The history of mechanical watches made by Orient Watch. Explaining recommended collections.

Since its founding in 1951, Orient Watch has been a Japanese watch manufacturer that has captivated many fans with its distinctive designs. Even today, the company continues to produce numerous collector's items centered around the 46 series movement. We'll introduce the history of Orient Watch's mechanical watches and some recommended collections.

Orient Watch and the History of Mechanical Watches

Orient Watch was founded in 1951 in what is now Hino City, Tokyo. Since then, it has been a manufacturer of mechanical watches and has been supported by many watch enthusiasts, but the company has a history of overcoming many challenges, including market changes.

As a domestic watch manufacturer, we continue to develop ambitious models

Since its founding, Orient Watch has developed a variety of models as a domestic watch manufacturer. In 1950, when its predecessor, Tama Keiki, began operations, it released the mass-produced wristwatch "New Orient," and the following year, it released the "Orient Star," which has become the symbol of Orient Watch.

In 1958, Orient Watch released its first waterproof watch, the Royal Orient, and in 1964, its first diver's watch. Since then, Orient Watch has continued to release watches with sophisticated designs and functions.

The core movement, the 46 series movement, was announced in 1971. The first model, Cal. 46940, had a balance frequency of 6 vibrations, improving accuracy and durability over previous models.

Thanks to the craftsmen's attention to detail, Orient Watch established itself as a manufacturer of mechanical watches.

After the rise of quartz, Orient Star revived the mechanical movement

However, the 1970s was also a time when the rise of quartz caused many manufacturers that had focused on mechanical watches to find themselves in a difficult position, and Orient Watch was no exception.

Although there was a period when Orient stopped producing mechanical watches, they never abandoned their commitment to mechanical watches, and in 1991 they relaunched mechanical watches such as the skeleton model "Mon Bijou," which has become synonymous with Orient, and the authentic sports watch "M-Force."

In the 1990s, the company revived "Orient Star" and released "Royal Orient" in 2004, launching a series of new generation models and establishing itself as a manufacturer of mechanical watches.

The appeal of Orient Star

In the 1970s, many watch manufacturers were forced to switch from mechanical to quartz movements. Despite facing such headwinds, Orient Star has continued to stick to mechanical movements to this day.

Commitment to mechanical movements

During the quartz crisis of the 70s, many watch manufacturers were forced to switch from mechanical to quartz movements. Despite facing such headwinds, Orient Star has continued to stick to mechanical movements to this day.

The 46 series movement is particularly representative of Orient Star. It was named after its birth in 1971, and the movement has been improved since then, and is still used in Orient watches today. In particular, the 46 series F7-50, which has undergone further refinement, is still loved by many fans as a symbol of Orient Star.

All processes are carried out in-house

Orient watches are made entirely by hand by artisans in a workshop in Akita Prefecture, from the cases and movements to every last hand and screw.

Orient Star's mechanical watch collection

The appeal of Orient watches is undoubtedly their mechanical watches, with Orient Star at the forefront. We will introduce Orient Star's representative collections.

Orient Star Mechanical Moon Phase, the brand's first watch with a moon phase display

The Orient Star Mechanical Moon Phase, released in 2017, is Orient Star's first mechanical watch with a moon phase display.

The minute hand, which has been carefully adjusted by hand by a craftsman, is designed to make the time easy to read even when the watch is viewed from an angle. The double-sided spherical sapphire crystal, which improves visibility, and the movement visible through the semi-skeleton enhance the luxurious feel.

The watch is made with great care, with genuine crocodile leather used for the band, and is reasonably priced at 17 yen, demonstrating Orient's commitment to high quality at an affordable price.

Popular Orient Star Skeleton

The Orient Star Skeleton is one of Orient Star's most popular collections. The 46 series movement visible through the 39mm case is not only an intricate mechanism but also a beautiful piece of decoration.

The indexes and hands are diamond-cut for high visibility, and the power reserve indicator and small seconds dial are also diamond-cut.

The movement is decorated with wave and swirl patterns created by artisans' cutting processes, adding an accent to the classic design.

Orient Star Retrograde with retrograde day display

The Orient Star Retrograde is part of the Contemporary collection. It features a retrograde movement, where the needle moves across a fan-shaped display and instantly returns to its original position when it reaches the end of the scale.

The mechanism in which the hand moves across the fan-shaped subdial one day at a time from Monday to Sunday, and then jumps back to the starting point (Monday) after one week has passed is visually unique.

Both spherical glasses are made of sapphire crystal. The backside is anti-reflective coated for improved readability. The movement achieves a daily accuracy of +25 to -15 seconds and has a running time of over 40 hours, making this a practical collection.

Orient Star is a watch that embodies the passion for mechanical movements.

Orient Watch has been making mechanical watches for over half a century. All of their beautiful and practical mechanisms, including the 46 series movement, are made by hand by artisans.

Why not experience the charm of Orient Star, whose passion for mechanical movements is reflected in both performance and looks?