The Orient Bambino 75th Anniversary Classic and Day-Night Come with Plenty of Vintage Soul and Modern Charm

For many watch enthusiasts, the Orient Bambino is a rite of passage, often a first mechanical watch that proves you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy heritage design and honest, in-house watchmaking. To mark its 75th anniversary, Orient has refreshed its popular Bambino lineup with new dial colours and two limited editions that tip their hat to the brand’s vintage roots: the Bambino Classic 75th Anniversary and the Bambino Day/Night 75th Anniversary.

At the heart of these 75th Anniversary models is a clear connection to Orient’s earliest designs. Both the Classic and the Day/Night share the same understated 40.5?mm stainless steel case — slender lugs, a polished bezel, and that signature domed mineral crystal that’s defined the Bambino for decades. On the wrist, the balanced proportions wear comfortably and slip easily under a cuff, even though the thickness is 12.3mm for the Classic and nearly 2mm more for the Day/Night. Water-resistance is 30m.

Unlike the bright new sunburst dials of the standard collection, these Anniversary editions keep things traditional with a crisp white dial. The first detail that catches the eye is the original 1950s Orient logo, printed in delicate cursive, a small but meaningful touch that instantly sets these apart. The Classic leans fully into vintage charm with applied Roman numerals in warm pink gold, paired with slender leaf-shaped hands that are heat-blued for a pop of old-school colour. The look is refined and slightly formal but never stuffy, just the right balance for everyday wear. The date window at 3 o’clock blends in nicely, doing its job without drawing undue attention.

While the Classic keeps things simple with a three-hand and date layout, the Day/Night adds a dash of personality with its sun-and-moon display. A rotating disc at 5 o’clock tracks day and night over 24 hours, while a second hand at 10 o’clock shows the day of the week. It’s a charming complication, though the exposed screws on the sub-dial turn the poetic notion down just a bit.

The asymmetry gives the otherwise classical dial a fresh twist, even if the extra elements do make it feel a touch busier than the cleaner Classic. The minutes track is identical on both models, marked with numerals at 5-minute intervals, though on the Day/Night, it adds a bit to the visual clutter rather than the charm. Still, the shared white dial, pink gold-toned indices and heat-blued hands create a timeless, slightly warm look on the wrist that feels true to Orient’s mid-century spirit.

Flip either watch over, and you’ll find a sapphire-look crystal caseback revealing Orient’s trusty in-house automatic movements, the calibre F6724 for the Classic and F6B24 for the Day/Night. These are simple, robust movements that run at 21,600 vibrations/hour and deliver around 40 hours of power reserve, complete with hacking seconds for precise setting. Finishing is modest but honest, perfectly fitting for a piece at this price point. A gold anniversary engraving reading Orient Since 1950 — 75th Anniversary and a unique serial number underscore the limited nature of these models (9,500 pieces for the Classic, 5,500 for the Day/Night).

Part of the appeal is the strap. Both come on a retro-inspired beige Nubuck leather strap, soft, lightly textured, and perfectly complementing the warmth of the dial. These are the first Bambinos to feature an easy-change strap system: flick the spring bar lever to swap straps in seconds, no tools needed. It’s a practical touch that makes the watch feel more versatile day to day.

In a world crowded with hype-driven limited editions, the Bambino 75th Anniversary models feel refreshingly sincere — even if the “limited” runs number in the thousands. Orient has refined what made the Bambino a modern classic in the first place: timeless design, a few carefully chosen vintage cues, a charming extra complication for the Day/Night, and real heritage at an accessible price. The Classic model retails for EUR 359,99, the Day/Night for EUR 449,99.

For those who started their watch collections with a Bambino, or for anyone who appreciates the romance of old-school watchmaking without the pretence, these anniversary editions are a reminder that value isn’t always about specs alone, but about the story you wear on your wrist.

For more information, please visit Orient-Watch.com.