Grats!

I have the Ray II and just waiting for my Sapphire crystal to arrive for it. I also like the stock bracelet, hollow end link and all. I may upgrade it later though, or at least the clasp part to a machined one.
Anyhow here's my ray still with stock Mineral and yup, I like that it is above bezel.

 

I'm glad to hear the Kamasu is as good as it seems. I too have a Mako II (my first auto actually). I put a strapcode bracelet, Yobokies coin edge bezel, and LCBI bezel insert on it so far. I have a sapphire crystal on the way (just gotta work up the courage to swap it lol). Honestly if it wasn't for the non lumed seconds hand, the modded Mako would be 100% perfect.

That being said, I am reallyyyyy tempted to pick up the Kamasu soon too.

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I really like them both, I may upgrade the mako in time, I had originally planned to but it’s better than I expected.

tbe stock bracelet clasp on the mako, the fold over is a bit more positive engagement and a touch more Sturdy

I may just stick a jubilee on the kamasu to dress it up a bit.
Now I reaaaaaaally want a Ray raven 2 lol

 

When I was shopping for mine, I seriously looked at USA II versus Kamasu to begin with.

USA II looks great all around except crystal sitting below bezel bothered me. The Kamasu had no such issue but had hollow end link bracelet and in my location cost more than a USA II.
Both of which, the USA II and Kamasu sell for nearly double what a Mako or Ray II sells for.

I thought about this and decided to go Ray, as I like round and uniform indices and secondly I was going to get into modding anyways, I might as well just throw a Sapphire in the Ray and upgrade bracelet if I feel it's needed down the road.
Well the bracelet turns out to be ok, nice and heavy.. good links etc and doesn't rattle so bad it bothers even the slightest so I really only need the crystal and it's good for now and maybe swap out a clasp later.

I do polish my watches just to be clear.

I polish everything, it's not for everyone and not suggesting it to others.. it is though for me and my tastes.
Shiny ftw👍

 

When I was shopping for mine, I seriously looked at USA II versus Kamasu to begin with.

USA II looks great all around except crystal sitting below bezel bothered me. The Kamasu had no such issue but had hollow end link bracelet and in my location cost more than a USA II.
Both of which, the USA II and Kamasu sell for nearly double what a Mako or Ray II sells for.

I thought about this and decided to go Ray, as I like round and uniform indices and secondly I was going to get into modding anyways, I might as well just throw a Sapphire in the Ray and upgrade bracelet if I feel it's needed down the road.
Well the bracelet turns out to be ok, nice and heavy.. good links etc and doesn't rattle so bad it bothers even the slightest so I really only need the crystal and it's good for now and maybe swap out a clasp later.

I do polish my watches just to be clear.

I polish everything, it's not for everyone and not suggesting it to others.. it is though for me and my tastes.
Shiny ftw👍

Can I see your polished Ray ? I'm curious.

 

I looked at the USA 2 as well. My first forray really into buying myself a watch (and at 46! LOL) and decided the Kamasu had what i wanted without the extra 60 bucxs.

I like the kamasu dial a ton, but I really like having the numbers on the mako, not sure why! Probably because it's my only watch with them.

the kamasu crystal does sit a hair below the bezel..well mine does anyway.

Part of me would really like one of the older orients with the pushbutton day complication.

Oy this is getting addicitive.

 

The first gen Mako/Ray w/ the 469 movement can be found used and even New Old Stock (NOS) from some far east sellers.

The Mako XL uses the same 469 in a larger package. Almost no mod parts for the XL. Some JDM and non-US models were produced in different colorways.

Same for the earlier King Diver and Super King models, plenty of used and some (claimed) new. Just about any color and configuration imaginable. And a lot of "Franken-KD"s assembled from Orient and other bits.

 

Gonna take a break on buying anything else for a bit. Two in a month, and three shortly as I know Mrs Mykkus got me a Seiko chrono off my Amazon wish list

 

Mako USA II with a new double domed crystal swap gave me everything I wanted with drilled lugs and solid end links. Kamasu wasn't available at the time, but love the dial.

