Some sections of this video have been blurred post-upload to avoid breaking Amazon’s updated terms of service for their affiliate program. Affiliates are no longer permitted to show Amazon web pages. Watch Featured (affiliate): Amazon: geni.us/orientraar0002 Jomashop (& different colour): www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8946237/type/dlg/www.jomashop.com/orient-watch-ra-ar0002b10b.html
Far and away my favourite watch channel. I buy watches in the 50-500 pounds range and have sold my luxury watches because Im essentially too concerned to wear them for reasons of fear of damaging and personal security when travelling. Some time ago I realised that my enjoyment of a watch was utterly unrelated to the cost or alleged quality. Keep up the great work!
I think i don't need a luxury watch. I will never have a ROLEX. This watches look good and have an excellent quality. But the cost is very high, if damaged. There are many cheap brands with very good quality: SEIKO, ORIENT, ORIENT STAR, ROAMER. Some time ago, I discovered ZEPPELIN watches. They made in Germany. Very good quality for the price.
I was feeling kind of lucky last year so I got on Amazon and found and ordered two of the cheapest automatic men’s watches from two different companies just to see what would arrive. I paid $7.35 & $6.50 USD, free shipping, they showed up three weeks later. I was surprised at what I got. Both were a little larger than the watches I normally wear but they both kept decent time, the finish was good, no cocked numbers or chapters. You ought to try that experiment. If nothing else it’s good for a laugh. And if it all goes wrong you can blame me!...
When you reach the point where you can tell what makes a good watch "good" and a bad watch "bad", you have become a true watch collector. Great video, great point. Just a note: there are good watches at various price points, but truly great watches don't (usually) come cheap.
Unless we’re talking the likes of Casio, I’ve never owned one but that will change someday with the Casio duro (hopefully) Maybe I’ll put it on a nice NATO strap.
After several months of ownership and regular wear I'm very happy of this Orient Contemporary Open Heart Small Second ... I own two versions the white and the brown chocolate with copper indexes. Only cons is the bracelet both versions are delivered with calf leather straps using pin buckle which are not bad but I would prefer folding clasp. I would appreciate to be able to buy an extra strap from Orient like the one provided with Orient Star Outdoor.
Hi Ben. Great video! I liked your comment about how companies use the "Minimalist" marketing ploy as an excuse for shoddy finishing and construction. I would love to see a video where you directly compare minimalist watches such as DW with a well made and respected brand and explain how "miniimalist" does not mean cheap and how it can be done very well!
In regards to 304L vs 316L. 304 is far from a substandard material. Yes, it is at bit more susceptible to corrosion but that is relative to long term exposure to strong acids, bases and salt solutions at higher temperatures. The real reason I'm willing to bet 316L is more prevalent is it's a bit easier to machine because of the alloy composition, so your tooling lasts a bit longer. I work on a daily basis with 304 and 316 in milling, turning and welding components for custom factory equipment.
Dude, you have been KILLING IT with your videos lately! I mean, I always liked your videos, but the last 2 or 3, including this one, have been outstanding. Keep it up. I look forward to your next one!
You make a lot of good points about what to look out for when judging a watch’s quality. That deliberately broken off seconds hand is an absolute shocker!
I just bought my very first Orient based on the praise I see it getting. It's a Defender 2. The first thing I did was sync it to the speaking clock and now, 5 days later and I s**t you not, its showing a 2 second loss. I can't imagine they all come out of the box as accurate as mine but it does show the quality of the movement when it has this potential. Fantastic thing and under £170.
Chrissake, the disc covering the lack of a second hand is one thing, but having been it part of a second hand now snapped off !! The plot thickens, well spotted.
Great video, one of the biggest challenges is for people who don’t study watches via these sort of channels and in other ways, a Timex can look a bit like a Daniel Wellington online or even in bricks and mortar retail.
I just bought that Orient's big brother--the Orient Star open heart model. (Not the one with the small seconds. With the open heart and the reserve meter, I found that one too busy.) Damn, is it a good looking watch. The finishing is really nice on it. I was down to the Orient Star and the Orient open heart in this video and it was a tough call to make as I think they're both lookers.
Thank you, so much, for being so articulate! I despise reviews that sound like the reviewer just turned on the camera and started talking. Um, uh, what’s this, hold on, all those make me want to tear my hair out. Your reviews sound like a well-rehearsed performance, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that!
That's a really nice Orient. Won't lie, I nearly bought one until I realised I have a Orient sun and moon and a SARX055 that alreadyfill that niche...and I'm still tempted...
I reckon this Orient looks a lot like the Seiko Presage range. That's how I discovered orient. Was shopping for a Seiko Presage but ended up getting a Orient Defender 2 Automatic Field Watch because it was a far more novel design. And cheaper!
Never gave much thought to watches until I started following this channel. Definitely getting a bit more interested in them now. Love the content, man! Thanks, and God bless.
After watching this video, i got this beautiful orient watch. All i can say is this watch is extremely beautiful and very much underpriced. It is one of the biggest steals ever. Put a tissot or any swiss brand on it and it is easily above a thousand dollars. I am extremely excited. I also got 4 other watches in the same package. Hamilton field watch King 2 almost 600$, West end watch co classic blue dial presidential almost $800, Citizen sarb killer nb1041 almost $450 and another Orient with an open heart $250. The Orients got me so excited. What if Rolex is just a brand name but not better than Orient? Just wondering
Quality is another way of saying the manufacturer really cares. We respond when people care about what they are doing. I learned this from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
@@MrPleers Agreed. Any classic Seiko has prices way too high, like they just decided to inflate and people just kept buying. I myself own two Seikos, but both are less than $200 and are excellent.
