Orient’s Light-Powered Watches

Orient is best known for its mechanical watches, but the brand has been making solar-powered quartz watches for decades. And with the recent releases of the Solar Mako 40 and Solar Bambino, plus our recent look at the iO collection, which is predominantly solar-powered, now is the perfect time to explore how Orient has been using the power of light to keep time.

The story of Orient’s solar watches begins in 1976, when the brand introduced its first light-powered watch – an LED digital model equipped with a built-in solar cell. This was a time when several Japanese manufacturers were experimenting with solar technology, and Orient was among the early adopters, alongside Citizen and Seiko. However, unlike Citizen, which would go on to make solar technology a defining part of its identity, Orient treated solar watches as an occasional complement to its lineup rather than a central focus.

With time solar technology has evolved, allowing watchmakers to hide the solar cells beneath the dial rather than displaying them as obvious panels. This has enabled Orient and others to incorporate solar movements into more sensible watch designs. Another key trend was the shift from digital solar watches to mostly analog ones.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, Orient produced numerous solar-powered quartz models, though most were limited to the Japanese domestic market. Some of these were released under the “Light Power” series, covering a variety of styles from dress watches to sports models. One particularly interesting example from this period was a solar-powered dive watch, providing a no-maintenance solution for those who wanted a reliable tool watch without the need for battery changes.

Later, in the 2000s, Orient added the solar Neo 70s models, now available with its RR700 radio-controlled movement. I like the Neo 70s design so I think I'll dedicate a separate article to those… and more recently, we saw the introduction of a "Mako Chronograph" featuring Orient's VS752 light powered movement.

While many of the earlier solar watches featured unique designs, in recent years Orient began incorporating solar technology into their mainstream models, keeping the aesthetics unchanged while adding what many would see as modern convenience. This kind of reminds me how early electric vehicles all tried to resemble a streamlined Prius shape, while later models began to just look like "normal" cars.

The first major step in this direction came with the Mako 40, a mechanical dive watch that was recently reintroduced in a solar-powered quartz version. The Solar Mako 40 maintains the look and feel of its automatic predecessor but now runs on Orient’s VS422 solar quartz movement, offering a 12-month power reserve on full charge. With 200 meters of water resistance, a sapphire crystal, and the same classic case design that made the mechanical Mako 40 so popular, this new model gives buyers a set-it-and-forget-it option that never needs winding and will not require battery replacements until some distant future.

Shortly after the Solar Mako 40 came another surprise – the Solar Bambino, a light-powered version of Orient’s most famous dress watch. Long considered one of the best entry-level automatic watches, the Bambino has always been known for its clean, classic design and its appeal to first-time mechanical watch buyers. The new solar-powered Bambino, released in six variations, keeps the familiar 38.4mm case and V2 dial design, but replaces the automatic movement with a solar quartz no-date caliber VS213, capable of running for six months on a full charge. Both this and the Mako's caliber offer an accuracy of +/- 20 seconds per month

With these recent releases, Orient’s solar watches do not lag far behind Seiko’s Solar and Citizen’s Eco-Drive offerings. Performance-wise, modern Orient solar movements have 6 to 12 months of power reserve, can charge under both sunlight and indoor light, and maintain accuracy within ±20 seconds per month. However, Citizen still leads in solar innovation, with some of its Eco-Drive models storing power for years in total darkness, and its higher-end models offering premium features like extreme accuracy and extra thinness.

Orient’s strength, as always, lies in value for money. And Orient’s solar lineup is steadily growing, suggesting that the brand is committed to expanding its offerings.

  

All photos in this story were taken from old Orient publications and sale ads.