Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New, Vintage-Inspired Orient Star Diver 1964 2nd Edition
Two dial colours and an in-house automatic highlight very capable, retro divers from Japan.
Orient Star introduced the Diver 1964 last year to celebrate the brand’s 70th anniversary. It had modern features like a power reserve indicator and sapphire crystal, but also sported retro design elements that mimicked the 1964 original, the Olympia Calendar Diver. Everything from the bezel, dial, indices, hands and date were faithful, although the new model had a contemporary polish. The 2nd edition doesn’t stray far from last year’s, but introduces two dial colours and colour-matching bezel inserts. It’s based on the Calendar Auto Orient, another of the brand’s first dive watches from 1964.
For those not familiar with Orient Star, it’s basically the higher-end segment within Orient (both are one and the same). You can compare it to Seiko and Grand Seiko, although to a much lesser degree. Orient was founded in 1950 with Orient Star debuting a year later. The stainless steel case for the 2nd edition is well sized at 41mm in diameter and 14.5mm in height (49.6mm lug-to-lug). The unidirectional rotating bezel features an anodized aluminium insert in either black or green, matching the respective dials. It has a detailed 15-minute scale and dot of lume at the 12 o’clock marker. The case comes with a 20mm five-link steel bracelet with a trifold deployant buckle and diver’s extension. An additional silicone strap is also included with pyramid-like ridges matching the design of the original 1964 metal band. The case is water resistant to 200 metres and compliant with the ISO 6425 standard.
The dial is faithful to its 1964 counterpart, although a power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock is a contemporary addition. Applied indices, round and rectangular (with a triangle at 12 o’clock) are filled with lume, as are the hour and minute hands. The hand positioned just below the 12-hour index indicates the power reserve. A date window sits at 3 o’clock, true to the original. As mentioned, two colours are available – mirror black and gradient green. The black echos the original, while the green was inspired by the Ryusendo Cave in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The dial is protected by a dual curved AR sapphire crystal, which is also a modern upgrade.
Powering the 2nd Edition is the in-house calibre F6N47 automatic. It has 22 jewels, and beats at 21,600vph (3Hz) with a 50-hour power reserve. Functions include central hours, minutes, hacking seconds, date and a power reserve indicator. Accuracy is rated at +25/-15 seconds per day and it can be hand wound. The new Orient Star Diver 1964 2nd Edition retails for EUR 1,350 and is part of Orient Star’s regular collection.
For more information, please visit Orient’s website.
7 responses
I honestly don’t see the value here for an extremely extremely similar style to the Tissot Seastar which boasts a far better movement, cleaner layout and more solid construction for less money.
1350 euros? For an Orient rated at +25/-15 seconds per day?
Are they serious?
I like power reserve on automatic watch. Would love it in 38 size and of corse much shorter lugs lenght. As to price, a bit too much. Would be right if case was in titanium.
Just a question from someone who has no interest in this particular watch: Does anyone actually buy Orient Star at full price? This will soon be at least 1/2 the price shown here on one of the gray market vendors — if not already. Although, I must also say the one OS I purchased from a gray seller had a defective movement and the warranty would have been nice. But, I’ll assume my bad luck (with the same F6N47 movement) was an anomaly.
Agree with the point on OS being available to much less than suggested retail price, so we can expect that.
On comparison with Tissot Seastar, I say those saying the Tissot is much better should handle this Orient Star in person before making too much assumptions. They may be surprised 😉
@verde
They will soon selling this at 700. Believe me.
I prefer the LE styling of this watch (different hands, different bezel). Anyhow, Orient has a true Japanese heritage unlike Tissot which is a Swatch Group retail zombie. I wouldnt want a Tissot “Seastar” even for half of the price of what they are going for. If you spot this Orient Star for “700” tell me, would be a great deal. Unlike Seiko btw. I have never had a an Orient with manufacturing faults, misaligned bezels etc.