Orient Star F9 Skeleton

Normally, I'd stack new Orient Star announcements onto one blog post, but seeing this beast of a watch, I knew it had to receive its own dedicated item. This is the new Orient Star fully skeletonized watch, and it is an absolute beauty.

Orient has been making good-looking skeleton watches for many years, ranging from the feminine, ornate "Mon Bijou" in 1991, through the highly technical (and incredibly rare) 2010 Royal Orient WE0011DU, until the most recent F8 Contemporary Skeleton with its silicon escape wheel.

With the new Orient Star RE-BR0001N, the brand has taken this concept to a whole new level of execution.

At the heart of the watch is a new hand-wound movement, caliber F9B82, which features a 72-hour power reserve and the best accuracy of any Orient watch: +10/-4 seconds per day. This comes very close to COSC standards (+6/-4). Like the F8, it also uses a silicon escape wheel.

However, it's the movement design that makes it truly unique – see how most components of the movement are packed in a circle (which is normal), yet the balance wheel is located just outside the circle, and then, see how the skeletonized dial reflects the movement design. This is major league watch design.

Attention to detail is obvious in every corner of this watch (or rather, in every arc; there's hardly any corners here), as is the level of fit and finish. It really looks like Orient Star wanted to gift itself with something very special for its 75^th anniversary.

The result is a gorgeous, quite legible dial for a skeleton. The blued hour and minute hands stand out nicely; the seconds hand, not so much, but then it makes sense in a watch that, while maintaining excellent accuracy, is not intended for people in a rush. And there are no second (or minute) markers, anyway.

The case is also distinctive, boasting an outline unlike that of other Orient Star watches. It is slightly larger than the F8 Skeleton, measuring 40mm wide and 46.8mm long (compared to 39 x 46.5), yet noticeably thinner at 9.5mm (vs. 10.8). Lug width is 22mm.

Bundling this very airy case with a light leather strap results in a watch that weighs only 64 grams. The only downside to this watch is the modest 3 ATM water resistance.

The price fits a flagship model: around €6,000, making it one of Orient's most expensive models ever, if not the most expensive. Is it worth it? Stay tuned, as a hands-on review is definitely in the works!

 

Orient Star Sakigake

A brand new Orient Star model was just announced – the "Sakigake" (Japanese for forerunner, or a pioneer). At first glance, its design is remarkably simple, making this one of those watches where the small details and quality of execution will ultimately make or break it. So let's dive into the details…

First of all, it's easy to notice what's not there: No date window. No power-reserve indicator. And just minimal dial text – the Orient Star logo, and "automatic". Compare this with the Orient Flusso, also recently announced, and a clear trend emerges.

What we do get is a time-only watch with rather elaborate, three-dimensional hour markers and nicely shaped hands to match, placed inside a smooth-looking case attached to an equally slick bracelet.

The case is 39mm wide, 47mm long, and 11.8mm thick – pretty standard and versatile proportions. Orient seems particularly proud of the bracelet, which has been designed for maximum comfort.

The movement is a new F7 variant, caliber F7542. It features the standard F7 specs of automatic winding and 50 hours of power reserve, and, most importantly, is accurate to within +15/-5 seconds per day.

At this time, we are getting four references: RE-BQ0001G with a yellow gold dial, RE-BQ0002L with a blue dial, RE-BQ0003S with a silver dial, and the limited edition RE-BQ0004Y with a copper dial and black-plated hands and markers.

Pricing is €880 for the standard models and €960 for the limited edition. Which means the Sakigake is now the lowest priced Orient Star with the improved accuracy.

Whether or not the design works can only be judged after seeing the new model in person. If it really works and turns out as comfortable and well-made as Orient promises, it could become a very attractive watch.

 

Orient Flusso

Orient just announced a completely new model – the Flusso! Named after the Italian word for "flow," it is indeed the brand's attempt at a flowing, sporty, integrated bracelet design.

It does make sense for a brand that already covers two corners of the classic triangle with an entry-level dress watch (Bambino) and a diver (Mako) to go for the third – the integrated-bracelet sports watch, which, at the basic price level, is currently dominated by the Timex PRX. Is it likely to be successful? Let's see.

