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Orient Watch
Orient Watch
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Orient (オリエント時計株式会社, Oriento Tokei Kabushiki-gaisha) is a Japanese watch manufacturer founded in 1950. Established as an independent company in 1950, it became a functional subsidiary of Epson in 2009 before being fully integrated into the company in 2017.[3]

Key Information

Until it was absorbed into Epson, the Orient Watch Company had primarily marketed mechanical watches (self-winding & hand-winding),[4][5] but also produced quartz, light-powered (solar) and radio-controlled models.[6][7][8][9] Outside of the main business, the company produced some moving parts and electronic components that were then assembled into Seiko Epson's electronic devices.[10]

Currently, Akita Epson Corporation (formally Akita Orient Precision Instruments Co., Ltd.), a group company of Epson, manufactures all of the Orient movements in-house in Yuzawa, Akita, Japan.[11][12][13]

History

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The origin of Orient Watch Company dates back to 1901 when Shogoro Yoshida opened a wholesale shop called "Yoshida Watch Shop" in Ueno, Taito, Tokyo, Japan. Yoshida Watch Shop was successful, selling imported pocketwatches. In 1913, Yoshida commenced production of wristwatch cases,[14] and in 1920, established Toyo Tokei Manufacturing Co., Ltd.[15] Initially producing only table clocks and gauges, in 1934 Toyo Tokei Manufacturing started manufacturing wristwatches. In 1936, the Hino factory was built in Hino, Tokyo, Japan. For several years, Toyo Tokei Manufacturing boomed at the Hino factory. However, the company shut down in 1949 in the Japanese economic devastation following World War II.[16]

After Toyo Tokei Manufacturing was shut down, Yoshida's wristwatch manufacturing company was reborn in 1950, founded under the name Tama Keiki Company. Tama Keiki Co. continued manufacturing watches at the Hino factory. In 1951, Tama Keiki Co. changed its name to Orient Watch Company, Limited (オリエント時計株式会社, Oriento Tokei Kabushikigaisha), and in the same year the first Orient Star went on sale. Orient Watch was able to expand their visibility overseas after a memorandum trade agreement with China in 1955. The Royal Orient went on sale in 1960. Other important watches in the company's history include the "Dynamic" in 1956, "Grand Prix 100" in 1964, "Fineness" (the world's thinnest automatic wristwatch with day and date calendar function for its time) in 1967, and the "Tenbeat" in 1970.[17]

In 2003, the Orient Technical Center (OTC) was established and the assembly of luxury watches began in Ugo, Ogachi, Akita, Japan.[11] In 2004, the high-precision caliber 88700 movement went on sale via the Royal Orient watch line. In 2005, Orient Star Retro-Future collection was launched. In 2010, Orient Watch Co. celebrated its 60th anniversary with a limited edition model.[17] The Royal Orient line was discontinued around 2016, likely to prevent cannibalism between it and fellow Seiko group brands Grand Seiko, and Credor. To celebrate 70 years of the Orient Star line, the Orient Star skeleton watch was introduced with a silicon escapement made using Epson's MEMS technology, which has been used in high end Seiko watches since 2009.[18][19]

In 2001 Seiko Epson (one of three core companies of the Seiko Group) became the majority shareholder (52%) of the company. Orient Watch became a wholly owned subsidiary of Epson in 2009.[16] After transferring its business to Epson, the company now exists as a dormant company. Epson Sales Japan Corporation markets the Orient watches, while Akita Epson Corporation manufactures them.

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References

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from Grokipedia
Orient Watch is a renowned Japanese watch manufacturer specializing in high-quality mechanical timepieces, known for its in-house movements and affordable yet precise craftsmanship. Founded in 1950 as an independent company in , it traces its roots to a watch shop established in 1901 by Shogoro Yoshida, evolving through names like Toyo Tokei Manufacturing before adopting the Orient Watch brand in 1951. The company quickly gained prominence for innovations in mechanical watchmaking, introducing its flagship ORIENT STAR line in 1951 with an original in-house movement, followed by the development of an automatic movement in 1961 and the popular Multi Year Calendar model in 1976, which featured a multi-year calendar requiring only one adjustment per month. Orient's product range includes classic dress watches like the Bambino series, sporty divers such as the Mako, and premium offerings under the ORIENT STAR banner, all emphasizing enduring style and reliability. In 2009, Orient became a wholly owned subsidiary of Seiko Epson Corporation, integrating its expertise with Epson's technological advancements while maintaining its focus on in-house production of mechanical calibers. Today, Orient continues to produce a diverse collection of automatic and hand-wound watches at its facilities in , prioritizing accessibility for enthusiasts without compromising on quality or heritage. With nearly 75 years of operation, the brand remains a cornerstone of Japanese horology, offering timeless designs that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern reliability.

