[robatsu]

I went down to Yodobashi Umeda (Osaka) a couple of days ago to look at these. Yodobashi had no limited gray dial models. The black and blue dials are fairly glossy if you look closely and this seems more apparent on the black model. Definitely liked them, but wanted to find a limited before making a decision although I had been leaning towards the blue as I've been looking around for a good blue daily wearer.

So I looked up what Orient prestige shops (Yodobashi isn't one of them) were in the area, there are about 5 in walking distance from Umeda station. I went to two of them, no dice on the gray, so I decided the chances of finding one were slim and I only really wanted to look. I really liked the gray, but I also really liked the blue, as it seemed like it would be suitable for what I had in mind for a blue watch.

I then marched back to Yodobashi, picked up a blue on and hopefully this picture explains what I've been thinking about for a blue watch.

If one looks closely, the dial glossiness is apparent in a bit of reflection from tip of the second had.

 

[robatsu]

Congratulations Robatsu,

that blue dial is gorgeous! What kind of strap is that? I really like that brown! |>

I picked it up at Yodobashi as well, a brand called Mie. It is very well made, cost about 7000 yen. Seems to be a Japanese brand, although I haven't found a whole lot on the web.

Note: the lugs on this are 21mm, but i just squeezed in a 22/20 mm strap. Seems ok so far.

 

[robatsu]

Solid or folded end links?

Solid. I haven't seen any new Orient Star models with folding links for at least 5 years now, maybe even longer. I'd be kind of shocked to see that on an Orient Star these days. Note: this does not apply to standard Orient, non-Star, models.

The bracelet is relatively heavy for a non-dive watch and that is keeping with the watch itself, which is also has somewhat more mass/size than pictures would suggest. In pictures, the case has the general form of a dress watch, almost like the Standard Date, but in person, you see that it has more mass, bigger dimensions generally (not just wider, but higher, big lugs, etc). I first tried a fairly conventional 21mm/18mm leather strap, but it looked (and felt) rather puny compared to the watch. YMMV, but I think, if one is going leather strap, to get something thick thick and something that maintains a lot of thickness out to the strap edges.

This size/mass was a surprise for me and is actually what clinched the deal for me on the new Orient GMTs. For some time, I've been looking for something that generally resembles a standard, classic watch but intended for more active use, think Rolex Explorer (I, not II) in idea if not execution, as in no way is this a clone/homage to that.

By the same token, if one is looking for something that will easily fit under a dress shirt cuff, it might be wise to check it out somehow in person if possible. Again, the pictures provided by Orient don't really convey, to me at least, the actually size/mass of the watch.

FWIW, I was wavering between this and the Grand Seiko GMT (SBGM027/027), which costs about 4x as this. I've also been jonesing for a mechanical Grand Seiko, but apart from the obviously primo finishing/movement on the Grand Seiko, I liked the Orient Star a lot better in appearance, dimensions, and so forth.

The 21mm lugs are the only semi-nit I have. I say semi because while that makes strap issues a little problematic, the proportions all work very well. And Orient Star isn't particularly shy about 21mm lugs, I've got at least one other with the same lug width.

FWIW, I have a Standard Date, clearly a cousin to this watch, and it has 22mm lugs although a smaller watch. I always thought the lugs were a little wide for that watch for my tastes.

 

[robatsu]

I think this was just a typo: in fact it's the 40P53.



Cheers
Michael

I didn't notice it until this picture, but I see a 3 prong jewel retaining clip like on the high end Seiko movements vice the 2 prong style on the lower end ones. That is definitely very cool, thanks for posting this, makes me appreciate the watch even more as a stealth value prop, sort of the reason I focus on JDM Seiko/Orient in my collecting.

Makes me wonder about the provenance of the movement. My understanding is that the movement in the current Orient Star chronograph is at base a 6S28, high end Seiko chronograph, I wonder if the 40P53 shares DNA with some higher end Seiko GMT model.

 

[robatsu]

For those of you that own the new GMT model and also an electronic scale would really appreciate if you could weigh it up for me , I"m very curious how much it weighs for the size, I like it but am a bit worried about the weight, I cannot stand watches that are too heavy (literally, old wrist injury from playing soccer in high-school).

Thanks!

I don't have an electronic scale, but we have a pretty accurate mechanical kitchen one. Also, I've got the watch on a leather strap, which probably makes it lighter.

Anyhow, I get 110 grams.

 

[robatsu]

Couldn't resist another wrist shot:

 

[robatsu]

Love that one as well. I wish the blue version had that ribbing as well.

If you are talking about the blue version of the GMT, it certainly does have very similar ribbing:

 

[robatsu]

I just put mine onto the bracelet, I think I prefer it that way. The springbars sit pretty low in the lugs, leaves a lot of vertical gap (imo), between the top of the strap and the top of the watch (crystal). But that is just me obsessing.

One thing to keep in mind with this watch when comparing it with the Aqua Terra or Standard Dates is that it is a lot thicker/bulkier than those models. From pictures, one can get the impression that it has the form factor of a normal dress watch, but it is definitely has more mass than that category.

As for the price, well, I don't begrudge it, but I get these things about as cheap as possible living in Japan, getting 10% rebate on yodobashi points, etc. But even at that, my impression from the past few years is that Orient Star is slowly moving a little more upscale, prices in denominated in yen for new models have been increasing. This probably hasn't been as obvious from a foreign country because the dropping yen of the past few years masks this effect in foreign currency. If the yen were were it was at about 3 years ago, this would probably be about $1300 dollars. Seems to me like there is increasing value to match the increasing prices, the finishing on new models is just killer, you see a display case of current Orient Stars and it just sparkles. This watch does too, but I'm not very good at capturing it.

 

[robatsu]

That blue GMT is glorious. Question: is the photo you attached representative of the shade of blue?

I think it is pretty representative. Depending how you look at it, a lot of the dial can look almost black, with sort of blue highlights (as in my picture above). I like that, as it contrasts much less then with the black chapter ring. BTW, the black one is pretty awesome in person as well, the glossiness of the dial is more obvious and really works well.

 

[robatsu]

One thing to keep in mind is that the lugs on this are 21mm which might limit strap options. I had a 22mm leather on mine for a while, just squeezed it in, which worked sort of ok, had a little dimple. However, it did deform the strap enough that when I went to put it on a 22m, there was a gap.