I recently picked up an Orient star RE-AU0004B00B. It's 38.5 mm so not too big and is incredibly well made. I found a discounted one for £340. Prefer it to my SARB (by a lot). I think your fans would love an entry level luxury review. Cheers
Got my eye on that one actually Peter. Looks very elegant. It's on the list, hopefully can get hold of one from one of the channel partners in a few months time 👍
would be interesting to see you review some of the "high-end" aliexpress brands like San Martin, Cronos that push quality over quantity, or Lobini for their use of rare and weird movement.
After buying and selling watches from Rolex to Invicta (26++), I bought a Citizen Eco Drive Titanium, BL5250 perpetual... BEST watch by far that I have ever owned: upgraded leather band to a 26mm from the standard 22mm which was way too small....Fabulous
Jason, do you think part of the problem is that jewelry shops promote rubbish like that? I find where I live, no shops around with decent watches. The public then don't know any better.
@@denisdaly1708 I have to agree. In my country, the jewelry stores often only have crap fashion watches. And in my town the "real" watch dealers offering legit watch brands with a history (but in various price levels) are almost gone now. Also, Jason, as a subber to your channel I'm really looking forward to your review of that fashion watch.
After watching your Filippo loretti Video a Couple of weeks back I bought this AND the Orient ak00002s so as I See it you are the reason I'm 450 quid poorer. Where ist my Money lebowski?
Resale value of trusted brands is one of the most important things mentioned in this video. I bought a seiko retail and I loved it, but because it was a dress watch I didn't wear it during a pandemic. Needed money because of said pandemic, then sold it for about the same even minus ebay fees. Man I miss that watch.
That Orient watch is maybe a budget model but it shows clear signs that manufacturer cares about his product. He is cheap but not lazy. That goes a long way for a customer not feeling ripped-off.
Depends on what you want to do with it. If you want a tough watch with a nice finish you have other criteria as if you want a watch to learn to service a clockwork, to fool around without minding the risk. I just got a f#('ng cheap one, did my first reassembling with a service and adjustment, very happy with the result, within 1 minute in a week - still not waterproof though.
I have seen a watchmaking channel on Twitch not sure which one actually challenge the viewers, should they be interested, to just get some of those $10 automatic ones from Ali, and learn on them because why not.
@@SianaGearz Do expect some high Nickel content in the material, maybe if you want to wear it it is not a good choice, for fooling around it is great there are watchmaking tools available for a similar amount!
@@carstenweiland7896 huh I've worn one of those watches for like a year a decade ago and didn't have issues with it. I was somehow not aware that nickel was an issue, which that being said, isn't it used in... well perhaps not in nice watches or nice jewelry, but otherwise, in just about everything? Interesting. I don't suppose I'm necessarily at high risk because I rarely ever wore jewelry and never even had my ears or anything pierced and I'm 40 now.
I have a MVMNT watch I was gifted for Christmas. I honestly hate that I love it. Maybe I got a good one maybe it’s just good enough for me. Idk. I just love it.
on a cheaper watches and most of those fashion watches, the fully "polished" finishing is actually a chrome plate , which caused less then actually polished the ss to create the result. They can be easily spotted as they are extremely shinny and have some curve on the flat and corner area of the watch.
Chrome plating doesn't actually easily cover material voids and texture, it can even amplify them. They are polished before plating. However careful polishing without shaving off the sharp details is very skill intensive, so they just whack it quick and hard against a wheel and that works well enough to create a suitable surface for plating over. There isn't a lot of plating on there anyway, because while it is automated and chrome itself is inexpensive, it does take progressively more time to get a good coat and they skimp on that as well.
Thanks Ben. Me too, I rather save and by a real watch brand than crapy fashion ones. Orient is becoming my top 1 brand now. Of course I have my collection of Casios like everyone else. lol
Oh, man. I just love watching videos from this channel. Never thought watches could be so interesting. I'm young and most of my friends love apple watches and other smartwatches but I just don't get it. This has opened me up to a whole new world and though I don't make much money right now, but I hope someday I can start my own collection with budget offerings from Orient or Seiko or even a good Casio.
Great videos. I've just discovered this channel. I'd appreciate a Part 2 where different grades of mechanical watches are compared. I understand why mechanical watches are more than quartz or why a watch with a really unique movement (GS) or certain materials would be expensive. But I'm trying to figure out, say, why this Orient is in the $200 range when, for example, the Tissot Gentleman Auto Swiss is in the $500 range. What am I buying for $300? Better finishing? Accuracy?
I think there's a lot of nuance to homage watches. Ripping off a rather new design still in production is morally questionable even though it's usually legal. But if the original manufacturer refuses to make a certain very popular design any more (*cough*, Seiko) you basically have no other choice, and if the design is so old all people involved in the design process are long dead and buried (*cough*, Rolex) I consider it public domain and up for grabs anyway.
It's about value for money, isn't it? If it's a legal $200 homage of a $7000 watch of classic design with a quality movement and good construction, I can overlook the lack of originality. As Picasso said in response to the criticism that his work was derivative, "All artists have mothers and fathers."
i think im more interested in things like price , value , quality of materials and construction , than i am in originality of design . if i can buy a seiko or citizen that looks and lasts like a rolex or omega , then i think i will forgo the expense of paying a huge premium for some prestigious brand name .
