A Meteorite Among The Stars

I was not ready for it, but it happened: the Orient Star M34 F8 Date Meteorite exceeded my expectations, as high as they already were. I mean, I often like the Orient watches that come my way, but usually I know what to expect. Having a few high-end watches in my collection, I usually stop short of comparing my favorite brand's products with those of the heavyweights of the industry. This one was different.

So, while I usually just post my review and move on, I thought I could do this timepiece justice and follow up with some comparisons to other high-end Japanese watchmakers, possibly ones better known for their premium models.

In my hand, pictured below, are watches that I think are worthy of admiration: Citizen's Campanola – mechanical model, deep-red urushi dial; Grand Seiko's iconic SBGR019; and next to the Orient is the slightly less famous but equally fantastic Divido, by Minase.

The first obvious comparison is Grand Seiko. The classic name that made us talk about Zaratsu polishing and dial textures. Just as its grandparents taught the Swiss industry about accuracy back in the 1960s, it returned in the 2000s to teach the world how high watchmaking craftsmanship and fine finishing can go.

Honestly, the level of polishing and accuracy of details are hard to distinguish between the Orient and the Seiko. The SBGR019 had some unique elements that aren't even very common among other (and newer) GS models. The "beehive" pattern on the dial is hidden until put in direct light. But then, the Meteorite dial is always there, and always gorgeous.

Looking at the bracelet, the Grand Seiko wins, with a design whose complexity really produces extreme comfort. But in all fairness, most current GS watches have lesser bracelets, and the Orient Star's bracelet will not feel underwhelming next to any of those.

Now the Campanola is a different story, a watch born out of a very different design philosophy. With no interest in minimalism whatsoever, this piece boasts layers of components, materials, and colors (and keep in mind that, as far as Campanolas go, this is one of the more restrained models).

Different but still comparable. The Campanola is the more expensive of the bunch, boasting the most amount of handcrafted effort and a Swiss movement with big-date complication. It is exceptionally eye-catching, and its dial also shines in the light, extremely so.

While there's no denying the unique flair of Citizen's premier model, even here the Orient does not look like it would be out of place in the same watch box. Yes, the hand-painted dial of the Campanola is a winner, but it wins even when pitted against watches costing ten times or more.

The Divido sits somewhere in between its bigger brothers. Featuring fine Zaratsu polishing like the Grand Seiko and complex, precise construction like the Campanola, it actually costs less than both (and roughly the same as the Orient Star) and is really a kind of hidden gem among Japanese manufacturers.

Minase takes pride in the Divido bracelet, which feels lighter than the Orient's and Seiko's. It is highly comfortable, and is well adjusted to the watch, which also has a very light and "roomy" case-in-case construction. Again, the Orient Star bracelet does not pale in comparison; rather, it seems chunkier – more appropriate for the M34 case.

This post mainly focuses on looks and craftsmanship, rather than movements and accuracy. I would not compare movements between watches of different ages that were never serviced; as of now, the Orient Star is the most accurate watch I have ever handled more than briefly, keeping about a second a week, albeit with a noticeable difference between rest and wrist-time. The Campanola is a close second, with its fancy (and nicely decorated) La Joux-Perret movement. The Divido and Grand Seiko are accurate enough, both gaining a few seconds per day.

There is no "bottom line" here; these are four fantastic watches, and I just loved to see the Orient Star feel at home among them. It's closer in spirit to the Grand Seiko, the latter obviously serving as inspiration and perhaps – target.