History

Founding and Early Development

The origins of Orient Watch trace back to 1901, when Shogoro Yoshida established the Yoshida Watch Shop in Ueno, Taito-ku, , , as a wholesale outlet primarily selling imported pocket watches from and the . This venture laid the groundwork for Yoshida's involvement in the Japanese watch trade, capitalizing on the growing interest in timepieces during the early . Initially focused on distribution rather than production, the shop operated amid Japan's emerging consumer market for Western-style goods. In 1920, Toyo Tokei Manufacturing was established as a table clock producer, which later influenced 's development. Following the disruptions of , which halted much of Japan's watch industry, efforts to revive domestic manufacturing gained momentum in the late 1940s. On July 13, 1950, former employees of the defunct Toyo Tokei Manufacturing gathered at its former Hino factory in to form Tama Keiki Co., Ltd., marking the formal beginning of in-house watch production under Yoshida's influence. This incorporation represented a pivotal shift from importation to self-reliant craftsmanship, enabling the company to produce its first wristwatch, the "New Orient," and address postwar demand for affordable timepieces in . In April 1951, Tama Keiki Co., Ltd. was renamed Orient Watch Company, Limited, reflecting its ambition to "orient" toward global standards in horology while establishing a distinct identity in the Japanese market. That same year, the company launched its first premium line, the Orient Star, featuring high-quality mechanical movements designed to compete with established luxury brands. From its inception, Orient Watch emphasized mechanical wristwatches, prioritizing precision engineering and accessibility to rebuild consumer confidence in Japanese-made products after the war.

Key Milestones and Expansion

Orient Watch achieved its first significant international expansion in through a with , which facilitated the export of its timepieces and marked the beginning of broader overseas . This agreement enabled subsequent exports to regions including in 1958, establishing Orient as a growing player in global watch distribution during the post-war economic recovery. A pivotal product launch came in 1957 with the introduction of the Dynamic model, Orient's first major wristwatch success that featured innovative design elements like centrally aligned hands, boosting the brand's reputation for reliable mechanical timepieces. Building on this momentum, Orient launched the Royal Orient line in 1959 as its high-end series, targeting premium consumers with sophisticated craftsmanship and luxurious finishes. The 1960s saw further technical advancements through key model releases, including the Grand Prix 100 in 1964, which incorporated luxury specifications such as an L-type self-winding movement and elevated the brand's standing in precision watchmaking. In 1967, the model debuted as one of the world's thinnest automatic wristwatches with day and date functions, exemplifying Orient's focus on slim profiles and innovative calendar integration. The decade closed with the Tenbeat in 1970, a high-beat model operating at 36,000 vibrations per hour that advanced accuracy standards and design aesthetics in Orient's lineup. To commemorate its 60th in 2010, Orient released several limited-edition watches, including manual-wind models limited to 3,000 pieces and special Orient Star variants featuring cases for enhanced lightness and durability. These releases honored the brand's heritage while showcasing ongoing commitment to mechanical excellence. The Royal Orient line, a of high-end offerings since 1959, was discontinued around 2016 as part of broader brand rationalization under ownership.

Ownership and Integration

In 2001, Seiko Epson Corporation acquired a 52% majority stake in Orient Watch Company, transitioning the brand from its independent status to partial ownership within the ecosystem. This acquisition provided Orient with enhanced resources for technological development while allowing it to maintain its focus on affordable mechanical watches. By 2009, Epson completed the purchase of the remaining shares, making Orient a wholly owned and integrating it more closely into Epson's operations, though Orient retained significant autonomy in design and production processes. This shift enabled synergies in and distribution without immediately altering Orient's brand identity or core product strategy. On April 1, 2017, Epson fully absorbed Company, merging its assets and operations directly into the parent corporation to streamline the watch division. As part of this integration, overlapping product lines such as Royal Orient were discontinued around 2016 to align with broader portfolios and avoid internal competition. The merger emphasized branding alignment, positioning Orient as a key brand under Epson's umbrella. As of 2025, Orient operates as an integrated brand within Seiko Epson Corporation, with no reported major ownership changes since the 2017 merger, continuing to emphasize in-house movements and accessible luxury timepieces.