 

I have a Mako II with the blue sunburst dial, and a Ray II with matte black dial. I love both watches, and they have been super reliable. I agree that the bracelets are good for both! I'm about to pick up a Strapcode Oyster for my Ray, I like the all brushed SS look, with no polishing. I've been really tempted to pick up a Kamasu or Kano. But I'm bummed out that neither have round indices. [emoji20]

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Funny I’m not a huge fan of the round indices. Why I went mako instead of Ray.
The kamasu is fantastic, i would’ve went red at the time had they not been so hard to come bye.

when I eventually do a black Ray raven I’ll have the round I guess...unless I find a mako to swap dials on

 

Okay a full work week in, I will say that the Mako wears as great as the Kamasu..duh and performs equally as well.
Haven't scratched the crystal yet.

My one hmmmm.

I am noticing the bezel/insert alignment is like, 1/2 a click off.
The arrow and etc line up in between indices. For the $$ I'm still not going to complain, but the Kamasu was perfect.
My intent with this is a coin edge and a batman insert down the road anyway which will sort that, but in the interest of fairness, I thought i should bring it up.

I do really like it a ton and I'm pleased with it.
(sorry for fuzzy pic, I suck at this).

 

Month in...I'm pretty much wearing the Mako and Kamasu an equal amount. No new compliants or negatives to report.
I enjoy them both.

I still haven't dinged the mineral crystal which has surpised me...knock wood!
I do like that it seems a bit more smudge resistant unless i'm crazy.

These two and the Seiko Chrono Mrs Mike got me are getting about equal turns. All fun.
I wll say the chrono is heavier and I seem to enjoy wearing the Orient's more.

Saving pennies for the ray 2 raven...

 

Upping this thread to talk about my Mako 2

I have a blue dial Mako 2 since 2018. I wore it A LOT in rotation with my other watches and I'm really impressed. It feels much more high end than my SKX and it never missed a beat, running about 10s fast.

I've tried putting it on a strapcode oyster as I wanted a 22/18 taper, but I really don't like how the endlinks makes the watch wear bigger, so it is now back on its original bracelet and I must say that I love the full OEM look.

I keep looking at other divers, higher end Seiko, Tudor and even Rolex, but I just can't bring myself to spend that kind of money when a 130 bucks Mako is doing the job just perfectly.

Call me crazy, but I really think these affordable japanese divers are comparable to what Rolex used to offer 40 years ago when a submariner was just a fairly affordable toolwatch.

 

Agree with this wholeheartedly...I can't bring myself to spend significantly more on a dive watch considering how much these Orient divers bring to the table at an incredible price point.

 

Its a great watch for sure. I wouldn't be surprised if it goes away soon though, seems to come in and out of stock and it's been around for awhile.
Just grabbed a Ray raven 2 last night for a great deal...they're seriously underappreciated.
While i do like the kamasu a touch more...could be totally happy with my Mako2. as my only watch.

 

 

Bezel action between Kamasu and Mako USA II are night and day different. Smooth as hell on the Kamasu and stiff as anything on the Mako USA II. Mako II has better bezel action than the USA II (but not as good as the Kamasu).

Orient makes the best sub $300 dive watches.

 

Does the Kamasu have a 20 or 22mm strap?

 

22mm

 

I had a Mako 2 and later got a Kamasu ( teal dial, kanji date wheel).
The thinking was that I'd compare them both and keep one.
I don't know why but the Mako was still on my wrist more than the Kamasu.
The Kamasu is undoubtedly a nice watch for the money. But it's now up on the sales corner and the Mako is staying.

 

Both watches are beautiful, big congrats! I have always been a fan of the Kamasu.


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I have been eyeing a Kamasu recently, but the Mako II is such a good deal. I would buy a Mako with every intention of swapping crystal, bezel & insert, and bracelet anyway. I am really into the dial and handset on the Mako II.

 

Looks like an update to the Kamasu is on the way.

 

I don’t like that as much

 

Ray II dial is really nice imo.

 

I like that. But it doesn't look like a Mako, it reminds me of the Ray more than anything. I figured that an update to the Mako would have non rounded indices of some sort, but I'm not an Orient designer so what do I know lol.

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