The ORIENT brand, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2020, has built a unique history with original design and reliability. To commemorate the 70th anniversary, ORIENT will be releasing a revival collection of some of the brand's most iconic models.
Automatic movement (Cal. F6922). 22 jewels. Power reserve: approximately 40 hours. Stainless steel (50mm x 43.8mm x 14mm). Gold gradient dial. Water resistant to 20 bar. Price: 45,000 yen (excluding tax). Limited to 1000 pieces in Japan.
The masterpiece that established the lineage of Orient divers, the "King Diver"
Automatic movement (Cal. F6922). 22 jewels. Power reserve: approximately 40 hours. Stainless steel (50mm x 43.8mm x 14mm). Black dial. Water resistant to 20 bar. Price: 45,000 yen (excluding tax). Limited to 1000 pieces in Japan.
The King Diver, which was released in 1965, was Orient's first waterproof watch with an internal rotating bezel. Its official name was the "Weekly Auto Orient King Diver." The original model featured arrow hands coated with luminous paint, and the three-dimensional indexes were embossed. Since it was a weekly watch, it displayed the day of the week, and the Japanese model added a touch of spice to the design by displaying the day of the week in Japanese. One of the reasons this watch has become a collector's item is the Japanese display of the day of the week. (Incidentally, the overseas model displays the day in English.)
The case design was also very unusual in Japan at the time. The tapered bezel with two crowns is reminiscent of Swiss-made diver's watches from the 1960s. In 1969, the Three Aces King Diver was released. The original version featured a ratchet-type automatic movement with a diameter of 30mm, resulting in a large case diameter of 43mm. The case back was screwed down. As mentioned above, this mechanism was only used by a few Swiss manufacturers, and Orient's immediate adoption in their second diver's watch shows Orient's bold willingness to take on new challenges.
Highlights of the 70th anniversary limited edition model
Automatic movement (Cal. F6922). 22 jewels. Power reserve: approximately 40 hours. Stainless steel (50mm x 43.8mm x 14mm). Green dial. Water resistant to 20 bar. Price: 45,000 yen (excluding tax). Limited to 500 pieces in Japan.
Automatic movement (Cal. F6922). 22 jewels. Power reserve: approximately 40 hours. Stainless steel (50mm x 43.8mm x 14mm). Red dial. Water resistant to 20 bar. Price: 45,000 yen (excluding tax). Limited to 500 pieces in Japan.
The development of this limited edition model focused on faithfully recreating key aspects of the original design. The "WEEKLY AUTO ORIENT KING DIVER" logo, arrow hands, the Japanese day of the week in slightly bolder font that traces the original, the independent crown for the interior rotating ring, and the case back adorned with a diver's icon are all faithfully reproduced to retain the original's atmosphere. Furthermore, improvements have been made throughout, including increased water resistance to 20 bar, diamond-cut applied bar indexes, an upgraded metal band, and shorter lugs for improved handling, making this a watch that will captivate enthusiasts.
Furthermore, the gold gradient dial model is based on the Jaguar Focus, a symbol of Orient. The Jaguar Focus is a colorful gradient dial that has been used since the 1970s. The first limited edition for Japan only has the day of the week written in Japanese.
Another limited edition item is the "Retro-Future Camera"
Automatic (Cal. F6S22). 24 jewels. Power reserve approximately 40 hours. Stainless steel (40.8mm long, 12.6mm thick). Water resistant to 5 bar. Price: 58,000 yen (excluding tax). Limited to 2300 pieces worldwide (1000 in Japan).
The "Retro Future Camera" model, which debuted in 2005, was designed with a 1950s rangefinder camera motif. Its dial, which features the aperture of a lens, is innovative, as if the feel of a rangefinder camera had been directly incorporated into a watch. The outer periphery of the crown is also engraved with fine grooves, reminiscent of the knobs on a camera.
Orient has chosen items such as guitars, cameras, cars, and bicycles as design motifs for its "Retro-Future" series. Among them, this Retro-Future Camera is particularly striking for its unique design, which is reminiscent of a camera, both in terms of feel and appearance. It's rare to see a watch that incorporates the essence of a camera through its tactile feel. The most distinctive feature is the crown guard, which is designed to resemble the top of a camera.
While the design of this limited edition is largely unchanged from the original 2005 model, there's clearly a greater attention to detail in the camera, such as the case back design that mimics the viewfinder. Improving quality without changing the image requires careful attention to detail. The use of Jaguar Focus in the dial design further emphasizes the beautiful shading. The hour hand design also has a more urban feel. Boasting a 70-year history, this attractive limited edition, brimming with vintage charm, is sure to captivate even non-collectors. Each model also comes in a special 70th anniversary limited edition commemorative box, making it an attractive addition to any commemorative collection.