@@tjlee9901 The main reason why they exist is the price, but that's obvious. I was just saying that the originality argument doesn't hold much water under most circumstances. To the original designers it's irrelevant if you buy a Submariner or a Submariner homage, they are very dead.
I'm currently looking at the Orient Star RE-AT0205l00B. Weirdly, there aren't any videos on UA-cam about it in English. The deep blue with that starry night sky look is so beautiful 😊
5:04 one thing i want to mention regarding "bad straps" is that it's not just about long lasting or even comfort: cheap leather, or leather like materials can be AWFUL to all senses after a bit. I bought a watch once with a cheap leather strap, it was likely some form of bonded leather or maybe even "genuine leather" (which, fun fact is one of the lowest grades of leather) but it was treated with cheap oil which resulted in a very bad fishy smell when it got a bit damp. Speaking of which, cheap leather usually be treated with chemicals or cheap oils and you never know how your skin will react to such. I'm lucky in that my skin is generally very hardy, but you may have particularly sensitive skin (i know plenty of people who do) and then you you'll have no idea how these oils will react. 5:50 also, re: water rating. There is NO universal standards body for WR rating in watches (unlike a lot of other stuff like calling your watch "swiss made" for example IS regulated by a body and needs to follow some rules). This is why some will tell you it's ok to swim with their watch while another company with the same WR rating will tell you "only good for splashes". This is important to remember if you're gonna buy from an unknown brand that is less likely to adhere to any kind of standard. 10:40 I like to think of "resale value" as TRUE "market price", especially if you look at resale value of a mint condition piece that's basically what the free market is willing to pay with no price being set by the manufacturer. In a lot of ways it's much more of a true value than the initial MRP is. So even if you aren't wanting to resell your watch, at least it tells gives you some idea of how much others value it - which is a good metric to keep in mind. With some exceptions ofc, sometimes the value of a watch is overly inflated due to rarity rather than something of actual value in the watch itself.
I’m screwed up because I expect the time on my watch to be within a second or two of the time my phone gets from the cell network. So that means radio or GPS satellite sync. For nearly ten years it’s been a white-dial Citizen that’s much more elegant than almost any current model.
Spaghetti Scameti offers amazing value at an attainable price which few other brands can compete with. Their product is a prestigious example of luxury at the affordable end of the market.
You make a lot of very good points. Many years from now, looking back on this video will show that 2020 /21 was the time that Orient became the leader in best-bang-for-your-buck, taking the crown from Seiko.
Hi Ben, Great video. I liked the way you analyze watches. It is funny that “Pagani Design” a company established in 2012 seems to be using a similar name to Pagani, the luxury Italian hyper car manufacturer founded by the Argentinean Horacio Pagani in 1992. So not only the rip off designs but also the name of the company.
IMO a good watch is a combination of style and design, quality of materials and finishing, reliability, durability. Also lack of annoying traits such as loud ticking, rotor noise ect.
You know that when I saw your review of the “Spaghetti Scameti”, I was about to mention as real quality affordable watch an Orient? Seeing this video makes me more happy about my decisión couple of weeks ago to order a Mako II. Thanks. :)
I have several orient watches but you have to import them into the uk and cannot get an authorised service provider. My best looker is the polaris white dial with blue hands.
Does the number of jewels have a bearing on the quality of a movement? I remember years ago my father told me that the more jewels the better. True or not?
Typically, the more complications are on the watch the more you can expect in the watch's movement since more bearings are needed to reduce friction between the many components needed to create said complications. As a general rule that a simple mechanical watch (without any "complication" - will say a three hand watch) should have at least 15 jewels (most current are equipped with 17) at the points most exposed to friction. Some high end movement do have 51 jewels. Hope this will help a bit.
Not true. Just think of it this way. A Vostok movement has the same amount of jewels as a Rolex movement (sometimes even more). And it's quite obvious that Vostok does not come even close to Rolex. The whole number of jewels = quality is a false statement started by watch companies in the 20. century in order to justify high prices 😀
Yes, to an extent. Although it’s still referred to as the number of jewels, modern watches use synthetic-rubies to achieve the same result in a cheaper way. The average number of jewels is 17-24 for most mechanical movements. Watch companies that tout their high number of jewels are almost always doing it to drive the price up.
Yes and no. Jewel number shouldn't be the reason you buy a watch but it can be a factor you use to start determining the quality of a movement. If you see a 17+ jewel movement it's off to a good start. Sometimes manufacturers cut corners and don't even jewel pivots, which is really not a good thing. I serviced a watch last week with one jewel, and it was for the balance. Everything else just went into a miniscule hole drilled into the various plates, not very good quality.
The original design bit does make sense to a certain degree, however very few people can afford a Rolex Submariner. I’m thinking of getting the new Certina DS Action powermatic 80. It does bear resemblence to the sub, but I don’t think Rolex is the only brand allowed to make a black diver with white markers.
I agree, the Orient is a very nice watch , you just need to do a bit of research before you purchase a watch, but you cannot go far wrong with a auto Orient !
