In the wonderful world of watches, anniversaries are a big deal. With so many brand's building their modern personalities around the heritage they offer, it's important to celebrate big birthdays.
That's exactly what Orient Star is doing this year. While many might be unaware, the brand is actually 75 years old this year, and has been celebrating with a suite of limited edition models.
I've had the Contemporary Date model on my wrist for the last week, to see if it's any good.
Orient Star 75th Anniversary Contemporary Date: key specs
Let's kick off with some specs. All things considered, this is a pretty well designed model, with a 38.5mm stainless steel case which sits 12.3mm tall.
That's paired with a stainless steel bracelet, and houses the brand's in-house F6N43 calibre. That movement offer over 50 hours of power reserve, with accuracy of +25/-15 seconds per day. You'll also enjoy 100m of water resistance.
Of course, the main event here is the dial, which is absolutely fabulous. It's described in the official press release as a "green gradation" but that seems entirely wrong, with the images – and, indeed, my test model – featuring a blue dial.
It's not even like it's on the cusp of blue or green – this is a blue dial. And it's one of the best looking blue dials I've ever seen at that, with small flecks that play beautifully with the light.
What is the Orient Star 75th Anniversary Contemporary Date like on the wrist?
As mentioned above, the biggest part of this model is the dial, and that's what you'll notice first. I tend to find myself staring at it far longer than is really necessary every time I strap this one on – it's really mesmerising.
It's not just the colour and design of the dial, either. The indices and other complications on the dial are designed to stay unobtrusive, which allows it to shine.
Of course, it also helps that the case is perfectly sized, with a Goldilocks diameter and a decent thickness. That makes it a fantastic option to wear everyday.
Personally, I'm not a fan of the bracelet. It's a common gripe for Orient, Orient Star and Seiko models in this arena, but to me it just feels a little dated – especially the clasp.
Thankfully it's a 20mm lug width, which is perfect for those looking to change their watch strap. I'd love to pair this with something fun like a white rubber strap, to make it a perfect summer watch.
Is the Orient Star 75th Anniversary Contemporary Date worth the money?
When I last reviewed an Orient Star model, it was the M34 F8 Date, which cost north of £2,000 (approx. €2,350 / US$2,700 / AU$3,850). At the time, I said that the biggest competition that device had was from its own stablemates, with other, similar-looking models from the brand costing a quarter of that, and offering similar specs.
This is one of them, with the retail price for this model sitting at just £569.99 (approx. €665 / US$760 / AU$1,095). At this price point, I think the value for money is a lot better, and feels more like you're getting a good deal.
Throw in the limited edition nature – this piece is one of just 1,200 – and that stunning dial, and I can see this one being a popular pick.
