Brief History of Orient Watch
Orient Watch was established in 13th of July 1950 in Tokyo as a manufacturer of wristwatches. Its history can date back to 1901, when Shogoro Yoshida, the founder, opened a wholesale store of watches in Ueno, one of the commercial districts in downtown Tokyo. Orient is ranked number 3 after Seiko and Citizen in Japanese Watches manufacturers. Orient starts to join venture with Seiko in 1985, and by 2001 it became a subsidiary of the Seiko Epson group. Orient has always remain focus on mechanical watches and emphasize on in-house Japan made movement. Today, it is the biggest manufacturer of mechanical watches in Japan.
Orient SK Crystal 2EMAL001D
Orient SK Crystal Watch is very simple and beautiful model for men. It is the entry level into the World of Orient's Mechanical Watch. I bought this watch some years back and had It has rested in this unspectacular green plastic box of Orient ever since. This is a reissued edition of old Orient SK Crystal.
By any standard, this is a huge watch measuring 42mm in diameter excluding its crowns and with a thickness of 14mm. Oh yea, you can also feel its weight. The watch case is just colossal and fully machined from stainless steel. Its case is hexagonal in shape with four protruding studs near its lugs making it more rugged looking. The case is finely brush polished. This watch has a mineral crystal.
This watch is very sporty looking with its inner rotating bezel. The bezel can be adjusted using the second crown at the 4 o'clock position. There is also an inner chapter ring that is marked at every 5 minutes interval; with red orange Arabic number on 15, 30 and 45 minutes. Well it does look like a functional diver watch but seriously this is not meant for diving purposes. This watch is only water resist to 30 meters depth.
The back colour watch dial is sunk deep into the case. This dial is decorated with gold stud hour batons and golden color hands. The hour and minute hands as well as the hour markers are Luminous treated. There is a gold framed day and date window at 3 o'clock position.
The day of this watch can be quick-set by pressing the button at the 2 o'clock position. The center crown or the main crown is used to set the date and time.
The two crowns and a button give this watch a sophisticated personality. It has the look and the features of a sport watch.... Ha, I would say this is a sheep in a wolf skin.......
This watch comes fitted on its original folded stainless steel bracelet with signed clasp.
The stainless steel caseback is screw down type. It is engraved with all the vital information. From the case we know that this watch is powered by an Orient's workhorse and an old time legend the Cal 469.
Cal 469 can be dated back to 1971. Cal 469 was modified from the Seiko 7005 movement. Though the movement is old, it continues to be used on Orient Watches today. In fact, Orient even issued a commemorative 40th anniversary edition of Cal. 469 watch. Below is a mugshot of Cal. 469
Cal 469 is an automatic movement and this one has the 21 jewels variant. It beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour and has a 40-hour Power Reserve.
The simple, inexpensive design of the 469 movement has proven itself to be durable, resilient and reliable over the years.
I would conclude this watch as one of the nicest Orient models that is in my possession. With its incredible size and outrages design, this is a watch for a real man.
Orient and more Orients HERE!!!
1) Orient Diver
7) Orient STI
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