Orient is probably the most underrated watch brand. They provide in-house automatic movement watches with genuine designs for amazingly affordable prices.
After you have your time with a lot of diver and chrono style watches you will probably start to look for simple elegant dress watches because why not :). Firs stop most likely will be a Bambino. Based on your deal hunting abilities you can get them very very cheap. Here my specific model is Small Seconds RA-AP0002S10A.
Technical Specifications:
- Movement: ORIENT Cal. F6222 Automatic, Hand-winding, Hacking Movement, 40 hours power reserve
- Crystal: Domed Mineral
- Water Resistance: 30m
- Case Diameter: 40.5mm without crown
- Case Thickness: 12mm
- LUG WIDTH:21mm
Although the price causes a prejudice, quality of these watches makes you question other brands’ offerings with higher prices. Orient Bambino thinner or same as a Junkers or Zeppelin auto while cost half or even less. It has the great looks too. I am not trying to force Orient to increase their prices but these should cost more.
Side profile gives the watch a much thinner look than it is although it is 12mm. It comes with a vintage style domed crystal. It is gorgeous and completes the design. Crown is diamond shaped and not screw-down as you would expect from a 30m water resistance watch.
See through case-back shows off the in-house hacking and hand-winding movement. Beat rate is 21800bph same as the Seiko NH35. Rotor is decorated complete with Orient logo. I think Orient should loose this liony Victorian era logo and stick only with the brand name same as Seiko. Logo does not look good on any dial especially on Bambinos.
Stock leather strap is good enough quality for the price. Bambinos have the weird 21mm lug width. It is hard to find 21mm straps but you can always squeeze in a 22mm strap so no big deal. Buckle is signed with Orient logo and has polished finish.
Here is a side by side look with the venerable Seiko Presage Starlight. Cases are almost identical, Orient has slightly thinner bezel and lugs which makes it look more classic. In terms of build quality I can’t say there is much or any difference at all. Hand-winding and time setting has a similar feeling as the Seiko movement.
Cases again almost identical from the side. Orient has a slightly sleeker side profile with a more pronounce dome. I think it completes the vintage vibe. Yes it looks a lot like an Omega but I wouldn’t consider it as an homage. Bambino is a Bambino and it does not need to be homage of anything to sell.
To sum up, if you are on the market for a Bauhaus style dress watch your first try should be a Bambino. After you give the style a go with budget friendly Orient, you can aim for the big guns like Junghans, Stowa or Nomos. I do not think mid range priced watches would make you anymore happier than a Bambino. Only negative of the watch is the date window. It would look better with no-date.
