At the beginning of 2021, Orient Star celebrated its 70th anniversary, and made waves by further evolving its core movement, the Caliber 46 series, which it has been using since 1971, by adopting a silicon escape wheel. Then, in October 2021, a number of limited edition models were released to mark the finale of Orient Star's 70th anniversary. Let's take a look at these modern-day "shining stars."
This Orient Star 70th anniversary limited edition model is inspired by Comet Leonard, discovered by Gregory Leonard at the Mount Lemmon Observatory in the United States on January 3, 2021. The movement is designed to resemble a microcosm, with the hands, scales, and escape wheel all colored blue to evoke the depths of space. The balance cock at 9 o'clock resembles a comet racing across the night sky, trailing its tail. Manual winding (Cal. F8B63). 22 jewels. 21,600 vph. Power reserve: approximately 70 hours. Stainless steel (diameter 38.8mm, thickness 10.6mm). Water resistant to 5 bar. Limited to 200 pieces in Japan. Price: 352,000 yen (tax included).
Text by Yukiya Suzuki (Chronos-Japan)
[Article published in the July 2022 issue of Kronos Japan]
Orient Star "70th Anniversary Limited Edition Skeleton ~C/2021 A1~ RK-AZ0003L"
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of Orient Star's birth, Epson announced the Orient Star Classic Collection "Skeleton" in early 2021, the first Japanese-made mechanical watch to feature a silicon escape wheel. The watch significantly overhauls the core Caliber 46 series that the brand has been using since 1971, improving accuracy and extending the power reserve from approximately 50 hours to approximately 70 hours, garnering attention for its significant performance improvements. At the time, the core technology related to the silicon escape wheel was still under patent application, so details could not be reported.
However, Orient Star's new product, the "70th Anniversary Limited Edition Skeleton - C/2021 A1 -," announced in October 2021, has been patented in Japan for three points, as detailed on the left of the next page, and details have now been disclosed. Of the three patents, two relate to functionality - a "rotational slippage prevention shape" and a "spring structure." The remaining patent relates to aesthetics - a "vivid blue color." All of these patents are the result of Epson's proactive efforts to tackle silicon materials and technological development, which have become possible ahead of other Japanese manufacturers, thanks to the company's high level of technological expertise in printer heads, precision machinery, and semiconductors.
Seiko Epson Chairman Minoru Usui once told this magazine, "We want to innovate Orient Star by utilizing Epson's superior technology." With the practical application of this silicon escape wheel, this goal has been beautifully realized. The company first turned its attention to silicon materials back in January 2016. Two and a half years later, in mid-2018, they began prototyping escape wheels using silicon material. It was finally put into practical use in 2021, the 70th anniversary of the birth of Orient Star, and was finally announced. At the time of this interview, it must have been frustrating for Usui that he was yet to reveal the secret project that was currently underway.
This limited edition model marks the finale of the Orient Star 70th Anniversary Model series to be released in 21, and details of the silicon technology that Epson has been working on have been revealed, making the company's watchmaking achievements even more convincing.
Orient Star was founded in 1951 with the desire to create a mechanical watch reminiscent of a "shining star." The latest limited edition model, which carries this tradition into the present day, is based on a comet that evokes its origins. It is "C/2021 A1," or "Comet Leonard," discovered on January 3, 2021. Unlike the famous "Halley's Comet," this comet is non-orbital. Therefore, after its closest approach to the sun (perihelion) on January 3, 2022, it will not return, and will never be seen again. Similarly, Orient Star's 70th anniversary is a one-off event. This shows how much Epson's development team has invested in this latest limited edition model, a "shining star" of the modern era.
If we recall that the first 70th anniversary model, the Orient Star Classic Collection "Skeleton," itself likened the balance cock at 9 o'clock to a "comet," then the "C/2021 A1," which likens the movement to a microcosm and features two diamonds at the 12 o'clock position that literally evoke the image of a "shining star," can be said to be the perfect example of this.
In the future, when we look back on the topics of Japanese watches in 2021, it is not difficult to imagine that this will be remembered as a limited edition model for this year, just like the ``C/2021 A1'' used in the model name.
Three patents for silicon escape wheels
1. "Rotational misalignment prevention shape"
A silicone gear is used to create a shape that fits the slit in the pinion to prevent misalignment (see image on the right). By fitting a washer, a strong fit is achieved without the use of adhesive.
2. "Spring structure"
Taking advantage of the flexible properties of silicon, which are made possible through micron-level high-precision processing, we have developed a shape that has spring properties.
3. "Vivid blue"
The vivid blue color is achieved by utilizing temperature control technology in the precise semiconductor manufacturing process.
