. That said, the sunburst finishes and yellowed lume push this slightly away from pure tool watch austerity, and purists may have opinions about that.
The bigger question is what this means for the Kamasu itself. If the AC0Q platform is now wearing the Kamasu’s face, it’s fair to wonder where Orient takes that line next, or whether this becomes the spiritual successor. For now, the AC0Q Diver II looks like one of the stronger sub-$400 automatic divers announced this year.
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.