The Hidden Treasure of the 65th Anniversary

This is the first Orient Place blog post of 2024, so I thought: why not kick off the new year with something that isn't very new, but is quite festive and unique? I give you the hidden treasure of Orient Star's 65^th anniversary: the very exclusive, solid gold Reference EG06-AQ.

Back in 2016, Orient celebrated 65 years of Orient Star. Throughout the brand's history, different names were used to present its higher-end products: sometimes it was Royal Orient, other times Grand Prix, but it was "Orient Star" that held on the longest. Orient, therefore, chose to mark its anniversary with something special.

You may recall the story of the Royal Orient ref. WE0011EG, which was mentioned as one of only three gold models made by Orient in modern times; well, apparently, this was not accurate! Indeed, one learns something new every day (almost). Because that "something special" in 2016 turned out to be yet another gold watch.

Orient Star Ref.EG06-AQ was in fact a younger brother to that Royal Orient model, produced some eight years earlier. Both featured a lovely 18K Yellow Gold case, and shared the same 48A40 movement. The main differences are in the dial.

While the Royal version's face was highly elaborate with its intricate textures, the Star version's dial is simpler – but it is far from mundane. The surface seems to be sand-finished matte with a silver-like hue. The overall layout is like an upscale "Bambino", but with the golden hands and markers; the minute markers are also golden, as opposed to the usual printed minute track.

And, of course, there is the power reserve indicator, counting down from the movement's full 50-hour reserve.

The case is slightly larger than the Royal's, at around 36mm wide by 42mm lug-to-lug. As I've mentioned in my review of the Royal Orient model, something about the wrist presence of gold makes these dimensions feel and look bigger. So, while its case is small, this Orient Star still passes as a perfectly sized dress watch. The chubby gold crown also helps in this respect.

Going back to the hand-wound caliber 48A40 hand-wound, it is visible from the back, and is just as beautiful as on the Royal version. Also carrying over the +10/-5 seconds a day accuracy, it is definitely one of the finest movement to feature on an Orient Star.

The same movement by the way was also used to drive the Royal Orient pocket-watch, EG0A-C0-B (or, in its JDM reference, WE0041EG) and the identical watch branded Orient Star Royal, ref. EG03-A00). A very special movement then, found exclusively in some of the brand's top releases.

And the 65^th Anniversary Orient Star is not just a top release, but a very rare one. Only 65 pieces were made, making this one of the hardest to find among modern Orients watches. And prices, if you should find one, are well within the four figures, USD.

 

Pictures that appear in this post were taken from old Orient catalogs and sale ads.