The eighth tick of the annual clock has just passed, and as we mark this
anniversary, the perspective feels somewhat different from years past.
When I wrote the previous anniversary update in April 2025, I described a
"plateau" – a steady, comfortable cruising altitude for our
community. However, looking back at the last twelve months, it appears the
engines did more than just stay warm; they caught fire. In our seventh year, I
reported 183,000 page views, but as of April 2026, the blog has reached a
staggering 646,000 views in one year. This 250% increase is a powerful validation of our
shared mission. In an era where 15-second clips are said to be the only way to
reach an audience, nearly two-thirds of a million people came here for
long-form analysis and technical deep-dives into the nuances of horology (and
some nice photos).
This explosive growth was supported by a year focused on substance over
sheer volume. I published 21 stories this year – fewer than the previous cycle,
but with a much higher resonance. The output was a carefully curated mix: three
hands-on reviews of new watches, three vintage reviews including a fantastic
guest contribution that highlighted our community’s depth, six stories on new
releases, five technical deep-dives, and four editorial pieces.
While the Mako 40mm hands-on review continues to be the undisputed
"Search King" of the blog, serving as a permanent fixture for
enthusiasts, the true breakout stars, most read among articles published in the
last 12 months, were the announcement of the Stretto line and the hands-onreview of the Orient Star M45 F8 Moonphase.
The review of that M45 F8 Moonphase provided one of the most insightful
moments of the year. Shortly after spending time with it, I had the opportunity
to compare it directly with a few moonphase models from prestigious Swiss
brands. The result was enlightening; the Orient Star didn't just hold its own –
it looked better. It felt more stylish, the dial work was more evocative, and
the finishing quality was objectively on par with watches that come bundled
with plenty of pedigree.
I could tell Orient Star is finding a confident voice that no longer
needs to hide in the shadow of the Swiss Alps – while also narrowing the
pricing gap between its top releases and those Swiss brands. This shift toward
high-end craftsmanship was mirrored on social media, where the
"Stars" clearly drive the passion of our visual community. The
most-liked images of the year formed a very specific podium: the M42 Diver 1964
took the top spot, followed closely by the M45 F8 Moonphase and the M34 F8
Meteorite.
As we look toward the blog's ninth year, my challenge to Orient remains
one of accessibility and "Trickle-Down Horology." We have seen the fine
work being done with 70-hour power reserves and silicon balance wheels in the
flagship Orient Star models, and it is now time for this technology to migrate.
In the coming year, it would be great to see these 70-hour movements (60 would
also be nice) start to appear in "non-star" models and for silicon
escapements to move beyond the limited F8 editions.
The gap between the entry-level favorites and the elite M-Collection is
widening, I believe Orient needs to bridge it. A certain gap is understandable
and helps keep those who buy the basic models enjoy the halo effect of the more
special models; too big a gap, though, and the effect diminishes.
Once again, I would like to thank all of you who read, follow, share and
comment, here on the blog website or in social media. See you soon, with more
stories, news and content coming up!
