Which Orient Dive Watch is Best for You? Top 3 Choices
Orient has consistently produced watches at an attractive price point that fill the role of dress, casual, and sport. In this article, we’ll explore 3 options of Orient dive watches that stand out in terms of quality, features, and design. All priced reasonably around $300, these candidates represent a phenomenal value in the world of divers. Below are some details that may help you select the best Orient dive watch for you.
Orient Ray II
The Orient Ray II is a timeless favorite among dive watch enthusiasts. Powered by Orient’s in-house Caliber F6922 automatic movement, and boasting water resistance up to 200 meters (660 feet), the Ray II is more than equipped for recreational diving adventures.
The watch features a classic unidirectional stainless steel divers bezel, and applied lumed indices. Complications include a day and date wheel, and a handset featuring a red arrow tipped second hand. The Ray sits on an oyster-style bracelet, with the outer edges of its center links slightly polished. Offered in black dial, blue dial, and a fully blacked-out configuration, this is a classic, understated diver from Orient.
Specifications
Movement: Caliber F6922
Power Reserve: 40 Hours
Crystal: Mineral
Case: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 41.5mm
Lug to Lug: 47mm
Thickness: 13mm
Lug Width: 22mm
Water Resistance: 200m (660ft)
Orient Mako II
The Orient Mako II remains a cornerstone in the Orient dive watch lineup. Long a favorite and recommended starter watch by forums and the watch community, the Mako II rids the watch of the awkward second crown I’ve previously mentioned present on the original Mako. Powered by the same F6922 automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve, it too features a day and date complication for added convenience.
The differences between the Mako and Ray are clearest when comparing the bezel typeface and dial layout. The Mako sports a 3-6-9 dial in contrast to the Ray’s lack of Arabic indices. The bracelet also loses its polished center links from the Ray for a more standard oyster design. The Mako II offers the same 200 meters (660 feet) of water resistance and is available in black dial, blue dial with blue bezel, and blue dial with “Pepsi” bezel.
Specifications
Movement: Caliber F6922
Power Reserve: 40 Hours
Crystal: Mineral
Case: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 41.5mm
Lug to Lug: 47mm
Thickness: 13mm
Lug Width: 22mm
Water Resistance: 200m (660ft)
Orient Kamasu
The most recent release of the three, the Orient Kamasu blends elegance with ruggedness and certainly seems to carry a more premium presence than the Ray or Mako. Though it features the same general dial layout as the aforementioned, its design is more elegant and vintage-inspired, with thick, rectangular applied lume indices. It also replaces the “200m” water resist measurement with “20 bar”. I especially love the way these accents stand out on the wine-red dial colorway.
The Kamasu features a spear-shaped handset, said by Orient to be inspired by a “fearsome barracuda”. Again powered by the F6922 movement, this model is available in black or blue with matching bezels, or wine red with a black bezel.
Specifications
Movement: Caliber F6922
Power Reserve: 40 Hours
Crystal: Mineral
Case: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 41.8mm
Lug to Lug: 47mm
Thickness: 12.8mm
Lug Width: 22mm
Water Resistance: 200m (660ft)
Conclusion
Amongst the many brands competing in the entry-level dive watch segment, Orient stands as a reliable and respected contender. The Ray II, Mako II, and Kamasu are some of their most popular models for good reason. They are reliable, affordable and all-around good-looking divers. All 3 watches have generally the same proportions, with the Kamasu being ever so slightly thinner and wider, and all use the same in-house automatic movement.
They each however offer their own blend of aesthetics to cater to different preferences. For my money, the Orient Kamasu edges out the other two with its more refined dial design. I’m also a fan of the red colorway not available on the Ray or Mako. Which Orient dive watch is for you? Let us know in the comments below!
