This is disappointing. I can see some specks on a hand on one of my std Orients under 15 mag, but Orient Stars are supposed to be better than this aren't they?
Who'd have thought it- Seagull outdoing OS.
Update:-
Quick check with a 15 mag loupe at what was lying around;
-Certina DS Tradition (3,650 RMB) seems to be done to a high std, except for a nick at the top of the rotor plate near the pivot.
-My Orient DBAA (1,280 RMB) is in fact pretty ropey under a loupe, given extreme screwing up of eyes and impersonation of Mr Holmes I can see glaring inadequacies in some parts and the second hand is pretty bad- I might get rid of it in fact if I have confidence in the authorised service centre found in the manual.
-Poscer quartz (790 RMB) is great with wonderful laser-etching of the back, let down very slightly by an overtightened screw. But for the price, it is very nice to see.
-Orient EM78 (1,690 RMB) is perfect at this mag. (phew)
-Swatch Dark Blood (1,080RMB) is pleasingly consistent, i.e. edging of indices etc is imperfect but is the same on all sides and at all indices. More than acceptable.
I tried to get pics but it wasn't working out.
It can be disappointing but over all it leaves us with better knowledge about the watch manufacturing. Who is willing to nitpick the small details.
It may be why I complain about reputable watches: Orient, Beijing watch company, and Seiko. (Orient Chicane, Beijing Zungu-6, Seiko SKX007, and lastly and my biggest disappointment: Seiko SARB035... that just under loupe, not microscope I spent somewhere around $600 on that sucker.) The dealer fortunately was very understanding and refunded me after I shipped the watch back... 3 hours after receiving it.
You don't need to spend more money to get a watch that is properly finished. My Invicta 8926C is well done in the dial, a couple flaws but not as bad as the SARB035. If you look at designs that many share, chances are the markers/hands/etc are all done properly since they are a high demand part.
The way I see it unfortunately is that companies whom poorly decorate movements, fail to finish their dials properly, or assemble their movements properly are taking a action similar to what a girl does by wearing wear fake jewelry and all these "cute" accessories. Nothing wrong with it, but many, in their exciting, scream up and claim "best watch ever, best finishing ever", when they haven't even taken a loupe or microscope to it.
It's pretty looking, but once you look at it close up it is a different deal. Nothing aesthetically pleasing about it.
I love how some people said the Strela was perfectly fine out of the microscope... Yet in the picture the OP has posted in the Strela thread, we could see flaws with the naked eye.