The Flusso design is not revolutionary in any way – essentially, it combines a fairly basic outline (not unlike the PRX) with some Orient DNA, specifically the old SK model, in the shape of four round notches around the dial, and a little bit of case asymmetry as the rounded contour of the case is cut flat at the base of the crown.

The dial is very clean and legible, with only the logo and the word "automatic" appearing on it. In line with a certain trend that's starting to form among recent Orient releases, it does not even have a date window.

Case dimensions are a fairly reasonable, versatile 39mm width, 47mm length, and 11.5mm thickness. It is clearly built for practicality with a sapphire crystal and 100m water resistance.

Orient presented six references: RA-BB0101S (Gold colored case and bracelet, and a white dial), RA-BB0102E (Grey sunburst dial), RA-BB0103S (Blue), RA-BB0104Y (White), and RA-BB0205R (limited edition featuring deep-red stripes inspired by the SK).

 

The movement is a new caliber, F6522, which seems very similar to the F6524, the automatic time-only movement used inside the new no-date Bambino watches. Both movements share the 40-hour power reserve and +25/-15 seconds per day accuracy.

No word on pricing just yet, these watches are set to be available to order next month, and to be delivered starting in November.

As is usually the case with simple designs, the success of this watch would depend very much on the quality of execution. And naturally, for this type of watch, on the quality of the bracelet. While nobody expects a Rolex bracelet at this price point, it needs to be better than the Mako, as it is integral to the watch and therefore unlikely to be replaceable by aftermarket products.

 

New Orient Star 75th Anniversary Watches Released

Orient has just unveiled three new watches to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of its Orient Star brand. These are new versions of familiar product lines.

 

M45 F8 Moon Phase

First up is this lovely new dial variant of the brilliant M45 F8 Mechanical Moonphase Hand Winding, a model reviewed on the blog last year.

The new watch, reference RE-BW0008B, looks just as fantastic as the one reviewed, while leaning less into clean simplicity and more into elaborate intricacy. In the words of Orient, the new dial captures the quiet beauty of “the moon drifting through clouds,” inspired by moonlight breaking through a clear autumn sky. Its richly layered dial combines nanoparticle metal multilayering, dimensional printing, and a three-layer moon phase display with mother-of-pearl, creating remarkable depth and the impression of moonlight naturally emerging through the clouds.

Mechanically, it is the same as last year's moonphase release: at its heart is the in-house caliber F8A62, a hand-wound movement with a 70-hour power reserve. The 39.5 mm stainless-steel case is paired with a black cordovan leather strap, while the caseback bears the Orient Star 75th Anniversary inscription and an individual limited-edition serial number.

The watch will be limited to just 140 pieces worldwide.

 

Open Heart Pair

In addition, a pair of matching open-heart Orient Star watches was introduced: a women's Classic Semi-Skeleton, and a Modern Skeleton. Both feature a similar dial finish, which appears bluish in the images but which Orient describes as a green-gradient dial inspired by the changing colors of the aurora, transitioning from a lighter center to darker tones around the edge.

The Modern Skeleton combines this gradation with expanded openwork, a larger small-seconds display, and a new sandblasted finish, revealing more of the mechanical movement beneath the dial. The more compact Classic Semi Skeleton uses the same aurora-inspired palette, complemented by rose gold-colored accents around the openwork, crown, Roman numeral markers, and Orient Star logo. Both models also feature the serial number and the 75th-anniversary mark on their case backs.

The Modern Skeleton, reference RE-AV0140E, features the cut-out design presented earlier this year. Mechanically, it is the same, 41mm case housing the brand's automatic caliber F6F44. It will be limited to 1,600 pieces worldwide.

The Classic Semi-Skeleton, ref. RE-ND0024E, uses the old (but apparently still fitting) small cal. 55C22. This automatic movement features a 40-hour power reserve. This one is limited to just 800 pieces.

