If you’ve been perusing forums and review sites look for a deal on an affordable automatic watch, you’ve no doubt run across Orient, either in terms of folks talking about the brand, or from an ad you’ve seen. Today, we’ll take a look at the first of two models that were sent over for review from them.
Before we hit the review, just one note on the company. They’re definitely not a fly-by-night, having been in business for over 60 years now – so they’ve got some staying power. If you want, you can read up on them some more in their About and News pages. Now, on to the watch.
The Mako is, to the best of my knowledge, one of their most popular lines, and it’s easy to see why. Combine classic (and clean) styling with an automatic movement and a very affordable price, and you have one very attractive combination. First, let’s take a look at the styling.
First off, you’re hit with the 41mm diver-style case that is popular across many makes, and for good reason – it’s simple, gets the job done, and looks sharp. Combined with the uni-directional bezel, you’ve got a watch that is definitely sporty in nature, but can easily be dressed up, especially the sample we were sent with the black dial and solid-link bracelet.
The dial itself is very legible, and the raised (and lumed) numerals and indices add a nice bit of dimension to the dial, which is otherwise rather flat in terms of finish and texture (if that’s a deal breaker for you, stay tuned for tomorrow’s review). In terms of layout, everything is definitely where it needs to be.
The one bit on the styling I wasn’t as much of a fan of (and I realize this is personal preference more than anything) was the pusher at 2 o’clock. This is a screw-down protected pusher that’s used to set the day of the week. While I realize this is likely to simply the movement to some degree, I just prefer symmetry in my watches. It’s not that this is “wrong” in any sense of the word, just something you’ll want to make a decision for yourself with.
Next up, let’s have a look at the “hard” specs for the watch, which include:
- Automatic mechanical movement: Orient Caliber 46943 with 40-hour power reserve and day/date complications
- Mineral crystal
- Screw-down crown and solid caseback
- 13mm height
- 22mm lugs
- 200m water resistance rating
- Weight: 5.6 oz (with two links removed)
As you can see, a rather respectable listing there from the datasheet. I can’t state what exactly they’re using for lume (hence not listing it in the bullet points), but it’s been some of the brightest I’ve seen as of late.
So, how much would you pay for this watch? Orient is only asking $215 for the watch, which seems like a bargain to me for what you’re getting. Add on to that that you can generally find discount codes (currently it seems like the code fall2012 gets you 30% off), you’re in for even more of a deal. Should you opt for the resin strap, pricing drops to $180.
Aside from my issue with the offset crown, this is a great watch especially at the price. I think this is a good “first” mechanical watch for someone, or a collector who’s just looking to scratch the “need a new watch itch” without breaking the bank.