Products

Main Watch Lines

Orient Watch's primary product lines encompass the accessible Standard Orient series and the premium Orient Star collection, catering to a broad spectrum of consumers seeking reliable Japanese timepieces. The Standard Orient line focuses on affordable, everyday watches that blend functionality with understated , targeting budget-conscious buyers who prioritize durability and value for daily wear. These watches emphasize practical aesthetics suitable for casual and professional settings, often featuring robust cases and versatile strap options. Launched in 1951, the Orient Star line represents Orient's higher-end offerings, incorporating superior materials such as sapphire crystals and exhibition case backs, along with complications like date windows and power reserve indicators. This collection appeals to enthusiasts desiring refined dress watches with mechanical sophistication, often showcasing open-heart dials that reveal the movement's inner workings for an added layer of visual elegance. Orient Star's design philosophy centers on timeless sophistication and craftsmanship, positioning it as a step above entry-level models while remaining more attainable than luxury competitors. Across both lines, produces mechanical self-winding and hand-winding models powered by in-house calibers. The Standard Orient line additionally includes battery-operated for precision timing, solar-powered variants that harness light for eco-friendly operation, and radio-controlled options that synchronize with atomic clocks for ultimate accuracy, while the Orient Star line focuses exclusively on premium mechanical timepieces. Current collections as of 2025 under Standard Orient include the Bambino series for classic dress styles with domed crystals and leather straps, the Mako and Ray dive watches for sporty underwater performance up to 200 meters, and contemporary sports lines blending modern materials with active lifestyles. Star maintains its focus on power reserve indicators and open-heart designs within , Contemporary, and Sports sub-collections, emphasizing versatility from formal to athletic contexts. Historically, Orient offered the Royal Orient line from 1958 to 2016 as its luxury tier, featuring advanced complications and premium finishing to compete in the high-end market, though it was discontinued to streamline the brand's portfolio. In 2021, Orient Star marked its 70th anniversary with special editions highlighting its enduring legacy in mechanical watchmaking.

Notable Models and Collections

Orient Watch has produced several iconic models that highlight its commitment to innovative design and reliable performance, spanning from its early mechanical innovations to contemporary collections that blend heritage with modern appeal. These notable watches exemplify the brand's evolution, often achieving recognition for technical achievements or stylistic influence within the Japanese watchmaking landscape. The Dynamic, introduced in , marked Orient's entry into successful wristwatch production with its slim case design and hand-winding center-second movement featuring an overlay of the center and fourth wheels, along with a durable Nivaflex . This model set a foundation for the company's mechanical expertise by prioritizing reliability in a compact form. In 1964, the Grand Prix 100 emerged as a luxury successor to the Royal Orient, boasting an L-type self-winding movement equipped with 100 jewels for enhanced precision, particularly suited for sports timing applications. Its award-winning status underscored Orient's ambition to compete in high-accuracy segments during the 1960s watch boom. The , launched in 1967 as a refined evolution of the Grand Prix line, represented a pinnacle in ultra-thin watchmaking with its Cal. 3900 movement measuring just 3.9 mm thick—the world's slimmest self-winding with day/date complications at the time—housed in an elegant dress watch case with 35 jewels. Produced through 1974, it catered to the era's demand for sophisticated, slim profiles in formal timepieces. Orient's Tenbeat series, debuting in 1970 with models like the Jaguar Focus, utilized a high-frequency 10-beat automatic movement (Cal. 9980) for superior accuracy, featuring vibrant two-tone color gradation dials and multifaceted cut-glass crystals that added a distinctive aesthetic flair. This line reflected the brand's push toward performance-oriented designs in the competitive market. Among modern offerings, the Mako II dive watch series, an update to Orient's longstanding diver lineage, incorporates the in-house F6922 automatic self-winding mechanical movement for reliability, bright lume on hands and markers for visibility, and achieves 200 meters of water resistance in a robust case, making it a staple for enthusiasts seeking affordable, JIS-compliant diving functionality. The Kamasu dive watch, introduced in 2019, features a sunburst dial available in colors such as green, red, and burgundy, a 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel, and a 41.8 mm stainless steel case. It is powered by the in-house Caliber F6922 automatic movement with hand-winding capability, hacking seconds, and approximately 40 hours power reserve, including day and date complications. The model offers 200 meters of water resistance and a sapphire crystal. The Bambino collection, introduced in , draws on vintage-inspired aesthetics with its domed crystal and dial, positioning it as a versatile dress watch option under $300, while limited editions such as the 2010 60th anniversary piece commemorate key milestones with unique engravings and serialized casebacks.

