Orient Star "Contemporary Collection M34 F8 Date Ref. RK-BX0007B" featuring a shooting star falling on the dial

Orient Star, the flagship brand of Orient, has released a beautiful new piece that utilizes the world's first* printing technology. What is the secret behind the realistic depiction of the Perseid meteor shower as it travels across the cosmos onto the dial? We will share details about this rare dial, which shows off a mystical appearance depending on the light and viewing angle.

Metal nanoparticle layering technology creates a profound dial expression

　Orient is a prestigious Japanese brand celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Its flagship watch, Orient Star, is a luxury collection inspired by "shining stars." In 2023, the brand launched the "M Collections," themed around nebulae and star clusters, which attracted a great deal of attention. Many readers will be familiar with the "M34 F8 Date," released in 24, featuring a blue dial with a motif of the Perseus open star cluster. And this season, the company has already released a limited-edition sequel to the same model.

　This piece, featuring a "shooting star dial" that appears to rain down on the dial, is closely connected to the Shinshu Toki Takumi Atelier, operated by Seiko Epson after merging with Orient Watch. The atelier began producing premium watches and is now the group's major watchmaking center, encompassing the Micro Artist Atelier, Takumi Atelier, Dial Atelier, and Case & Jewelry Atelier. The mysterious flow of approximately 2210 shooting stars in this piece was achieved using the world's first* "metal nanoparticle deposition technology." This technology applies Seiko Epson's inkjet printing technology to spray metal nanoparticles smaller than viruses, originally developed for the production of electronic circuit boards. In addition to enabling the creation of finer circuit boards than conventional methods, its manufacturing method has been highly praised worldwide for its waste-reducing properties. This advanced technology has been adapted for dial decoration, enabling the creation of an unprecedentedly delicate dial design for this piece.

　The streaks of light emitted by meteors are characterized by subtle variations in brightness and darkness. This extremely subtle gradation is achieved by printing multiple layers of nano ink based on divided block data, creating a streaky pattern with a sense of depth, like a shooting star. The gloss unique to metallic ink also changes its appearance in an ingenious way depending on the amount of light passing through the clear coating. Depending on the strength and angle of the light source, it can appear as clear as a large firework, or it can merely leave a delicate impression like a sparkler.

　Like the dial, the case is typical of the "M Collections," with a sharp and powerful design inspired by Perseus, who has a deep connection to the M34 star cluster. The movement is equipped with the caliber F8N64, which has a silicon escape wheel. It has a power reserve of over 60 hours and an accuracy of +15 to -5 seconds per day.

　This new model, the M34 F8 Date, is a masterpiece that represents Orient Star, with all the thoughtfulness and technology put into every aspect. When paired with a suit or other dress style, it asserts a mature elegance, and when paired with a casual style, it will attract attention with its glamour. It is truly a highly refined watch.

*This is the world's first technology for layering and printing metal nanoparticles/metal nanoink onto watch dials.

Orient Star official website special page here
https://www.orient-watch.jp/orientstar/contemporary/m34/