I think hommage watches are a totally different pair of shoes. To me they are all about how little money you can spend on something that does not only look pricey but offers outstandable quality for a fraction of the price. I do own several watches (Turtle, Komandirskie, etc...) and one Pagani Datejust hommage. I am still fairly impressed by what the Pagani offers for about 60 USD and as a dress watch it is totally worth the money, if you are a sucker for the real deal. Also, I do like bragging about the specs and how cheap the watch actually was. And yes, the quality is indeed outstanding, mostly due to the fact the watch lacks originality and therefore no money was spent on Design. Right now it even gets more wrist time than my beautifully modded turtle. What I want to say is, if you do bot care for originality and just the looks of a watch, most people will IMHO definitely be better off with an hommage. Funnily enogh to most watch snobs it does seem to be okay to buy hommages, yet only as long as they are expensive, made anywhere but in China (mostly only assembled outside CN with the same parts as their chinese siblings) and preferably from a big name in the watch industry (microbrands are okay, but only if they are assembled in "exotic" countries like the US or France).
2:57 watches definitely still serve a functional purpose for me.i wear a digital watch at my job as i constantly need to know what time it is and dont have time to constantly get my phone out to see. and we're not allowed to have are phone on us.
This is a great primer to help a newbie understand value in a watch. I was buying cheap quartz before I learned about Seiko, then learned about the big stuff. One thing, though. How is the name Orient still a thing?
Still a thing? Epson bought Orient and they are still made entirely in Japan. If you're concerned about the potential slur "oriental", it's only a slur when used to refer to a person. Objects can be oriental.
Hi Ben! Pls, you must do a review about Orient - Neo Classic Sport RA-AA0E05B. Be the light in the darkness and let us now if it can be a good purchase. Best regards!
I still have my very first watch from when I was a kid it cost 7.99 and came with a wallet and dog tag but I still use it every day and it nearly 12 years old.
I’ve picked up a couple of watches that could be considered homages, from companies I respect. And while they’re not super original, they do receive their own unique qualities, and capture styles (and sizes) that might be leaving circulation in the industry.
"Price is the main factor in all of this." --I disagree. The most expensive watch in my collection is a Tudor. That dented my wallet a bit when I bought it. But at the moment, that one is on the winder, and I am wearing my $40.00 Timex Expedition on a $20.00 NATO strap. I love them both for what they are!
Funny isn't it? I learned that price doesn't really matter in watch collecting! My two most worn watches are a seagull 1963 chronograph reissue I got for around 180, and I wear this most often alongside my omega sea master professional which was....a lot more than that 😂 .
Hay Ben, love your videos, l noticed you recommending changing out a lot of the bands on you reviews how about making a video with some recommendations and locations to look to for supply. Just a thought, keep up the great work.
Some sections of this video have been blurred post-upload to avoid breaking Amazon’s updated terms of service for their affiliate program. Affiliates are no longer permitted to show Amazon web pages.
Watch Featured (affiliate):
Amazon: geni.us/orientraar0002
Jomashop (& different colour): www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8946237/type/dlg/www.jomashop.com/orient-watch-ra-ar0002b10b.html
Far and away my favourite watch channel. I buy watches in the 50-500 pounds range and have sold my luxury watches because Im essentially too concerned to wear them for reasons of fear of damaging and personal security when travelling. Some time ago I realised that my enjoyment of a watch was utterly unrelated to the cost or alleged quality. Keep up the great work!
I think i don't need a luxury watch. I will never have a ROLEX. This watches look good and have an excellent quality. But the cost is very high, if damaged. There are many cheap brands with very good quality: SEIKO, ORIENT, ORIENT STAR, ROAMER. Some time ago, I discovered ZEPPELIN watches. They made in Germany. Very good quality for the price.
Get some Citizen watches then!
@@gondolkodoember3800if you cant afford repairing rolex, you shoulnt have in first place. Same goes for any luxury item.
As someone with tiny wrists, I do appreciate your reviews and this channel in general with the funny bits and budget stuff.
I was feeling kind of lucky last year so I got on Amazon and found and ordered two of the cheapest automatic men’s watches from two different companies just to see what would arrive. I paid $7.35 & $6.50 USD, free shipping, they showed up three weeks later. I was surprised at what I got. Both were a little larger than the watches I normally wear but they both kept decent time, the finish was good, no cocked numbers or chapters. You ought to try that experiment. If nothing else it’s good for a laugh. And if it all goes wrong you can blame me!...
When you reach the point where you can tell what makes a good watch "good" and a bad watch "bad", you have become a true watch collector.
Great video, great point.
Just a note: there are good watches at various price points, but truly great watches don't (usually) come cheap.
Unless we’re talking the likes of Casio, I’ve never owned one but that will change someday with the Casio duro (hopefully)
Maybe I’ll put it on a nice NATO strap.
Orient is freakin awesome. Me and my mom will give my father one for his birthday
I bet he's gonna love it, Orient is, to me, the new Seiko.
@@alexfreetime9597 They should be. They're sister brands.
He’s gonna love it.
You do that, I guarantee he'll be happy with that. 😄💪
@@alexfreetime9597 lmao orient pulled a seiko on seiko
After several months of ownership and regular wear I'm very happy of this Orient Contemporary Open Heart Small Second ... I own two versions the white and the brown chocolate with copper indexes. Only cons is the bracelet both versions are delivered with calf leather straps using pin buckle which are not bad but I would prefer folding clasp. I would appreciate to be able to buy an extra strap from Orient like the one provided with Orient Star Outdoor.
Hey I want to buy this watch but I want to know if this is considered a dress watch or could be worn with a casual outfit?
