10 Best Orient Dive Watches to Look Out For
No watch collection can be complete without the inclusion of dive watches. And what better to add to your growing collection than the very affordable and durable Japanese watchmaker Orient? Orient is widely known for being one of the most affordable watch brands in the market, offering a wide variety of watches, all at extremely affordable prices.
Included in this Japanese brand’s catalogue is a wide range of entry-level dive watches. While Orient dive watches are priced quite modestly, this does not automatically translate to them being of mediocre quality – far from it, in fact. Offering robust durability and sleek, timeless looks, Orient dive watches are perfect for enthusiasts who are on a tight budget but love collecting reliable dive companions. Without further ado, let us take a look at ten of the best Orient dive watches that should be on your radar.
10 Best Orient Dive Watches
1. Orient Ray II
First on the list is one of Orient’s most famous dive watches, the Orient Ray II. This watch is popularly regarded as the look-alike of the iconic Rolex Submariner. Japanese watch fans may also know the Orient Ray II as a cheaper alternative to the Seiko SKX.
The Orient Ray II comes in a fairly slim size compared to the average diver’s watch, measuring just 41.5mm in diameter. It is presented in a hardy, scratch-resistant stainless steel case and matching three-link bracelet, both of which boast glossy, polished finishes. Positioned on top of the case is a coin-edged, black unidirectional bezel with 120 clean clicks.
Contrasting the black backdrop of the dial sits silver-toned indices, arrow hands, and a day-date aperture at 3 o’clock. The hands and hour indices of the timepiece are all generously covered in lume, which glows brightly even in the darkest of places. Placed at the 3 o’clock marker is a handy day-date window.
This watch is powered by Orient’s in-house Calibre F6922 movement. Held together by 22 jewels, this movement offers a solid 40-hour power supply. More importantly, this dive watch comes with an excellent depth rating of 200 metres, which exceeds the ISO 6425 international standards for dive watches.
The Orient Ray II is priced at just $140 USD.
2. Orient Kano
Next on the list is the Orient Kano. This is a robust dive watch that looks almost identical to the more exorbitant Seiko Prospex Ref. SBDC051. One look at the Orient Kano and you will instantly be able to tell that Orient’s main goal for this watch was to provide wearers with a lovely, vintage-style dive piece. Indeed, with its quintessential build and classic black and silver colours, it is clear that the brand succeeded in this regard with the Orient Kano.
This watch utilises a larger 44mm stainless steel case and a three-link bracelet. Fixed on top of the watch face is a matte black elapsed time scale bezel made of scratch-resistant ceramic. Complementing this bezel is the watch’s jet-black dial. It is furnished with thick rectangular hour indices and pronounced sword-shaped hands, all of which are filled with lume. As with the Orient Ray II, the Orient Kano has a simple day-date display located next to its shortened 3 o’clock marker.
As with the previous watch, the Orient Kano is driven by a Calibre F6922 movement and possesses a power reserve exceeding 40 hours. This timepiece can also withstand water pressures of up to 200 metres.
If you are looking for a classy dive watch, the Orient Kano is definitely a great choice. The price of the Orient Kano ranges from $255 USD to $425 USD.
3. Orient Mako II Ref. FAA02009D9
Reminiscent of both the Rolex Pepsi and the Seiko Prospex PADI, we have here our next piece, the Orient Mako II Ref. FAA02009D9. Hailing from the Orient Mako II collection, this is a more stylish piece that is perfect for both your sporty adventures and your everyday casual routines.
Like the Orient Ray II, this stainless steel dive watch is housed in a 41.5mm case, making it smaller than most dive watches on the market. Much like the Rolex Pepsi, this watch’s 120-click diving bezel is painted with a two-tone style, in striking red and blue hues. This colourful bezel blends well with the majestic sunray blue dial, which is protected by a layer of mineral crystal. This dial is decorated with applique hour indices, thin Arabic numeral markers, sword hands, and a day-date complication at 3 o’clock. As with many Orient dive watches, the Mako II runs on the Calibre F6922 and has a 40-hour power supply. It also comes with a water resistance capacity of 200 metres.
