Since 1950, Orient has been at the forefront of the watchmaking industry, particularly when it comes to mechanical watches. What makes them so valuable for collectors is that they design and manufacture their watch movements in house. This is significant, because that means they don’t rely on others for the accuracy of their movements. They can oversee the manufacture themselves to make sure they conform to their own stringent standards of quality.
Moreover, they combine excellent mechanical movement with alluring watch display designs. With the rich styling, accurate timekeeping, and reasonable price, Orient has redefined the watch industry for the masses.
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Editor’s Note: There’s a new version of the Orient Bambino 3 – The Orient Bambino Version 4 which looks similar to the Original Bambino model but with a larger case (42mm without crown), and thinner hands with a red tip on the seconds hand – it looks slightly odd for a dress watch in our opinion.
You can Check It Here for more information.
The Orient Bambino Version 4
| Orient Bambino FAC08004D0 | Orient Bambino FAC08001T0 |
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The Orient Bambino is testament to what Orient can offer. It’s impressive look, precise movement, and accessible price rate allows many men to enjoy what only the privileged few are able to experience from expensive luxury watches.
The Movement
The Orient Bambino Version 3 comes with the Orient Caliber 48743 movement which is a 21-jewel automatic movement, so it doesn’t need batteries at all to tell time accurately. It’s self-winding, as the movement captures the energy made by your motions as you go about your daily activities.
If you take it off for the night, it’s no big deal, because it will still run accurately and continuously with its 40-hour power reserve. Orient says that it should be accurate to within -15 to +25 seconds a day, but in reality it probably only gains about 5 seconds or so a day.
The Case and Crystal
The case is made from stainless steel, and measures 40.5 mm when the crown isn’t included in the measurements. It is also 11.8 mm thick, while the lug width is 21 mm. The size is just right for a dress watch, as larger sizes can look too boisterous for more formal occasions.
It uses domed crystal glass to protect the face. This gives the Bambino 3 a striking profile while offering some interesting viewing angles. Yet despite the domed crystal glass, it’s not really too thick at all.
The Dial
It’s the dial which really sets the Orient Bambino dress watch apart for the others. Orient declares the color royal blue, but that doesn’t begin to describe the depth and elegance of the face, it sets off the hands and markers beautifully.
The face doesn’t feature any numbers on the markers, except for the date. The 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions are denoted by a long and thick marker, with other hour positions marked by thinner lines. Small and thin lines mark the minutes. The logo and the words “ORIENT Automatic” are on the upper half of the face, while below it says it’s water resistant in elegant cursive. The hands are simple rectangles, with a long sliver for the second hand.
The Strap
The black leather calfskin strap measures 21mm, and it’s made to last for a long while. It won’t crack easily or have its stitching undone. Its look is also appropriate for dressy occasions.
Pros and Cons
There are many advantages to the Orient Bambino dress watch:
It looks really spectacular, but in a subtle way that makes it appropriate for formal or office settings. With a suit or a tux, it should look truly elegant and serious on you.
Its timekeeping is also accurate. It is well within the accuracy range of most excellent automatic watches. It’s like wearing a fine piece of engineering on your wrist, instead of an electronic gizmo bereft of any type of traditional craftsmanship.
It’s very comfortable to wear. It won’t provide a distraction when you’re in a formal occasion.
It’s surprisingly affordable, given the elegant looks and excellent mechanical movement.
Of course, it’s not perfect for some, but that all depends on your own individual preferences and not in any inherent weakness in this timepiece. It’s not water resistant, but then again it doesn’t have to be. Some may not like the strap but the strap can easily be replaced, you know.
Summary
Our Rating
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Design (The Case and Dial)
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Build Quality
-
Movement and Accuracy
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Strap/Bracelet
-
Value For Money
They’ve done the improbable. They’ve managed to create a watch that oozes superior quality and craftsmanship, and yet they’re able to offer it at a comparatively low price. With the Orient Bambino, you don’t just get what you pay for—you get a whole lot more for its price.