Hi Ben. Great video! I liked your comment about how companies use the "Minimalist" marketing ploy as an excuse for shoddy finishing and construction. I would love to see a video where you directly compare minimalist watches such as DW with a well made and respected brand and explain how "miniimalist" does not mean cheap and how it can be done very well!
In regards to 304L vs 316L. 304 is far from a substandard material. Yes, it is at bit more susceptible to corrosion but that is relative to long term exposure to strong acids, bases and salt solutions at higher temperatures.
The real reason I'm willing to bet 316L is more prevalent is it's a bit easier to machine because of the alloy composition, so your tooling lasts a bit longer. I work on a daily basis with 304 and 316 in milling, turning and welding components for custom factory equipment.
You honestly have my favourite reviews on UA-cam! Another banger!
Dude, you have been KILLING IT with your videos lately! I mean, I always liked your videos, but the last 2 or 3, including this one, have been outstanding. Keep it up. I look forward to your next one!
You make a lot of good points about what to look out for when judging a watch’s quality. That deliberately broken off seconds hand is an absolute shocker!
Hey Ben, you should check out Mondaine watches, I fell in love with railway clocks when I went to germany. So industrial, so no-nonsense, so german
I just bought my very first Orient based on the praise I see it getting. It's a Defender 2. The first thing I did was sync it to the speaking clock and now, 5 days later and I s**t you not, its showing a 2 second loss. I can't imagine they all come out of the box as accurate as mine but it does show the quality of the movement when it has this potential. Fantastic thing and under £170.
Chrissake, the disc covering the lack of a second hand is one thing, but having been it part of a second hand now snapped off !! The plot thickens, well spotted.
Not as good as Spaghetti Scameti 😒
Spaghetti Scameti is better than Rolex
Even my dog has one 😂😂
I'm still waiting for my order on Spaghetti Scameti😁
Nothing is as exclusive as a spasca
Is thus the trending watch brand where can i order it? I heard its better than most luxury brand since they cut the balls of the middleman.
Noooooo Ben!! You're going to make that orient go up in value 😁😁😁
Don't worry, if it's not available, you can always grab yourself a Spaghetti Scameti for true affordable luxury
@@BensWatchClub the best luxury
It's 300 quid on Amazon now :(
@@JDotvaporz Just bought the same model from Amazon for £269 - well chuffed!
Great video, one of the biggest challenges is for people who don’t study watches via these sort of channels and in other ways, a Timex can look a bit like a Daniel Wellington online or even in bricks and mortar retail.
I just bought that Orient's big brother--the Orient Star open heart model. (Not the one with the small seconds. With the open heart and the reserve meter, I found that one too busy.) Damn, is it a good looking watch. The finishing is really nice on it. I was down to the Orient Star and the Orient open heart in this video and it was a tough call to make as I think they're both lookers.
I got the one in this video, but with the blue dial. Can wait for it to arrive for jomashop.com
I bought this watch because of this video. My first mechanical watch, absolutely love it.
Great choice! Hope you're still enjoying your watch
You always bring up fair points, which gets me thinking , which is good keep it up.
Teach me Ben.
Weird seeing you here i bought a microphone cause of one of your reviews
Thank you, so much, for being so articulate! I despise reviews that sound like the reviewer just turned on the camera and started talking. Um, uh, what’s this, hold on, all those make me want to tear my hair out. Your reviews sound like a well-rehearsed performance, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that!
That's a really nice Orient. Won't lie, I nearly bought one until I realised I have a Orient sun and moon and a SARX055 that alreadyfill that niche...and I'm still tempted...
I reckon this Orient looks a lot like the Seiko Presage range. That's how I discovered orient. Was shopping for a Seiko Presage but ended up getting a Orient Defender 2 Automatic Field Watch because it was a far more novel design. And cheaper!
Never gave much thought to watches until I started following this channel. Definitely getting a bit more interested in them now. Love the content, man! Thanks, and God bless.
After watching this video, i got this beautiful orient watch. All i can say is this watch is extremely beautiful and very much underpriced. It is one of the biggest steals ever. Put a tissot or any swiss brand on it and it is easily above a thousand dollars. I am extremely excited. I also got 4 other watches in the same package. Hamilton field watch King 2 almost 600$, West end watch co classic blue dial presidential almost $800, Citizen sarb killer nb1041 almost $450 and another Orient with an open heart $250. The Orients got me so excited. What if Rolex is just a brand name but not better than Orient? Just wondering
Quality is another way of saying the manufacturer really cares. We respond when people care about what they are doing. I learned this from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
Totally agree, not a fan of open heart or skeleton watches, but this Orient was stunning. Very tastefully done.
As an Orient fan boy, I believe this brand with one of the quality-price, and you proved it. I think Orient is getting popular, little by little
Orient will be the new Seiko if they keep up their quality controll. (And Seiko keeps increasing their prices but not their QC.)
@@MrPleers Agreed. Any classic Seiko has prices way too high, like they just decided to inflate and people just kept buying. I myself own two Seikos, but both are less than $200 and are excellent.
I recently picked up an Orient star RE-AU0004B00B. It's 38.5 mm so not too big and is incredibly well made. I found a discounted one for £340. Prefer it to my SARB (by a lot). I think your fans would love an entry level luxury review. Cheers
Got my eye on that one actually Peter. Looks very elegant. It's on the list, hopefully can get hold of one from one of the channel partners in a few months time 👍
@@BensWatchClub awesome! Will enjoy hearing your thoughts if you manage to pick one up!
would be interesting to see you review some of the "high-end" aliexpress brands like San Martin, Cronos that push quality over quantity, or Lobini for their use of rare and weird movement.