Despite its fashionable looks and sturdy build, the Orient Mako II Ref. FAA02009D9 sells at a very budget-friendly price of just $140 USD.
4. Orient Kamasu II
Our next timepiece is the simple but elegant Orient Kamasu II. With its traditional silver-and-black colour scheme, this dive watch is for sure a stunner. This watch is presented in a 41.8mm stainless steel case paired with a three-link bracelet. One factor that sets the Kamasu II apart is that it uses a sapphire crystal glass, instead of the mineral crystal more commonly used by Orient dive watches, to protect its dial. This bolsters the Orient Kamasu II’s robustness; sapphire crystal is a more durable watch glass that is better able to resist scratches and shocks.
This Orient dive watch also showcases a matte black dial that goes well with its gleaming black elapsed time scale bezel. This dial follows a very simple layout, consisting of rectangular applique hour indices, a single inverted triangle at 12 o’clock, silver and red arrow hands, and a day-date aperture at 3 o’clock. Underneath this straightforward watch face is the same in-house Calibre F6922, which has a substantial power reserve of 40 hours and a depth rating of 200 metres.
The retail price of the efficient Orient Kamasu II ranges from between $280 USD to $460 USD.
5. Orient Mako XL
Following the list is the Orient Mako XL, which is a larger version of the original Orient Mako. This watch is not to be confused with the Mako II, as the Mako XL was released much earlier than the former. As its name suggests, the Orient Mako XL packs a chunky look with its 44.5mm stainless steel case, which makes it best suited for medium-to-large-sized wrists. Placed atop the case is a 120-click elapsed time scale in black, with gear-like edges that provide wearers with a better grip.
Like the bezel, the dial of the Orient Mako XL also comes in black. It comprises luminous, trapezoidal hour indices and slender sword hands. You can also find a day-date display that can be controlled using the small pusher at 2 o’clock, outlined in white so it stands out more clearly against the black backdrop. Its hands and hour markers are all applied with lume, ensuring optimal readability even in the dark.
The operations of this watch are regulated by the brand’s in-house workhorse movement, the Calibre 46943. Held together by 21 jewels, this calibre beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz) and has a power supply of 40 hours. Like many other Orient dive watches, the Orient Mako XL also has a depth rating of 200 metres.
If you want a bulky entry-level dive watch, you can purchase the Orient Mako XL for about $160 USD.
6. Orient Triton
Up next is another masterpiece of Orient dive watches: the Orient Triton. Frequently compared to its competitor brand’s Seiko Sumo, the Triton is also officially known as the Orient Neptune. If you are looking for a large dive watch that would stand out proudly on your wrist, then the Orient Triton is definitely one of the best choices.
This watch comes in a 43.5mm stainless steel, which is quite a bulky size compared to most Orient dive watches. If you look closely at its black dial, you will see large, lume-covered indices in various geometric shapes that pair well with the same large size of the watch. Other striking elements of the dial include the rare placement of the date window at 4 o’clock and the small power reserve indicator which is placed between the 12 and 2 o’clock markers.
The Orient Triton is powered by the brand’s in-house Calibre 40N5A. Held together by 22 jewels, this movement can also last up to 40 hours when fully wound. This watch also possesses a depth rating of 200 metres.
The Orient Triton sells at a price range of $200 USD to $300 USD.
7. Orient Saturation Diver
Seeing double? The Orient Saturation Diver looks so much like the Orient Triton, the two could basically pass as twins. Out of all the Orient dive watches that we have tackled so far, the Orient Saturation Diver is the bulkiest one. It comes in a 45.5mm round stainless steel case, coupled with a three-link stainless steel bracelet. Fixed on top of the case is a solid, 120-click unidirectional bezel with a ceramic elapsed time scale insert in black. An oversized, chunky crown is also placed unusually at the 4 o’clock position, on the right side of the case.
Complementing the bezel is a matte black dial. The design of this dial is also incredibly similar to that of the Orient Triton. It comprises applique hour markers in the form of geometric shapes like circles, triangles and rectangular, luminous sword hands, and a power reserve indicator next to the 12 to 2 o’clock markers. One way in which this dial differs from the Orient Triton is that it has its date aperture placed neatly at 9 o’clock instead.
