Diver Pwr Rsv 1964 2nd Edition Turqoise Ref. RE-AU0602E

Orient is the name of a Japanese watchmaking firm that is usually known to watch enthusiasts who are in the world of JDM watch collection. Compared to Seiko who have been making waves outside their land lately, Orient until now, have been staying low under the radar for many. They have been in continuation to produce high quality,  yet attainable timepieces since the early 1950s, while the firm can further trace back to its roots in 1901 by Shogoro Yoshida opening a pocket watch shop. Unfamiliar, we bet most of you guys are unsure of that Orient started in 1950 as an independent company, producing reliable mechanical in-house movements even until today. In early 2000, Orient had gone under the umbrella of Seiko Epson, as the name suggests, pursuing traditional horology of reliable and affordable timepieces, in parallel to Seiko Watches in true Japanese fashion.

Orient Watches until today, is still one of the widely-recognized watchmakers in Japan, building their quality timepieces and sticking to their “JDM” route. They have a wide variety of selections that cater to anyone with a particular theme in mind, from cocktail event elegant timepieces to ever-ready sports watches that one can take it out for some action.
 

Orient Star Diver Pwr Rsv 1964 2nd Edition Turqoise Ref. RE-AU0602E

Dating back to 1951, Orient Star first introduced the market, with their in-house chronometer “true star” timepieces that feature a dressy case blued hands, mechanical movement and timeless dial design. From there, Orient joins Seiko and Citizen in launching their divers with the Weekly Auto Orient King Diver Ref. 19410 which uses the brand’s first-ever automatic mechanism. However, Orient divers are mainly found in their staple main Orient line, while having the now discontinued Pre-Seiko Epson era Pro-saturation divers under the Luxury Orient Star, there have not been a updated single "luxury" dive watch in its current Sports collection. Not until recently.

Like Seiko’s luxury line Grand Seiko, we focus on Orient Star; their own JDM luxury line which then further breaks down to three main categories: Classic, Contemporary and Sports, and we focus on the latter. Previously, Orient Star rugged back into its impressive archive and re-issued the Orient Star Diver 1964 (known as the Diver 1964 1st Edition), a limited edition series of 500 pieces based on the Olympia Calendar Diver, positioning within the premium Orient Star collection.

Today, a follow-up from the welcoming LE Orient Star has introduced the new Diver 1964 2nd edition, continuing the brand's aquatic heritage designs, the Calendar Auto Orient. Complete with a proper 200 meters of water-resistance, housing the power-reserve in-house F6N47 caliber, and a visual design language that closely reflects the 60s-era watch, the Diver 1964 2nd Edition definitely demonstrates an harmonious blend of purposeful sporty capabilities in refined aesthetics.

Caliber F6N47 with power reserve indicator

Noteworthily, the new Diver 1964 2nd edition exhibits motifs taken from the original 1964 Calendar Auto Orient such as a screw case-back, a dual curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, and water resistance to 200 metres that adhere to the ISO 6425 benchmark for air diving watches. This watch showcases the in-house 46-F6 series caliber F6N47 automatic movement, which offers excellent accuracy and an outstanding power reserve exceeding 50 hours.

This turquoise version provides a nautical and classy countenance to this divers’ timepiece and is a nod in tribute to the Calendar Auto Orient with its matte smokey finish on the dial and a coordinating turquoise bezel surface. As such, this watch is versatile and can be worn to formal occasions as well as for an underwater adventure. Further, the striking gradation effect is inspired by the Ryusendo Cave, a Japanese cave complex 4km in length and containing eight underground lakes. For the professional research divers tasked with surveying the lakes (recreational diving is not permitted within the cave complex), the striking turquoise dial variant will be immediately familiar, taking its inspiration from the Ryusendo Cave's lakes.
 

Glows green in the dark

At twelve, Orient Star showcases its trademark power reserve indicator with clear dial text situated at the six o'clock position for balance. Orient’s signature handset alluding directly to the 1964 watch takes charge of actual time telling, both on land and underwater. Indeed, the Diver 1964 2nd Edition with a chunky stainless steel case boasts of readable and appealing designs and adheres to the ISO 6425 standard.

Moreover, the RE-AU0602E aligns with modern wearing dimensions, with a 41mm bezel diameter that is a tad broader than the 40.2mm central case to permit easier grip when wearing gloves or when underwater. Furthermore, this watch, with an overall length of 49.6mm, enjoys a decent thickness of 14.5mm to the top of the domed, anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal. Hence, the majority of wrists should have no issue with this watch with a sturdy silicone diver's strap. The stainless-steel, five-link bracelet with solid end-links of the watch also provides an up-to-date level of finishing, as well as a solid push-button deployant clasp with a folding diver's extension.

Unlike the more refined Diver 1964 1st Edition, the 2nd Edition demonstrates a more rugged presentation, complete with the refreshing  and highly-legible dial and handset intended for diving duties. In addition, the 2nd Edition comes in as a standard production model for the Orient Star collection, with the in-house F6N47 is ISO 6425 compliant, offering  a decent power reserve of 50 hours. A fantastic vintage themed diver for any dive watch lovers.

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