After buying and selling watches from Rolex to Invicta (26++), I bought a Citizen Eco Drive Titanium, BL5250 perpetual... BEST watch by far that I have ever owned: upgraded leather band to a 26mm from the standard 22mm which was way too small....Fabulous
This Orient is going to kick the butt of most anything you put against it. It's gorgeous.
That Filippo Loretti still shocks me...I bought one today for review purposes, £40 new and I still feel like I've been ripped off.
you certainly don't get a lot for your money with that brand, compared to the competition
Jason, do you think part of the problem is that jewelry shops promote rubbish like that? I find where I live, no shops around with decent watches. The public then don't know any better.
@@denisdaly1708 I have to agree. In my country, the jewelry stores often only have crap fashion watches. And in my town the "real" watch dealers offering legit watch brands with a history (but in various price levels) are almost gone now. Also, Jason, as a subber to your channel I'm really looking forward to your review of that fashion watch.
Orient contemporary, like that one, on a blue dial is my first watch and I've been loving it ever since
After watching your Filippo loretti Video a Couple of weeks back I bought this AND the Orient ak00002s so as I See it you are the reason I'm 450 quid poorer. Where ist my Money lebowski?
Resale value of trusted brands is one of the most important things mentioned in this video. I bought a seiko retail and I loved it, but because it was a dress watch I didn't wear it during a pandemic. Needed money because of said pandemic, then sold it for about the same even minus ebay fees. Man I miss that watch.
I have a 7 inch wrist and i might pull the trigger on that beautiful orient. Thanks for review.
Should look awesome on a wrist that size, other colour linked below is great too (didn't make the final cut of the video) 👌
This Orient is perfect. Thanks for video.
That Orient watch is maybe a budget model but it shows clear signs that manufacturer cares about his product. He is cheap but not lazy. That goes a long way for a customer not feeling ripped-off.
Depends on what you want to do with it. If you want a tough watch with a nice finish you have other criteria as if you want a watch to learn to service a clockwork, to fool around without minding the risk. I just got a f#('ng cheap one, did my first reassembling with a service and adjustment, very happy with the result, within 1 minute in a week - still not waterproof though.
I have seen a watchmaking channel on Twitch not sure which one actually challenge the viewers, should they be interested, to just get some of those $10 automatic ones from Ali, and learn on them because why not.
@@SianaGearz Do expect some high Nickel content in the material, maybe if you want to wear it it is not a good choice, for fooling around it is great there are watchmaking tools available for a similar amount!
@@carstenweiland7896 huh I've worn one of those watches for like a year a decade ago and didn't have issues with it. I was somehow not aware that nickel was an issue, which that being said, isn't it used in... well perhaps not in nice watches or nice jewelry, but otherwise, in just about everything? Interesting. I don't suppose I'm necessarily at high risk because I rarely ever wore jewelry and never even had my ears or anything pierced and I'm 40 now.
@@SianaGearz Great, had problems with mine, "Brand" was Tevice but it did its job and I learned a lot.
I bought a roamer c-line automatic black and blue. It cost me a bit more than what I was looking to spend but it looks amazing.
I bought the Casio LCW-M100TSE-1A thanks to you, Ben!
I have a MVMNT watch I was gifted for Christmas. I honestly hate that I love it. Maybe I got a good one maybe it’s just good enough for me. Idk. I just love it.
If you like the look, it works, and it was inexpensive. No problem. If it looks like crap, does not keep time, and you paid a bundle - problem!
Great production as always!! ❤️
on a cheaper watches and most of those fashion watches, the fully "polished" finishing is actually a chrome plate , which caused less then actually polished the ss to create the result. They can be easily spotted as they are extremely shinny and have some curve on the flat and corner area of the watch.
Chrome plating doesn't actually easily cover material voids and texture, it can even amplify them. They are polished before plating. However careful polishing without shaving off the sharp details is very skill intensive, so they just whack it quick and hard against a wheel and that works well enough to create a suitable surface for plating over. There isn't a lot of plating on there anyway, because while it is automated and chrome itself is inexpensive, it does take progressively more time to get a good coat and they skimp on that as well.
Thanks Ben. Me too, I rather save and by a real watch brand than crapy fashion ones. Orient is becoming my top 1 brand now. Of course I have my collection of Casios like everyone else. lol
Oh, man. I just love watching videos from this channel. Never thought watches could be so interesting. I'm young and most of my friends love apple watches and other smartwatches but I just don't get it. This has opened me up to a whole new world and though I don't make much money right now, but I hope someday I can start my own collection with budget offerings from Orient or Seiko or even a good Casio.
Great video! We are a UK distributor of Orient & Orient Star watches. If you ever want to review another Orient, feel free to get in touch.
Great videos. I've just discovered this channel. I'd appreciate a Part 2 where different grades of mechanical watches are compared. I understand why mechanical watches are more than quartz or why a watch with a really unique movement (GS) or certain materials would be expensive. But I'm trying to figure out, say, why this Orient is in the $200 range when, for example, the Tissot Gentleman Auto Swiss is in the $500 range. What am I buying for $300? Better finishing? Accuracy?