 

New Orient Mako GMT, Bambino 36mm No-Date, and Mako 42mm

Orient today unveiled its Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, led by an entirely new Mako GMT family, accompanied by a new no-date Bambino 36mm collection and four colorful additions to the Mako lineup.

All three collections are being released under Orient's 75th anniversary celebrations. Interestingly, while the company has traditionally referred to 1950 as the beginning of the brand, the Orient name itself first appeared in 1951, as discussed in our recent article about the first Orient watch. So from the branding perspective, 2026 is indeed the 75^th anniversary.

 

The First Mako GMT

The most important release in this collection is undoubtedly the new Mako GMT.

While Orient has produced GMT watches before, this is the first model to carry the Mako name while offering GMT functionality. It is also the first entirely new GMT platform introduced by Orient in many years, and debuts a new movement developed specifically for the purpose.

The new caliber, designated F6P22, is closely related to the familiar F6922 found in many current Mako models. Orient removed the day display, retained the date display, and added a fourth hand together with a 24-hour scale, creating a cleaner dial while introducing dual-time functionality.

Like the movement's predecessor, the F6P22 offers hacking, hand winding and a 40-hour power reserve.

The new movement operates as a caller GMT rather than a traveller GMT. The GMT hand cannot actually be adjusted, and instead uses the rotating 24 hour bezel to track a second time zone.

The watches are slightly bigger than the regular Mako, and measure 42.8mm in diameter, 49.5mm lug-to-lug and 13.4mm thick. Like the regular Mako the GMT offers 200 meters of water resistance and comes attached to a stainless steel bracelet.

Five versions are being introduced:

·         RA-BC0001B – Purple

·         RA-BC0002E – Black

·         RA-BC0003L – Green

·         RA-BC0004Y – Orange

·         RA-BC0005L – Gradient Blue (Limited Edition)

The orange version is perhaps the most striking of the regular production models, while the limited edition combines a deep gradient blue dial with a matching blue-and-grey GMT bezel.

 

A New No-Date Bambino 36mm

The second major release is one that many collectors might find particularly appealing, as it is the closest that the Bambino range has come to the most canonic definition of a pure dress watch.

Earlier this year Orient introduced a no-date Bambino in 38mm. Longtime readers may also remember the 36mm Bambino introduced back in 2019. The new collection combines those two ideas, resulting in the first no-date Bambino in the 36mm case size.

The watches use the familiar Bambino architecture, featuring a domed crystal, slim bezel and elegant proportions. The dial follows the popular V4 Bambino layout, with simple applied baton markers and dauphine-style hands, now presented without a date window.

The case measures 36.4mm in diameter, 42.2mm lug-to-lug and 12.3mm thick. Inside is the F6524 automatic movement with hand winding, hacking and a 40-hour power reserve.

The collection includes four references:

·         RA-BB0101S – White dial with gold-tone case

·         RA-BB0102E – Green dial

·         RA-BB0103S – White dial

·         RA-BB0104Y – Ivory dial

Among the four, the ivory dial may be the most interesting, paired with blue hands and a warm vintage-inspired tone that suits the Bambino particularly well.

 

New Colors for the Mako

Completing the collection are four new versions of the standard Mako.

Unlike the GMT models, these watches are primarily a refresh of an existing platform. They retain the familiar 41.8mm case, F6922 automatic movement, day-date display, 200-meter water resistance and overall specifications of recent Mako generations.

The new references are:

·         RA-AA0824L – Blue

·         RA-AA0825S – White

·         RA-AA0826Y – Orange

·         RA-AA0827V – Purple (Limited Edition)

 

Stay tuned, as I was able to receive samples of all new models, and detailed hands-on reviews will follow in the very near future!

 

New Orient Watches for 2026

Last week, Orient announced a range of new Orient Star models, and now it is time for the brand to return to its core and present some new watches in its more accessible product lines, primarily the popular Bambino and Mako, as well as the new Stretto family. The following watches are available to order, or should become available very shortly.

 

Orient Bambino

First, let's take a look at the new Bambino 38mm watches. We've seen this size before, in the "V1" style (see here for Bambino style versions). The new range features the "V2" design, with Roman numerals and pointed hands.

