Orient Star’s been around nearly as long as Orient itself, but unless you’ve really dug into their catalog, it’s easy to miss just how far they’ve stretched over the years. The sub-brand’s usually the more polished sibling—slightly dressier, slightly more experimental—and this year, with its 75th anniversary humming in the background, they’re dialing up some seasonal flair with two new versions of the Layered Skeleton.
Same basic platform, new summery colorways: one in a champagne dial with coastal warmth, and a limited mint green one that might actually be the first “fun” skeleton dial I’d wear without irony. Anything that mildly ties into a surf green Fender Stratocaster will always catch my eye.
Both builds keep the same respectable specs: 41mm across, 13.6mm thick, 48.3mm lug-to-lug, with 100 meters of water resistance, sapphire front and back, and brushed steel cases that don’t immediately look over-dressy in the press photos I’m seeing.
The champagne version leans warmer and more subdued—paired with a grey calf strap and built into the permanent lineup. It’s the safer play, but still a nice step up from the usual navy or silver dial suspects. The mint green? That one’s the head-turner. Limited to 700 pieces, full steel bracelet, and honestly, it just seems like it would look more fun in person.
Around back, you’re treated to a fully rhodium-plated movement with a partially skeletonized rotor, visible through the exhibition caseback. It’s not haute horology, but it does a nice job dressing up what’s otherwise a pretty humble engine. Accuracy is rated conservatively—as it usually is with Orient—but my guess is most examples will run a bit tighter than spec.
Prices land at €829.99 for the champagne (RE-AV0B10G) and €899.99 for the limited mint version (RE-AV0B11E). So yeah, they’re not as cheap as I’d like, but in this part of the Orient Star lineup, you’re really buying into the design choices—and this time, I think the design actually delivers.
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.