If you've been following this blog closely, you would know I have a thing
for colorful
watches. A skilled designer can use the watch dial as a canvas and turn it
into a little work of art.
The Orient "World Diver" was never a part of that artistic category,
with most specimens found featuring a black dial. It was originally introduced
around 1967 as a very utilitarian timepiece. While it featured a standard 12-hour
dial layout, it had a 24-hour rotating inner bezel, and city names printed on
the circumference of the dial. By adjusting the bezel to show the time in the
city you're in, you could tell the time in other cities. At 42mm without the
crown, the World Diver case was considerably larger than most watches at the
time, allowing the busy dial to be read with relative ease.
In 1969, however, Orient decided to do something a little bit more
special, and issued a version of the World Diver featuring a drawing of a world
map on the dial – instead of printing city names. While theoretically providing
the same functionality, this was clearly not as easy to use as city names
printed in white on black… this was Orient doing its "thing". Art for
art's sake.
Finding a "Map Dial" World Diver proved to be far more
difficult than most watch-hunts I've went on before. There is no information on
the number of Map Dial pieces produced, but apparently there were not too many
of them. This must have been considered a very special model, as it was even
featured in Orient's official 60th anniversary commemorative book,
published in 2010.
After a few months of searching, I've finally come across a private
collector in Spain who was willing to sell his specimen. After some pleasant
conversation and negotiation, I acquired this very unique item.
I was not disappointed. This watch was obviously produced to rather high
standards. The dial withstood 5 decades with honor, showing no signs of patina
or fading – and I must point out that in all the (very few) photos of other Map
Dial pieces I saw online, the dial seemed to be in the same pristine state.
For an engine, the watch uses the highly robust caliber 4694, a 21
jewel, 21600 BPH movement. This replaced the 27 jewel, 18000 BPH caliber 4971
which was apparently running some older versions of the world diver. The
caliber 46 family is known to have produced real workhorse movements and this
one is no exception, the watch winds quickly and keeps excellent time for its
age, within a few seconds a day.
So to summarize, a fantastic watch, its accurate and reliable movement
and modern case size making it perfectly suitable for daily wear. It is yet
another example of Orient's ability to producing real gems – and also, a great
example for how patient hunting pays off in the end!
- - -
I would also like to mention the strap featured in the photos. Since the
watch did not come on its original bracelet (that would probably be too much to
ask for!) I looked for a matching vintage-style leather band, and once again
found a great looking and fairly priced item at Martu's online shop. I've
purchased a number of straps from this small Chilean business, run by a very
talented lady, so happy to recommend it.
- - -
Final note for today: I just launched a Facebook page for the blog,
where I'd be posting updates whenever anything new is posted on this blog, at: https://www.facebook.com/OrientPlaceBlog
You might find following that page more convenient to you than following
the BlogSpot website, in order to be notified of new content. To do that, go to
the link and Like the page, or click "Like", or simply click on
"Like" under "Follow Orient Place on Facebook" on the right-hand
menu.
Thanks for putting this variant in perspective. On the hunt for one
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the hunt!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGreat article. Does anyone know where I could buy one of these?
ReplyDeleteI have recently bought this second-hand the Orient “World Diver”.
ReplyDeleteDue to so many years of tear and wear, and above all the original owner did not take good care of it, I have no alternative but to do the service of the watch after-market.
After the service, it appears to be normal, but the manual winding to start the movement of the automatic watch does not work (non-existent) at all.
The strength of the automatic watch needs to be wore continuously on your wrist. Otherwise, it will however stop frequently many times a day.
2 simple questions mom my mind:
1) The Orient automatic watch, similar to other models of watches that manual-winding & automatic “functions” could go hand in hand to set up the motion, is that correct?
2) Is there any inherent defects of the watch?
Please advise🙏Thanks a lot!😭
Hi! First of all, congrats. It's a very special watch and I really hope you would enjoy it.
DeleteThe movement in this model is automatic only, it does not hand-wind. It should start with a few gentle shakes. Five shakes would wake up a well oiled piece, maybe a few more if it's not in optimal condition.
Once it starts ticking, wearing it would charge it up but not immediately, it takes time to build the power. If you've worn it the entire day it should still be ticking the following morning.
If the watch is not in perfect condition, and you are not very active while wearing it, you might need to give it some intentional shakes once an hour to keep it ticking. If however you need to do this too often and it seems not to build power during the day, consider taking it for service to another watchmaker who's more experienced with vintage watches.
typo: "mom" to be changed to "on"
ReplyDeleteFascinante historia para ese gran reloj, conseguí uno con carátula negra al parecer de los primeros ya que monta el mov. 1942, me da un poco de pendiente, sabes si orient empleó pintura de radio en estos modelos? Gracias de antemano, saludos cordiales
ReplyDeleteSabes si Orient empleó pintura de Radio en estos modelos? Gracias
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what type of paint was being used at the time.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteIs the new collections worth it ?
the limited edition ones
DeleteI've not seen the new ones in person yet. But from pictures and specs, they seem very true to the original, and should be well made like modern Orients, so I'd say they are probably worth it!
DeleteOlá, vejo alguns orient desse modelo world diver (wd) escovados. A orient lançou algum com acabamento escovado ou são custom?
ReplyDeleteIf you are referring to the 1960 model, the brushing might just be a choice of owners looking to polish the old watch, to remove scratches and such.
DeleteHello, great review of a watch I have not been familiar with before. Is it safe to assume that this is an oriental edition of the Edox Geoscope that also features a world map that rotates once every 24 hours while the hour hand rotates twice? Both watches were marketed in 1970 so it is possible that one patent was exclusively split geographically with Orient selling their version in Japan?
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for commenting. Actually - this is not related to the Edox - mechanically, it's the same as the 1967 models that preceded the Geoscope. The 24 hour ring here does not rotate in time, only when you turn the crown. It was only much later that Orient produced world timer watches where the ring moved around in time.
DeleteAppreciate the prompt feedback. I understand that the inner rotating bezel is operated by the crown. I was referring to the map dial which seems to be a patented concept where the map rotates once every 24 hours while the hands rotate twice. That's how the 1970 Edox Geoscope works and it can't be a coincidence of these two watches existing at the same time on two opposite sides of the planet. The base calibre will naturally be different but the patent would likely be the same. It is likely that this is an Orient design licensed by Edox for worldwide sales with Orient retaining exclusivity for Japan.
ReplyDeleteWell perhaps; I don't know if Edox patented the rotating dial, but they surely did not do a design patent on the map dial (there have been watches with a map decorating the dial prior). In any case I do not know of any cooperation between Edox and Orient.
Delete