The new model is also the first mechanical Bambino without a date display – following in the footsteps of the light-powered Bambino 38 watches, which recently won the 2025 "Good Design Award" in Japan. The solar model was possibly only looking to maximize its charging surface area, but the result was nice and symmetric.

Five references are presented globally: RA-BB0001E (green dial), RA-BB0002S (white), RA-BB0003Y (ivory), RA-BB0004Y (reddish-brown), and RA-BB0006N (grey), which is the only limited production variant here. These correspond to RN-BB0001E, RN-BB0002S, RN-BB0003Y, RN-BB0004Y, and RN-BB0006N in Japan, respectively; JDM models also include another limited edition, RN-BB0005V, with a gold-plated case and purple dial. The official price for regular references is €340, limited ones are slightly higher.

The new range uses a new movement, caliber F6524. Basically this is similar to the old cal. F6724 that was found in previous Bambino, minus the disc date - and, just as important, minus the date-setting crown position.

In addition to the 38mm watches, we are also getting some new colors for the classic 40.5mm case. These include ref. RA-AC0028S (white dial, gold-colored case), RA-AC0029E (Green dial), RA-AC0030L (Blue), RA-AC0031S (White), RA-AC0032V (Purple), and RA-AC0033Y (Ivory).

JDM references include RN-AC0028S, RN-AC0032V, RN-AC0033Y which are similar to their global counterparts, and RN-AC0034Y having a copper-colored dial.

All these models will go into regular production, and will cost €340 – except the golden case version, priced at €370.

 

Stretto

While all new watches we're reporting today are released as part of the brand's "Spring / Summer" collection, it's fair to say it is the "Stretto Date" that truly gets the kind of lively colors we'd usually associate with the warm seasons!

The new references include RA-AC0R05E (green dial), RA-AC0R06L (blue), RA-AC0R07P (pink), RA-AC0R08Y (orange), RA-AC0R09L (blue gradation). They are all listed as limited, however it's only the blue dial where the press release mentions 2,300 pieces. Most likely, this means the others are not limited by specific numbers, but limited to the season, and production will not continue next year.

These have corresponding JDM references RN-AC0R05E, RN-AC0R06L, RN-AC0R07P, RN-AC0R08Y, and RN-AC0R09L. MSRP for all Stretto Date references is €400.

The Stretto line also includes Sun & Moon variants, and yes – I remember that, upon launch, Orient referred to these as "Day and Night"; however, they have now reverted to the name by which this visual complication was known since its initial presentation. Some things just shouldn't change…

The most standout new watch in this range (and perhaps in the entire spring/summer collection) is the multi-colored dial, reference RA-AK0316L (JDM RN-AK0316L), another seasonal limited release. The orange and turquoise sub-dials remind me of another pair of summer watches from exactly 20 years ago!

Other, non-limited references are RA-AK0312S (white dial with golden bezel), RA-AK0313Y (brown dial, bronze-toned bezel), RA-AK0314E (green dial), and RA-AK0315L (blue). MSRP is €480 for the multicolor dial and for the bronze bezel, €510 for the gold bezel, and €460 for the rest.

 

Mako 40mm

Finally, we are getting a new range of Mako 40mm watches, and the first thing you'll notice is the dial. While I did appreciate the clean, professional look of the previous Mako 40mm, it lacked some of the special character of Orient's classic Mako – and this is now being rectified.

The new version features a dial and hands similar to the classic Mako, with a triangle at 12 and arrow-shaped hour and minute hands. Actually, this design works perfectly well with the 40mm case and its steel bezel.

References include RA-AC0Q13E (green dial), RA-AC0Q14L (blue), RA-AC0Q15Y (Brown), RA-AC0Q16N (grey), and RA-AC0Q17Y (copper). The grey and copper are limited 2026 releases; the other three go into regular production. The official price for all variants is €440. All but the brown dial version also have corresponding JDM references - RN-AC0Q13E, RN-AC0Q14L, RN-AC0Q16N, and RN-AC0Q17Y.