Like the Orient Triton, the Orient Saturation Diver runs on the Calibre 40N5A. On top of having a 40-hour power supply, the Orient Saturation Diver also possesses an improved depth rating of 300 metres.
Packed with notable features in a massive build, the Orient Saturation Diver is worth approximately $1,770 USD.
8. Orient King Diver
Released in 2020, the limited-edition Orient King Diver takes the past to the present. This watch is a reissue of the first Orient King Diver model, which was released in 1965, and also doubles as a 70th-anniversary celebration of the Orient brand as a whole. This watch is housed in a 43.8mm stainless steel case, which is perfect for medium-to-large-sized wrists. On top of the dial, you can find a flat elapsed time scale bezel made of stainless steel and black ceramic. This internal bezel can be controlled using the stout pusher at 2 o’clock.
The black dial of this watch is furnished with thick silver baton indices, luminous arrow-headed hands, a sizable date complication at 3 o’clock, and a curved day-of-the-week display at 6 o’clock. Underneath this straightforward watch face is a Calibre F6922, which has a 40-hour power supply and a depth rating of 200 metres.
As a limited-edition watch, the Orient King Diver is limited to just 2,700 pieces worldwide. It is priced at around $405 USD to $475 USD.
9. Orient SK Diver Retro
Unlike the other Orient dive watches, the SK Diver Retro, as its name suggests, shows off a sleeker, more retro-inspired design. The watch utilises a 41.7mm stainless steel case and a three-link bracelet made of the same material. It stands out with its brushed octagonal fixed bezel, a distinctive design that is incredibly reminiscent of the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. This is coupled with an internal rotating bezel, which bears indicators in deep red and white for the elapsed time scale.
Aside from its bezel, another highlight of this watch is its alluring dial. This dial boasts a rich blue sunray finish. It is furnished with lovely gold dot indices and rectangular indices for its hour markers, along with thin, sweeping blunt hands that are covered in lume. A day-date window is located at 3 o’clock, also bordered in gold.
The Orient SK Diver Retro is powered by a Calibre F6922, with its 40-hour power supply. One downside to this watch, however, is that it is only water-resistant up to depths of 50 metres, which is quite poor for a dive watch. You are advised to only use the SK Diver Retro in light water activities such as swimming on shallow surfaces.
The vintage-inspired SK Diver Retro costs approximately $245 USD to $350 USD.
10. Orient Star Diver 1964
Finally, we have the limited-edition Orient Star Diver 1964. Released in November 2021, this watch serves as a homage to the 1964 Orient Olympia Calendar Diver. Unlike most other models in the Orient Star collection, this timepiece is specially made to be a diver’s watch. It is presented in a 40.2mm stainless steel case, which makes the Orient Star Diver 1964 smaller than most Orient dive watches. It also comes with a thick coin-edged bezel, made entirely of stainless steel. Fun fact: the engraved serial number of this timepiece can be found on its caseback.
The matte black dial of this watch follows the simple layout of most Orient dive watches, consisting of rectangular hour indices, thick arrow hands, and a date complication at 3 o’clock. Placed between 11 and 1 o’clock is a small power reserve indicator with a single silver hand. This watch face is also protected by a layer of sapphire crystal, which has been treated with anti-reflective coatings.
Inside this watch, you can find Orient’s in-house Calibre F6N47. Thanks to this movement, the Orient Star Diver 1964 has an impressive power supply of 50 hours. It also possesses a water resistance capacity of 200 metres.
As a limited-edition piece, there are only 500 pieces of the Orient Star Diver 1964 available worldwide. This exclusive dive watch can be bought for around $2,320 USD to $2,730 USD.
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, Orient dive watches are a perfect addition to your ever-expanding watch collections. You will not regret investing in these entry-level dive timepieces, especially since they deliver the utmost quality and functionality at extremely budget-friendly prices.
Photo credits: Orient Watch USA, eBay, and George Thomas on Flickr.
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