Yesterday, we took a look at an entry-level (but still very high end) watch safe. If you’re getting to that point, perhaps you might consider a curator for your watches? A curator, of course, is someone who looks after a collection – both taking care of it, and helping to shape it through acquisitions (and perhaps removing some items). Of course, this time around, the folks at Orient are hoping that your current curator (being you, of course, dear reader) is in an acquiring sort of mood.
The Curator is Orient’s latest addition to their Executive collection, which tends to present a more polished and refined look (rather than sporty), making for watches that are geared for the office, and perhaps the occasional evening out. Here, the 41mm stainless steel case has a matte finish (rather than polished), so I would say it tends slightly away from being called a dress piece, per se. Housed in that 11mm thick case you’ve got the Orient 46N40 automatic movement (made in Japan), which offers up a 40-hour power reserve.
Covering up the movement you’ve got a grey dial (I can’t tell if it has a subtle sunburst, or if that’s due to picture editing), cleanly laid out with wider indices; the needle tip handset is lume-filled, and nicely sized to the proportions of the case. Up at the 12 o’clock mark on the dial you’ve got the power reserve indicator, colored so that it will blend into the background a bit if you’re actively looking for it. Unfortunately, the date display over at 3 o’clock isn’t color matched, and that little burst of white throws off (to my eyes) an otherwise muted pallete.
Snugged into the 22mm lugs, you’ll have a black leather strap. The strap itself seems decent enough, but it should be easy enough to replace should the time come. 22mm isn’t as common as 20 or 24 these days, but it’s by no means a tricky width to run across. Of course, if you’re headed to an office setting, the black leather will work well, whereas something like a grey nylon would look out of place a bit.
In terms of complications, while my favorite is a GMT (or at least 24-hour indicator), a power reserve is a fun one to have. You can argue it’s practical, and while it’s equivalent to the gas tank on the car, we don’t treat it quite the same, as it’s not the end of the world if the mainspring unwinds – it’s not leaving you stranded at the roadside. That’s why I class it as a “fun” complication – a visual indicator that the watch is working away, consuming the energy that you put into it.
At a price of $415, it might be a tad higher than you’d expect from Orient. That said, while we’ve not had one in hand for quite some time, they do really seem to have been stepping up their game when it comes to materials, and fit and finish. Oh, and as we all know, that $415 price isn’t what you’re likely to pay, given the proliferation of coupon codes you can often find for around 30% off. In short, if you like the style, I think this is a great non-sport everyday sort of a watch that is ready to head in to the office. orientwatchusa.com