 

February 2026 Orient Star Releases

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of Orient Star. Some pretty special announcements were expected, and indeed, Orient has just announced a bunch of interesting new models – many of which are limited editions. The following watches should be available in March.

 

M34 F8 Date Meteorite

A meteorite dial? Yes indeed! Orient are upping their game, nudging very cautiously at product categories that used to be reserved for the likes of Grand Seiko and The Citizen. Meteorite might not be as exclusive today as it was a decade ago, but it is still a precious material that offers a unique visual appeal while remaining very natural and understated (not sure if "down to earth" is the proper wording here…)

Indeed, the M34 F8 Date is a fine platform to host the brand's first ever meteorite dial. It is operated by the in-house modern automatic caliber F8N64, featuring a silicon escape wheel, 60 hours of power reserve, and +15/-5 seconds per day accuracy, housed in a sharp, finely finished 40mm case.

The list price for this watch, reference RE-BX0010A (RK-BX0010A in Japan), is € 3,250, considerably higher than the standard M34 F8 Date models, and also about 10% above the "meteor shower" edition – but then again, this is not an illustration of a meteor shower, this is the actual thing in the flesh. This model is limited to 255 pieces globally (actually more than the meteor shower).

 

M34 F8 Full Skeleton

This is a new member in the M34 F8 Contemporary Skeleton family, reference RE-AZ0105N (RK-AZ0105N), characterized by a blackened case and bracelet. The dial is grey, and the hands here are silver, as opposed to the blue hands of the previous references in this family.

As is often the case with skeletons, different finishing also imply matching colors on the movement itself as it is mostly visible, so the movement here is a "new" hand-winding caliber F8B65. It is essentially the same as other F8Bxx movements, having 70 hours of power reserve and +15/-5 seconds per day accuracy.

Pricing is € 3,240 (leaving the top of the list to the Meteorite, by a €10 margin). It is limited to 430 pieces.

 

M42 Diver 1964 1st Edition

Or, more accurately, the 2^nd version of the 1^st edition… anyway, this is a new limited edition of the M42 Diver 1964 re-issue, first released in 2021. The new model, reference RE-AU0503N (RK-AU0503N), features a gradient dial, with a blueish-grey center and darker tones toward the edges.

Technically, it is similar to the first 1^st edition, having a 41mm case with a unidirectional bezel and 200m water resistance, and equipped with an automatic caliber F6N47 that offers 50 hours of power reserve and a more standard accuracy of +25/-15 seconds per day.

The MSRP for this watch is €1,300, and 660 pieces will be available globally. And, what is even more exciting – the blog's already got its hands on one for an early review! Expect this story to be posted here very soon!

 

M34 F7 Small Seconds

Finally, a brand new model! And one that, at the sub-1K price range, is what I believe to be the most accessible Orient Star with the improved accuracy of +15/-5 seconds per day.

The new watch has dressy case dimensions of 39mm width, 45.7mm lug-to-lug, and 11.7mm thickness, complemented by an elegant style. It utilizes a new automatic movement, caliber F7H44, which features small seconds and a power-reserve indicator.

Design-wise, this looks like the replacement for the aging Orient Star Heritage Gothic, and a good replacement it if I might say – at least according to the image. Note that the new model does not display the date. Some people may wish that it would, but it's a sacrifice in the name of symmetry and elegance that I personally appreciate.

Orient presented three variants of the new M34 F7 Small Seconds. Reference RE-BS0001E (RK-BS0001E) has a green dial, RE-BS0002S (RK-BS0002S) features an ivory dial, and Ref. RE-BS0003N (RK-BS0003N), limited to 500 pieces, features a granulated, grey dial. The limited model is priced at €1,050 while the non-limited ones are around €950.

 

Contemporary Date

Not completely new but an updated design, we have a new version of the Contemporary Standard model, recently reviewed on the blog. The new releases differ from most Contemporary Standard references by its power-reserve gauge, here taking a subtle appearance unlike the metallic track applied to the previous models.

Is that a new trend? All new models announced feature similarly understated PR indications, possibly aiming to appeal to both fans of this feature and those who find it an unnecessary clutter on the dial.

