Monochrome Watches
An online magazine dedicated to fine watches
Introducing

The Orient Bambino Flaunts New Dial Colours and Limited Editions for its 75th Anniversary

The Bambino turns 75 and Orient celebrates with new dial colours and two limited anniversary editions.

| By Rebecca Doulton | 4 min read |

If you ask about affordable Japanese mechanical watches, most people will cite Seiko and Citizen as incontestable powerhouses. However, Orient, another Japanese watch brand owned by the Seiko Epson Corporation, is a force to contend with when it comes to value for money. Founded in 1950, Orient is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year with colourful editions of its best-selling Bambino range with and without day/night indicators, along with two special limited editions with attractive beige dials and vintage touches. 

Bambino Classic

A traditional time-and-date model, the Bambino Classic comes in a straightforward 40.5mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 12.3mm and short, slender lugs. With its retro 1950s appeal, it is a borderline dress/everyday watch with classical Roman numerals, a curved dial and a domed crystal. The periphery of the dial features a double precision track for the minutes and seconds with contrasting Arabic numerals.

Ad – Scroll to continue with article

The collection expands with four new dial colours – green, navy blue, bordeaux and beige – giving the Bambino a more casual, contemporary vibe. While beige might not sound like the sexiest colour, it is one of the most attractive references in the new lineup. The dials feature a sunburst finish and, depending on the colour, are paired with golden or silver-coloured applied Roman numerals and thin, elegant hands. The date window at 3 o’clock has a white background. Although the 30m depth rating is nothing to write home about, the words Water Resistant are inscribed in cursive on the dial at 6 o’clock, matching the Automatic mention below the brand’s logo at noon.

The Bambino Classic models come with a leather strap and a steel pin buckle. The four references join the permanent collection and retail for EUR 299.99.

Bambino Classic 75th Anniversary

Sharing identical specs to the abovementioned models, the anniversary edition of the Bambino Classic takes the vintage cues one step further. The white dial has pink gold-toned Roman numerals and old-school blued hands. Details like the cursive 1950s Orient logo on the dial, the crystal caseback inscribed with “Orient Since 1950, 75th Anniversary” in golden letters and the exchangeable retro-looking beige Nubuck leather strap set this limited edition of 9,500 watches apart from the regular production models. This limited edition anniversary model retails for EUR 359.99 and comes in a special gift box with an additional leather strap.

All five Bambino Classics are fitted with Orient’s in-house automatic calibre F6724. This 3Hz movement delivers a power reserve of 40 hours and features stop-seconds and manual-winding functionality.

Quick facts: 40.5mm diameter x 12.3mm thickness, stainless steel – 30m water-resistance – curved dial with domed crystal – applied Roman numerals – date window at 3 o’clock – Orient automatic calibre F6724 – 21,600vph – 40h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds (hacking and date – ref. RA-AC0026R Bordeaux dial – ref. RA-AC0025N (beige dial) – ref. RA-AC0024L (blue dial) – ref. RA-AC0023E (green dial) EUR 299.99 – ref. RA-AC0027S (white dial) limited edition of 9,500 retails for EUR 359.99

Bambino Day/Night

More complex than the time-and-date references, three new Orient Bambino references with sunburst green, navy blue and bordeaux-coloured dials (sadly, there is no beige here) are enlivened with a day/night indicator and the days of the week.

Featured inside an off-centred and slightly recessed figure eight, the days of the week are displayed in the sub-dial at 10 o’clock and indicated via a small hand. The colourful day/night indicator in the lower sub-dial has a sun and moon in a rotating 24-hour disc. The applied Roman numerals and slim central hands are either silver-coloured or golden to stand out against the colourful dial, and the date window is at 3 o’clock.

The trilogy is presented in 41.5mm stainless steel cases with a thickness of 14.2mm and a domed crystal glass over the curved dial and a crystal on the caseback. The regular production models retail for EUR 399.99.

Bambino Day/Night 75th Anniversary

There is also a limited edition of 5,500 pieces of the watch to celebrate the brand’s 75th anniversary, which also comes with a white dial, the original 1950s Orient logo printed in cursive, pink gold-toned applied indices, blued hands and a beige Nubuck leather strap. The anniversary edition comes in a special gift box with an additional leather strap and retails for EUR 449.99.

Beneath the crystal on the caseback is Orient’s automatic 3Hz calibre F6B24, an in-house movement that powers the time, date, day of the week and day & night display for 40 hours. It’s worth mentioning that all the Day/Night models are now equipped with a tool-free strap exchange system.

Quick facts: 41.5mm diameter x 14.2mm thickness, stainless steel – 30m water-resistance – curved dial with domed crystal – applied Roman numerals – date window at 3 o’clock – Orient automatic calibre F6B24 – 21,600vph – 40h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds (hacking) date, day of the week and day & night indicator – ref. RA-AK0807R (bordeaux dial) – ref. RA-AK0806L (blue dial) – ref. RA-AK0805E (green dial) EUR 399.99 – ref. RA-AK0808S (white dial) limited edition of 5,500 retails for EUR 449.99

For more information, please consult orient-watch.com

https://monochrome-watches.com/introducing-orient-bambino-flaunts-new-dial-colours-and-limited-editions-for-its-75th-anniversary/

Leave a Reply