What Makes Orient Watches Special
The most important feature of Orient is its own movements. While many brands in this price range fit bought-in calibres, Orient makes its automatic movements of the F6xx family itself, including the F6922 of the divers and the F6724 of the Bambino. An in-house mechanical movement at a guide price of under €300 is a real rarity on the market and the core of what the brand stands for.
Added to this is the value for money Orient is known for. Models such as Mako, Kamasu and Ray deliver an automatic dive watch with 200 metres of water resistance at prices for which you would get a simple quartz watch elsewhere. This model family earned the brand its reputation as a specialist in affordable divers. How automatic fundamentally compares with quartz is explained in our guide Automatic vs. Quartz.
Japanese craftsmanship rounds off the picture. Dials, hands and luminous material are cleanly executed even in the entry-level class, and the movements are considered robust and durable. Many of the calibres can also be wound by hand and conveniently set via the crown, a convenience not every automatic movement in this price range offers. With the upmarket Orient Star line, the brand also shows that it masters fine finishing, power reserve indicators and skeleton movements. Our Watch Knowledge section gathers more background on movements and materials.
Orient Model Lines at a Glance
Orient divides its range into a few clearly recognisable lines. Anyone who knows them quickly finds the right watch for their occasion. From the classic dress watch to the robust dive watch, the brand covers almost every need.
Bambino: the classic dress watch
The Bambino is the brand's best-known dress watch and an emblem of Orient's value for money. It combines a domed mineral glass, slim hands and a classic dial at a guide price of €180. The somewhat more compact Bambino 38 measures 38.4 millimetres, additionally offers hacking seconds and sits at a guide price of €275.
Mako, Kamasu and Ray: the affordable divers
Mako, Kamasu and Ray form the heart of the sporty range and earned Orient its reputation as a specialist in affordable divers. The Kamasu sets the standard with sapphire glass and 200 metres of water resistance at a guide price of €300, while the Mako II with mineral glass offers the cheapest entry from €250. The Mako 40 shrinks the case to a wrist-friendly 39.9 millimetres and combines it with scratch-resistant sapphire glass, which makes it one of the most balanced watches of the brand. The 45 millimetre M-Force provides the most rugged look, an ISO diver with a shock-protected movement that is clearly aimed at wearers with sturdier wrists.
Defender and Sun & Moon: the watches with special displays
Besides the classics, there are models with a special display. The Defender II shows day and date on separate subdials with its multi-eyes display and, as a field watch, brings 100 metres of water resistance. The Sun & Moon Classic adds a decorative day/night indicator to the classic dress dial and is fitted with hard sapphire glass.
Orient Star: the upmarket line
Orient Star is the brand's upmarket line and is aimed at collectors who value finishing. The Star Contemporary Standard shows a power reserve indicator and, with 50 hours of power reserve, brings more reserve than the standard movements. The Star Modern Skeleton reveals the mechanics with its semi-skeleton dial and small seconds. Both models use sapphire glass and stand out from the standard line through finer hands, more elegant dials and more elaborate movement decoration.
What Matters When Buying an Orient
Drive: automatic without a battery
All recommended Orient models are automatic watches, so they wind themselves through the movement of the wrist. The movements of the F6xx family typically offer 40 hours of power reserve, the Orient Star calibres even 50 hours. If you take the watch off over the weekend, you have to reset and wind it afterwards. Anyone who wants to avoid this quirk will find alternatives in the guide to the best automatic watches.
Glass: mineral or sapphire
With the glass, the entry-level class separates from the mid-range. Bambino and Mako II as well as the Defender II have mineral glass, which is cheaper but more prone to scratches. Kamasu, Mako 40, M-Force, Sun & Moon and the entire Orient Star line rely on hard sapphire glass, which is markedly more resistant to scratches in everyday use. For a watch that is worn daily, sapphire is the more sensible choice in the long run.
Size and water resistance
Size and water resistance should suit the intended use. The models range from the 32 millimetre ladies' automatic to the 45 millimetre M-Force, with most sitting comfortably between 38 and 42 millimetres. Anyone looking for the right size for their own wrist will find it in the Watch Size Guide. On water resistance: 30 to 50 metres is enough for everyday use on the dress watches, while only the divers offer a true 200 metres for the water.