I think there's a lot of nuance to homage watches. Ripping off a rather new design still in production is morally questionable even though it's usually legal. But if the original manufacturer refuses to make a certain very popular design any more (*cough*, Seiko) you basically have no other choice, and if the design is so old all people involved in the design process are long dead and buried (*cough*, Rolex) I consider it public domain and up for grabs anyway.
Yeah, especially if the new Seikos aren't really appealing to you
Oh they reissue the old design but with much higher price tag (no cough "Seiko")
It's about value for money, isn't it? If it's a legal $200 homage of a $7000 watch of classic design with a quality movement and good construction, I can overlook the lack of originality. As Picasso said in response to the criticism that his work was derivative, "All artists have mothers and fathers."
i think im more interested in things like price , value , quality of materials and construction , than i am in originality of design . if i can buy a seiko or citizen that looks and lasts like a rolex or omega , then i think i will forgo the expense of paying a huge premium for some prestigious brand name .
@@tjlee9901
The main reason why they exist is the price, but that's obvious. I was just saying that the originality argument doesn't hold much water under most circumstances. To the original designers it's irrelevant if you buy a Submariner or a Submariner homage, they are very dead.
I'm currently looking at the Orient Star RE-AT0205l00B. Weirdly, there aren't any videos on UA-cam about it in English. The deep blue with that starry night sky look is so beautiful 😊
The rotating disc HAHAHA how "luxurious"
5:04 one thing i want to mention regarding "bad straps" is that it's not just about long lasting or even comfort: cheap leather, or leather like materials can be AWFUL to all senses after a bit. I bought a watch once with a cheap leather strap, it was likely some form of bonded leather or maybe even "genuine leather" (which, fun fact is one of the lowest grades of leather) but it was treated with cheap oil which resulted in a very bad fishy smell when it got a bit damp. Speaking of which, cheap leather usually be treated with chemicals or cheap oils and you never know how your skin will react to such. I'm lucky in that my skin is generally very hardy, but you may have particularly sensitive skin (i know plenty of people who do) and then you you'll have no idea how these oils will react.
5:50 also, re: water rating. There is NO universal standards body for WR rating in watches (unlike a lot of other stuff like calling your watch "swiss made" for example IS regulated by a body and needs to follow some rules). This is why some will tell you it's ok to swim with their watch while another company with the same WR rating will tell you "only good for splashes". This is important to remember if you're gonna buy from an unknown brand that is less likely to adhere to any kind of standard.
10:40 I like to think of "resale value" as TRUE "market price", especially if you look at resale value of a mint condition piece that's basically what the free market is willing to pay with no price being set by the manufacturer. In a lot of ways it's much more of a true value than the initial MRP is. So even if you aren't wanting to resell your watch, at least it tells gives you some idea of how much others value it - which is a good metric to keep in mind. With some exceptions ofc, sometimes the value of a watch is overly inflated due to rarity rather than something of actual value in the watch itself.
I’m screwed up because I expect the time on my watch to be within a second or two of the time my phone gets from the cell network. So that means radio or GPS satellite sync. For nearly ten years it’s been a white-dial Citizen that’s much more elegant than almost any current model.
Spaghetti Scameti offers amazing value at an attainable price which few other brands can compete with. Their product is a prestigious example of luxury at the affordable end of the market.
i have no idea, if you are already familiar, but the Dugena 4460973 offers great quality for the price!
So happy I found this channel. I am learning so much. Cheers!
You make a lot of very good points. Many years from now, looking back on this video will show that 2020 /21 was the time that Orient became the leader in best-bang-for-your-buck, taking the crown from Seiko.
I am in love with the Orient Sun and Moon... it's so cool watch.
Rumor has it that there are long waiting lists to buy what is now an expensive Spaghetti Scameti...if only Ben could hook us up...
Hi Ben,
Great video. I liked the way you analyze watches.
It is funny that “Pagani Design” a company established in 2012 seems to be using a similar name to Pagani, the luxury Italian hyper car manufacturer founded by the Argentinean Horacio Pagani in 1992. So not only the rip off designs but also the name of the company.
IMO a good watch is a combination of style and design, quality of materials and finishing, reliability, durability. Also lack of annoying traits such as loud ticking, rotor noise ect.
for me its craftsmanship a nicely made movement and case ,good finishing of the strap ,reliability
Great video ! Makes me love my orient open heart even more :)
Great channel Ben , thanks for all your hard work and detailed information.
I love that Orient. They make beautiful and phenomenal watches! I own two Orients, easily my favorite brand.
You know that when I saw your review of the “Spaghetti Scameti”, I was about to mention as real quality affordable watch an Orient? Seeing this video makes me more happy about my decisión couple of weeks ago to order a Mako II. Thanks. :)
My Mrs bought a fashion styled watch from ali express for 2 quid. This was 3 years ago and still has perfect time. Not my cuppa tea but fair play
That was a complicated video to make. Great going. Thanks. Entertaining and informative.
A great commentary as ever Ben ! Im hooked on finding great value watches.
Literally just been looking to buy this orient! Thanks Ben! Great channel too!
Another well made, well edited, fair minded, observant and great video. Great job!
I have several orient watches but you have to import them into the uk and cannot get an authorised service provider. My best looker is the polaris white dial with blue hands.
Great video. Applied brand is also more high standard than just a printed one...