In all other respects this is the same as previous Contemporary Standard watches. Case width is 38.5mm, lug to lug length is 46.9mm and thickness is 12.3mm. The movement is cal. F6N43, with a 50 hour reserve and +25/-15 seconds accuracy.

Three references are presented at this time: RE-AU0112V (RK-AU0112V) features a purple dial and steel bracelet; RE-AU0113Y (RK-AU0113Y) has a brown dial, and a matching leather strap; RE-AU0114E (RK-AU0114E) features a blue-green gradation dial and steel bracelet, and is limited to 1,200 piece worldwide.

The list price is €660 for the limited edition, and around €600 for the brown one.

Modern Skeleton

Last but not least, the Modern Skeleton is another familiar Orient Star that has undergone a design change, though not a complete makeover - the resemblance to older models is obvious.

While mechanically unchanged, the dial cutout is noticeably different, as is the small second hand. Other modifications are more subtle.

The case dimensions are still 41mm width, 49mm lug to lug, and 12mm thick. The movement is the familiar automatic caliber F6F44 with its 50 hours of power reserve.

Orient presented six references, none of which is limited: RE-AV0134E (RK-AV0134E) with a green dial, RE-AV0135L (RK-AV0135L) with a blue dial, RE-AV0136N (RK-AV0136N) with a grey dial, RE-AV0137S (RK-AV0137S) with a white dial, RE-AV0138V (no JDM reference) with a purple dial, and RE-AV0139Y (RK-AV0139Y) features a brown dial and is the only variant with a leather strap.

Pricing for the new model is about the same as previous Modern Skeletons.

Orient AC0F European Collection

Orient's AC0F models have been around since 2019. A few variations were added in later years, but the original design – known in some markets as the "Symphony III" and part of the brand's contemporary collection – remained largely unchanged. This means sticking with classic dress-watch color schemes, like black, blue, and white dials, with gold-colored case versions as well.

Now, Orient introduces a collection of five new AC0F references, exclusive to the European market. Not surprisingly, these come in a selection of trendy dial colors, suitable to consumer preferences in 2025.

The new references include: RA-AC0F13E (Green dial), RA-AC0F14L (Blue), RA-AC0F15R (Red), RA-AC0F16S (Ivory), and RA-AC0F17Y (Brown).

The technical specifications are the same as older references of this model. The watch features Orient's automatic caliber F6722, which displays the time and date, and also offers hand-winding and second-hand hacking capabilities.

The case is 41.6mm wide, 11.7mm thick, and 49mm lug to lug. Lug width is 22mm. The watches offer 50m of water resistance, feature mineral glass, and come with a brown leather strap – for all dial colors. The price is listed as 259.99 GBP (let's call it 260 shall we).

Having seen these in person, I can testify that, as with most Orient watches, the colors are really deep and vibrant, and the watches are lovely – a decent alternative to the Bambino for anyone looking for something a bit sharper and less "classic".

More Limited Editions for August 2025

Orient is following up on the earlier announcement of the new Stretto model, with a few more limited editions of familiar watches.

 

Orient Star

Here's a combo Orient loves: delivering their semi-skeleton trio with a new color. They did it in 2022 and 2024 (skipped 2023 in favor of announcing the "M-Collection"). It went well then, so here goes one more, this time with blue-grey gradation dials. Combined with the stainless steel cases and bracelets, Orient Star fine finishing and no gold or other flashy components, the result is very solid, mature- looking and versatile.

The references are RE-AV0132L modern skeleton, limited to 1,000 pieces; RE-AT0021L semi skeleton, limited to 900; and RE-ND0022L ladies' classic semi skeleton, of which only 600 will be made. While limited, these watches are not designated as "75^th anniversary models" and do not get the anniversary packaging.

 

"Revival" World Map

Orient's original 1969 World Map diver was a real gem, which is nowadays a highly collectible rarity. The "revival" edition from 2021 was equally desirable (though not nearly as expensive) and the limited production was probably sold out rather quickly. So, it only makes sense for Orient to deliver another run of this iconic watch for its 75^th anniversary.  

