Orient Star Kick Off 2024 With New Watches

After a cold and uneventful January, Orient finally kicks off 2024 with a bunch of new Orient Star watches – including a brand new model, and a number of new versions of existing designs.

M34 F8 Date

An entirely new watch that joins the new "M Collection" is the F8 Date. This watch features a sharp case, a nicely (and trendy) textured yet fairly clean dial, and a modern movement from the brand's most recent crop – an impressive package, with a price to match.

The steel case is 40mm wide, 47.3mm lug to lug, and 12.9 thick, with a 20mm lug width. Surface finishing of both case and bracelet includes a mix of brushing and polishing, no doubt done to a very high standard like most high-end Orient Star watches. The crystal is sapphire, front and back.

The F8N64 movement provides 60 hours of power reserve, and an accuracy of +15/-5 seconds per day. These are not standout features in the $1000+ price range today, even in Swiss watches, but given the brand's reputation for long-term reliability and having their watches typically better regulated than the stated range, there's nothing to complain about here.

Orient is presenting two versions today:

·         Reference RK-BX0001S features a white dial, and comes bundled with a grey leather strap as well; it is, rather curiously, said to be limited to 200 pieces for the Chinese market. Its global market equivalent is RE-BX0002S, which is the same but ships without the leather strap, and is limited to 160 pieces. Both should be available in March.

·         Reference RK-BX0003L features a blue dial, and comes bundled with a black leather strap. The global market equivalent is RE-BX0004L. These would be unlimited production models, but would only be available in June – presumably, due to a more complex process developed by Orient to produce the special dial color.

Prices for the F8 Date are in the 2,400 USD range – a little less for the white version, a little more for the blue dial. Like many recent Orient Star releases we see prices go up step by step; hopefully this is supported by an equal increase in quality of movement, materials and finishing. Judging from pictures and specs, this might be true.

 

Modern Skeleton

Orient is celebrating the 10^th anniversary of its familiar Modern Skeleton design, with a bunch of new versions.

·         Reference RE-AV0123G features an ivory dial with a rose gold colored bezel and crown.

·         Reference RE-AV0124G (JDM ref. RK-AV0124G) features a champagne dial with a yellow gold colored bezel and crown.

·         Reference RE-AV0125S (JDM ref. RK-AV0125S) features a silver dial.

·         Reference RE-AV0126B (JDM ref. RK-AV0126B) is all black plated: dial, bezel, case and bracelet. It is limited to 340 pieces in Japan and 260 overseas.

Other than colors, these all feature the same Modern Skeleton specs: F6F44 movement offering 50 hours power reserve and +25/-15 seconds per day accuracy, in a case that's 41mm wide, 49mm long and 12mm wide. They are priced in the 750-800 USD range.

 

M45 F7 Moon Phase

Finally, Orient also added a new version to its M45 F7 moon phase line-up. The new watch features the M45's non-skeletonized design, this time with a dark grey gradation dial set inside a black-plated case.

The three references presented are essentially the same watch: RK-AY0122N will sell at Orient's online store, with a black crocodile leather strap; RK-AY0123N will sell at Orient's prestige shops, with both the black croco and an additional cordovan strap. Global market reference RE-AY0124N will be sold with just the cordovan leather strap. These references would be limited to 60, 140, and 120 pieces, respectively.

The M45 F7 Moon Phase case is 41mm wide and 49mm long, with a 13.8mm thickness and lug width of 20mm. Prices are in the 2,300 USD range, at the current JPY to USD exchange rate.