Orient Watch

From Encyc
Orient Watch
IndustryWatch Manufacturing
Electronics Manufacturing
FoundedHino, Tokyo, Japan
(13 July 1950)
Founder(s)Shogoro Yoshida
HeadquartersChiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Key peopleJiro Miyagawa, President. Masahiro Yoshimura, Director. Takahiro Naito, Director
ProductsWristwatches, Pocketwatches, Clocks, Moving Parts, Electronic Components
ServicesElectronic Devices Assembly
Employees217 (Parent Company), 530 (Consolidated)[1]
ParentSeiko Epson
WebsiteOrient Watch Global
Orient Watch Japan
Orient x STI Collaboration 2010 (FD0H001B)

Orient Watch, is a Japanese watch brand owned by Seiko Epson. Established as an independent company in 1950, it became a functional subsidiary of Seiko Epson in 2009 before being fully integrated into the company in 2017.

Orient primarily markets mechanical watches (self-winding & hand-winding),[2][3] but it also produces quartz, light-powered (solar) and radio-controlled models.[4][5][6][7] Outside of the main business, the company produces some moving parts and electronic components that are then assembled into Seiko Epson's electronic devices.[8]

The company manufactures all of its movements in-house in Japan.[9][10][11]

History[edit]

The origin of Orient Watch Company dates back to 1901 when Shogoro Yoshida opened a wholesale shop called "Yoshida Watch Shop" in Ueno, Taito, Tokyo, Japan. Yoshida Watch Shop was successful, selling imported pocketwatches. In 1912, Yoshida expanded his business and began producing gold wristwatch cases. In 1920, Toyo Tokei Manufacturing was established, originally producing table clocks and gauges. It was not until 1934 that Toyo Tokei Manufacturing started the production of wristwatches. In 1936, the Hino factory was built in Hino, Tokyo, Japan. For several years, Toyo Tokei Manufacturing boomed at the Hino factory. However, affected by the poor Japanese economy after World War II, the company shut down in 1949.[12]

After Toyo Tokei Manufacturing was shut down, Yoshida’s wristwatch manufacturing company was reborn in 1950, founded under the name Tama Keiki Company. Tama Keiki Co. continued manufacturing watches at the Hino factory. In 1951, Tama Keiki Co. changed its name to Orient Watch Company, Limited (オリエント時計株式会社, Oriento Tokei Kabushikigaisha), and in the same year the first Orient Star went on sale. Orient Watch was able to expand their visibility overseas after a memorandum trade agreement with China in 1955. The Royal Orient went on sale in 1960. Other important watches in the company's history include the "Dynamic" in 1956, "Grand Prix 100" in 1964, "Fineness" (the world's thinnest automatic wristwatch with day and date calendar function for its time) in 1967, and the "Tenbeat" in 1970.[13]

Somewhere in the late 60s, Orient released the Orient Tri-Star, an inexpensive automatic watch. Almost all Orient Tri-Star models have a case size below 40mm, and have date pusher in the 2 o'clock position. The Orient Tri-Star is almost the same as the Seiko 5, and is characterized by low price, small case size and automatic movement. Supposedly, The Three Stars represent quality, design and price.

It's rare to see Orient Tri-Stars on Watch stores; however, Orient is still making Tri-Star watches in 2019, most notably the new Altair and Deneb. The Altair comes with date subdial features and under the case there is a F6B22 Caliber with hacking and manual winding. The Deneb features the F4902 Caliber.

In 2004 Orient released Orient Mako, an inexpensive diver watch with caliber 46921 that lacks hacking and hand winding, and is not ISO certified like its competitor, Seiko SKX. It comes in three colors (black, blue, and blue and red). And they also released Mako USA exclusively for the US with better specifications such as a sapphire crystal in place of the usual mineral glass crystal found on the Mako. Orient released Orient Ray with the same caliber but different dial and bezel, and Orient Mako XL which is 3mm larger (44.5mm) and has a slightly different bezel design.[citation needed]

In April 2016, Orient released Orient Mako II. They upgraded the movement to caliber F6922 which is hackable and hand winding capabilities with accuracy of ±15s per day.[vague]. Orient Mako II has a newly designed dial with Arabic numerals at 12, 9 and 6 o'clock. And like its predecessor, it is not ISO certified for diver's watch. Orient released a US version with slightly better specifications[vague] and design. And Orient Ray II is released along with Orient Mako II with different dials and slightly better lume. Orient Mako II gets a good response from the Internet[vague] and most notably from Youtube with channels like Just One More Watch, 24hours Atatime, and Teddy Baldassare. And its considered the 2nd best diver's watch under $200 and even made into top 15 diver's watches under $1000.[citation needed]

In 2019, Orient released Orient Kamasu along with Orient Kano. Orient Kamasu has an upgraded sapphire glass, newly designed bezel insert, and new dials with no Arabic numerals unlike Mako and Mako II, and a bigger case (41.5mm). The Orient Kano design is simpler than the Kamasu's and has a larger case diameter (44mm). The Orient Kano only uses mineral glass unlike Kamasu. All of Kamasu and Kano use the same F6922 movement from Mako II/Ray II.[citation needed]

In 2003, the Orient Technical Center (OTC) was established and the assembly of luxury watches began in Ugo, Ogachi, Akita, Japan.[9] In 2004, the high-precision caliber 88700 movement went on sale via the Royal Orient watch line. In 2005, Orient Star Retro-Future collection was launched. In 2010, Orient Watch Co. celebrated its 60th anniversary with a limited edition model.[13]

Until April 2007, it was a wholly owned sub-subsidiary of the corporation known as the Orient Watch Company, Limited.[14] It was founded in Hino, Tokyo, Japan (13 July 1950). From 2001, it was a subsidiary of the corporation (one of three core companies of the Seiko Group) and became a wholly owned subsidiary in 2009[12] until the company was dissolved and its assets absorbed by its parent company.

Gallery[edit]

  • Orient (CEY04002B)
    Orient (CEY04002B)
  • Orient (CFHAA004W)
    Orient (CFHAA004W)
  • Orient
    Orient
  • Orient Capital (FUG1R003W9)
    Orient Capital (FUG1R003W9)
  • Orient Star - Classic (SEL05004W0)
    Orient Star - Classic (SEL05004W0)
  • Orient Three Stars
    Orient Three Stars

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Company information, Orient Watch. Accessed 26 September 2014.
  2. ↑ Message From the President of Orient Watch Company, Accessed 28 September 2014
  3. ↑ Explanations of Mechanical Movement by Orient Watch, Accessed 30 September 2014
  4. ↑ List of Orient Watch Product (Global Market), Accessed 28 September 2014
  5. ↑ List of Orient Watch Manual & Movement (Global Market), Accessed 28 September 2014
  6. ↑ List of Orient Watch Product (Japan Domestic Market), Accessed 28 September 2014
  7. ↑ List of Orient Watch Manual & Movement (Japan Domestic Market), Accessed 28 September 2014
  8. ↑ Orient Watch Factory History, Accessed 28 September 2014
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Orient Watch Factory Profile, Accessed 28 September 2014
  10. ↑ Orient Watch Production Process (Video), Accessed 29 September 2014
  11. ↑ Orient In-house Automatic Movement Assembly (Video), Accessed 30 September 2014
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Company history Archived 2012-01-10 at the Wayback Machine, Orient Watch. (in Japanese). Accessed 20 December 2009
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Orient Watch Museum, Accessed 20 December 2009
  14. ↑ "Best Luxury Watch Brand". Kings Of Time.

External links[edit]

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