The new version, ref. RA-AA0E08Y, differs from the previous version slightly but noticeably. It borrows the golden bezel and crowns from the ivory dial reference RA-AA0E01S, and features the vintage-style cursive font for the Orient logo and other text, on both dial and case back. Note the 1969 version actually had the modern logo on the dial…

The new world map model has the anniversary packaging and is limited to 1,500 units. Prices were not announced, but they will probably be similar to the previous world map edition, and the Orient Star models' prices will likewise probably be similar to their familiar base models.

 

Orient Announces a New Model: Stretto

August is a good month for new watch announcements, and this year is no exception: Orient just announced a new model name, complete with its own new family of automatic and solar versions.

The Stretto joins the "contemporary" branch of the brand's portfolio, and as such it features  a modern design, with sharp lines and very "technical" dials, despite the use of Orient's vintage font on the limited editions.

 

Stretto Date

The "Stretto Date" will probably be the core of the family. This model uses Orient's familiar F6722 automatic movement to present the time and date, wrapped in a 38.5mm wide case. With the 45.5mm lug-to-lug dimension, 11.2mm thickness and 20mm lug width, it's a very practical size that should work for a majority of potential buyers.

The model also features sapphire as the front crystal, and mineral for the exhibition caseback. All versions are water resistant to 50m, or 5 bar.

Four references are on offer at launch:

·         RA-AC0R01S with a silver dial and gold elements (bezel, markers, crowns and more), bundled with a steel bracelet.

·         RA-AC0R02L with a blue dial, and a steel bracelet.

·         RA-AC0R03Y with a brown dial, golden bezel, and a brown leather strap.

·         RA-AC0R04N is a limited edition of 2900 units, featuring a sunburst grey dial, an orange second hand, and Orient's cursive logo.

Semi-Skeleton and Day & Night

Orient further announced two more elaborate versions of the Stretto, each presented as a single "75^th anniversary" limited edition reference. Both feature the increasingly popular cursive logo.

The Day and Night model, ref. RA-AK0311N, is limited to 2,500 units. It uses caliber F6B24, similar to Orient's older Sun and Moon watches. Case dimensions are 48mm length, 41.5mm width and 13mm thickness, and it's attached to a 22mm wide steel bracelet. And yes, it is interesting that Orient calls it "Day and Night" rather than "Sun and Moon" – possibly, to avoid confusion with the brand's Moonphase watches.

The Semi-Skeleton model, ref. RA-AR0012N, is limited to 2,800 unit. This ones uses caliber F6S22, another familiar movement, and its case is 40.8mm wide, 48mm long and only 10.9mm thick.

 

Stretto Solar

In addition to the automatic models, Orient also announced a line of Solar-powered references, clearly designed as women's watches. They are 32.1mm wide, 39mm lug-to-lug and 7.1mm thick. Lug width is 16mm and the crystal is sapphire.

Five references are presented, none limited:

·         RA-WG0601S is a two-tone model, combining steel/silver and gold throughout the case, dial and bracelet.               

·         RA-WG0602L features a blue dial and steel bracelet.

·         RA-WG0603R features a brown dial and steel bracelet.

·         RA-WG0604S with a more glitzy dial, featuring sparkling markers and elements, golden bezel, and a brown leather strap.

·         RA-WG0605L with similarly sparkling elements on a blue dial, and a (non-matching…) black strap.

Notes [August 25 Update]

First, a word on pricing. While Orient did not include pricing in the original press release, we can see that the Stretto Date is listed on Orient UK's online shop, having the same price as the Mako 40mm. The UK price for both is £350.

There is also something curious about the open-heart model. The watch listed as Stretto Semi-Skeleton looked familiar, and indeed, it is actually the same structure as the current contemporary semi-skeleton models, as you can see below; interestingly, the Peanuts version has been retro-fitted with the Stretto name and currently appears as such on Orient UK's website. The standard versions, such as the green dial shown below, were not. 

We're looking forward to seeing these Stretto watches in real life, so we can judge their quality and value for money.