The Best Orient Watches 2026 at a Glance
The following overview summarises all eleven recommendations with the most important data. The guide prices are based on the manufacturer's recommended retail price, and the linked detail pages provide the full data sheet for each model. For a direct side-by-side of two candidates, the comparison helps.
| Model | Movement / drive | Size | Water resistance | Guide price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bambino Version 2 | Orient F6724, automatic | 40.5 mm | 30 m | approx. €180 |
| Bambino 38 | Orient F6724, automatic | 38.4 mm | 30 m | approx. €275 |
| Mako II | Orient F6922, automatic | 41.5 mm | 200 m | approx. €250 |
| Kamasu | Orient F6922, automatic | 41.8 mm | 200 m | approx. €300 |
| Contemporary Ladies' Automatic | Orient 55744, automatic | 32 mm | 50 m | approx. €330 |
| Defender II RA-AK0402 | Orient F6B22, automatic | 42.4 mm | 100 m | approx. €369 |
| Mako 40 Automatic Diver | Orient F6722, automatic | 39.9 mm | 200 m | approx. €400 |
| M-Force Automatic Diver | Orient F6727, automatic | 45 mm | 200 m | approx. €499 |
| Sun & Moon Classic | Orient F6B24, automatic | 42.5 mm | 50 m | approx. €590 |
| Star Contemporary Standard | Orient F6N43, automatic | 38.5 mm | 100 m | approx. €775 |
| Star Modern Skeleton | Orient F6F44, automatic | 41 mm | 100 m | approx. €930 |
Our recommendations in detail
Up to €300: the honest entry
In this class, Orient delivers the most watch for the money. The Bambino Version 2 at a €180 guide price is the classic recommendation for a first automatic dress watch, its domed glass gives it a subtle vintage charm and it carries the Price Tip badge. The Mako II offers a true 200 metre dive watch for €250, and the Kamasu adds scratch-resistant sapphire glass on top for a €300 guide price. More divers of this kind are shown in the guide to the best dive watches.
€300 to €600: the value-for-money zone
In the mid-range, the choice becomes more varied. The Mako 40, with 39.9 millimetres, sapphire glass and a €400 guide price, is our editorial rating for the best value among the divers. The Defender II brings its multi-eyes display with day and date for €369, while the M-Force at €499 marks the rugged ISO diver with a shock-protected movement. The Sun & Moon Classic rounds off the class at €590 with its elegant day/night indicator.
From €775: Orient Star in detail
Anyone looking for the best the brand has to offer ends up at Orient Star. The Star Contemporary Standard offers a power reserve indicator and 50 hours of reserve in a slim 38.5 millimetre case for a €775 guide price. The Star Modern Skeleton is the most expensive recommendation at €930 and shows what Orient can do in terms of finishing with its semi-skeleton dial and small seconds.
For women and slim wrists
For slimmer wrists, Orient offers the Contemporary Ladies' Automatic with a 32 millimetre diameter. It runs an in-house calibre, shows it through a display caseback and combines sapphire crystal with 50 metres of water resistance at a guide price of €330. Further suitable models can be found in the overview of ladies' watches.
Typical mistakes when buying an Orient
- Wearing a dress watch for swimming: The Bambino and Sun & Moon offer only 30 to 50 metres and do not belong in the water. For water sports, the Kamasu, Mako or M-Force are the right choice.
- Overlooking the crystal type: If you want a scratch-resistant watch for tough everyday use, you should go for a sapphire model. The Bambino and Mako II have the cheaper, more delicate mineral crystal.
- Underestimating the size: At 45 millimetres, the M-Force is considerably larger than the rest. For slim wrists, the 38 to 40 millimetre models fit better.
- Forgetting the power reserve: With a 40-hour reserve, an Orient that has been taken off stops after just under two days. If you rotate between several watches, you should plan for this or choose an Orient Star movement with 50 hours.
As a rule: you buy an Orient for its own movement and honest value for money, not for a brand name on the dial. You can find all of the brand's models in the overview of all watches and under the men's watches.
Conclusion: the best Orient watch for you
For getting started in the mechanical world, the Bambino and Mako II are hard to beat, the Kamasu is the value-for-money winner among the divers, and the Mako 40 is our editorial pick for the best all-rounder. If you want more, you will find the upper end of the brand in the Sun & Moon and the Orient Star line. You rarely go wrong, as long as size, crystal and water resistance suit your daily life.
In the end, Orient is one of the few brands where you get your own mechanical movement at a three-figure price, and that is exactly what makes choosing so relaxed. What matters most is that you like the dial and style, because technically all models deliver solid quality. If you are unsure about your choice, the Watch Finder helps: it asks about type, occasion, size, drive and budget and gives reasons for every recommendation. For classic dress watches from other brands, see the guide to the best dress watches.