A perfect explanation of how to distinguish Sxxt from Shinola. Excellent...👍👏👏🙂
I bought that 1 year ago.. and i fallin in love with the "heart beat"
Thanks Ben, I bought this watch thanks to you! Although I might have forgotten to use your link, sorry!
Thanks Ben. A good video again well done. 😀😺
Japanese watch always the best because of very good quality with reasonable price range, I love Japanese product so much
Does the number of jewels have a bearing on the quality of a movement? I remember years ago my father told me that the more jewels the better. True or not?
Typically, the more complications are on the watch the more you can expect in the watch's movement since more bearings are needed to reduce friction between the many components needed to create said complications.
As a general rule that a simple mechanical watch (without any "complication" - will say a three hand watch) should have at least 15 jewels (most current are equipped with 17) at the points most exposed to friction. Some high end movement do have 51 jewels. Hope this will help a bit.
Not true. Just think of it this way. A Vostok movement has the same amount of jewels as a Rolex movement (sometimes even more). And it's quite obvious that Vostok does not come even close to Rolex. The whole number of jewels = quality is a false statement started by watch companies in the 20. century in order to justify high prices 😀
@@holokron1337 This is true. They often stuck jewels with absolutely no function on movements just to boost the number.
Yes, to an extent. Although it’s still referred to as the number of jewels, modern watches use synthetic-rubies to achieve the same result in a cheaper way.
The average number of jewels is 17-24 for most mechanical movements.
Watch companies that tout their high number of jewels are almost always doing it to drive the price up.
Yes and no. Jewel number shouldn't be the reason you buy a watch but it can be a factor you use to start determining the quality of a movement. If you see a 17+ jewel movement it's off to a good start. Sometimes manufacturers cut corners and don't even jewel pivots, which is really not a good thing. I serviced a watch last week with one jewel, and it was for the balance. Everything else just went into a miniscule hole drilled into the various plates, not very good quality.
The original design bit does make sense to a certain degree, however very few people can afford a Rolex Submariner. I’m thinking of getting the new Certina DS Action powermatic 80. It does bear resemblence to the sub, but I don’t think Rolex is the only brand allowed to make a black diver with white markers.
I agree, the Orient is a very nice watch , you just need to do a bit of research before you purchase a watch, but you cannot go far wrong with a auto Orient !
i have that exact same orient but in blue. love it to bits.
Thanks for this explanation video mate.
that orient is surprisingly gorgeous, i would be proud to wear that
I think hommage watches are a totally different pair of shoes.
To me they are all about how little money you can spend on something that does not only look pricey but offers outstandable quality for a fraction of the price.
I do own several watches (Turtle, Komandirskie, etc...) and one Pagani Datejust hommage. I am still fairly impressed by what the Pagani offers for about 60 USD and as a dress watch it is totally worth the money, if you are a sucker for the real deal. Also, I do like bragging about the specs and how cheap the watch actually was. And yes, the quality is indeed outstanding, mostly due to the fact the watch lacks originality and therefore no money was spent on Design. Right now it even gets more wrist time than my beautifully modded turtle.
What I want to say is, if you do bot care for originality and just the looks of a watch, most people will IMHO definitely be better off with an hommage.
Funnily enogh to most watch snobs it does seem to be okay to buy hommages, yet only as long as they are expensive, made anywhere but in China (mostly only assembled outside CN with the same parts as their chinese siblings) and preferably from a big name in the watch industry (microbrands are okay, but only if they are assembled in "exotic" countries like the US or France).
This man will never stop hating on Filippo Loreti. Rightfully so.
2:57 watches definitely still serve a functional purpose for me.i wear a digital watch at my job as i constantly need to know what time it is and dont have time to constantly get my phone out to see. and we're not allowed to have are phone on us.
This is a great primer to help a newbie understand value in a watch. I was buying cheap quartz before I learned about Seiko, then learned about the big stuff. One thing, though. How is the name Orient still a thing?
Still a thing? Epson bought Orient and they are still made entirely in Japan. If you're concerned about the potential slur "oriental", it's only a slur when used to refer to a person. Objects can be oriental.
Hi Ben! Pls, you must do a review about Orient - Neo Classic Sport RA-AA0E05B. Be the light in the darkness and let us now if it can be a good purchase. Best regards!
Hi, Ben! Any plans to review Marloe watches?
I still have my very first watch from when I was a kid it cost 7.99 and came with a wallet and dog tag but I still use it every day and it nearly 12 years old.
You should make a review about the Casio G-shock Dw5600e
I’ve picked up a couple of watches that could be considered homages, from companies I respect. And while they’re not super original, they do receive their own unique qualities, and capture styles (and sizes) that might be leaving circulation in the industry.
Nice Orient watch. Great review
"Price is the main factor in all of this." --I disagree.
The most expensive watch in my collection is a Tudor. That dented my wallet a bit when I bought it. But at the moment, that one is on the winder, and I am wearing my $40.00 Timex Expedition on a $20.00 NATO strap. I love them both for what they are!
Funny isn't it? I learned that price doesn't really matter in watch collecting! My two most worn watches are a seagull 1963 chronograph reissue I got for around 180, and I wear this most often alongside my omega sea master professional which was....a lot more than that 😂 .
Brilliant Channel And Well Detailed On All The Watches.
Hay Ben, love your videos, l noticed you recommending changing out a lot of the bands on you reviews how about making a video with some recommendations and locations to look to for supply. Just a thought, keep up the great work.