Technology and Innovations

In-House Movements

Orient Watch has maintained full control over the production of its mechanical movements since the company's founding in , when it began mass-producing its first in-house wristwatch caliber under the name Tama Keiki Co., Ltd. By 1955, Orient released the center-second T-type movement, marking an early milestone in its development of proprietary automatic and hand-winding calibers designed for reliability and precision. This in-house approach allowed the brand to innovate independently, evolving from basic mechanical designs in the post-war era to more sophisticated variants while prioritizing cost-effective manufacturing techniques rooted in Japanese horology. A significant advancement came in 2004 with the introduction of Caliber 88700, a slim movement developed by the Orient Technical Center for the high-end Royal Orient collection, later integrated into Orient Star models. Featuring 30 jewels, a 45-hour power reserve, hand-winding capability, and accuracy rated at +6 to -4 seconds per day, the 88700 emphasized enhanced precision and a compact profile suitable for dress watches. Its design incorporated central seconds and a date complication at 3 o'clock, contributing to Orient's reputation for accessible luxury mechanical timepieces. For entry-level automatics, the broader 46-series (evolved into variants like F6922) represents Orient's core in-house lineup, with models equipped with 22 jewels and a 40-hour power reserve, including day and date complications. These movements, evolutions of earlier 46-series designs from the , typically operate at 21,600 vibrations per hour and offer accuracy within +25 to -15 seconds per day. The F6922 powers a range of models, including the popular Mako diver, underscoring its versatility in both sport and classic watches. The premium F6 series, used in Orient Star models, features upgraded components such as 22 jewels and approximately 50-hour power reserve in variants like the F6N47, with power reserve indicators. The in-house production of these calibers enables to deliver mechanical watches priced under $500, distinguishing the brand through Japanese craftsmanship that avoids reliance on imported Swiss movements. This strategy has sustained Orient's focus on durable, value-driven automatics, appealing to enthusiasts seeking authentic without premium markups.

Advanced Features and Developments

In the , Orient introduced solar-powered movements that harness light to generate energy, eliminating the need for frequent battery replacements while maintaining the precision of timekeeping. These innovations were further enhanced with radio-controlled functionality, allowing watches to synchronize automatically with atomic time signals for superior accuracy, often within seconds per year. Models like the Neo 70s series exemplified this technology, combining solar charging with radio to offer reliable performance in diverse conditions. A significant advancement came in 2021 with the Orient Star Skeleton collection, featuring an in-house silicon escapement developed using Epson's (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology. This silicon component reduces friction compared to traditional metal escapements, minimizing wear and enabling a power reserve of up to 70 hours, which enhances the longevity and efficiency of mechanical movements. The escapement's blue, spiral-shaped not only improves functional but also adds aesthetic appeal visible through the skeletonized dial. Orient Star models have incorporated power reserve indicators and open-heart designs since the late , with refinements continuing into modern iterations that balance visibility and durability. These features display the remaining power—typically around 50 hours—via a subdial, while the open-heart window reveals the beating without compromising water resistance, often rated at 50 to 100 meters. This allows enthusiasts to appreciate the movement's operation in everyday wear, such as in the RE-AT0006L, where the design maintains structural integrity under water exposure. As of 2025, has expanded its use of silicon technology into new moonphase models within the F8 family, building on Epson's post-2017 integration for advanced applications in watchmaking. While hybrid mechanical-quartz features remain exploratory from early 2000s radio efforts, they have not become mainstream, with focus instead on refining solar-radio combinations for practical accuracy. These developments underscore Orient's commitment to blending traditional mechanics with contemporary precision enhancements.

Manufacturing and Operations

Production Facilities

Orient Watch's production began in the 1950s at facilities in , where the company rented the former Toyo Tokei Co., Ltd. factory to manufacture wristwatches following its launch in 1950. This site served as the initial hub for operations during the early postwar period, enabling rapid scaling of production. To enhance efficiency and leverage regional expertise, production shifted northward post-2000, with key facilities established in . Primary movement production occurs at Akita Epson Corporation in Yuzawa, , a Epson group company responsible for in-house caliber manufacturing. This supports the brand's focus on automatic movements, aligning with Epson's broader precision engineering capabilities. Watch assembly, particularly for luxury and Orient Star models, takes place at the Orient Technical Center in Ugo, Akita, established in 2003 as a dedicated studio for high-end craftsmanship. The center handles individual assembly by skilled artisans, emphasizing the brand's commitment to Japanese watchmaking traditions in a consolidated operational framework under . As of September 2024, to increase production capacity and meet growing demand, assembly for certain entry-level mechanical models, such as the Bambino series, has been transferred to Precision (Thailand) Ltd. in , , while movement production and assembly of premium models continue at facilities in . This expansion maintains quality standards without price increases.

Quality Standards and Processes

Orient Watch employs rigorous in-house measures to ensure the reliability and precision of its timepieces, with all movements undergoing extensive testing during production. Mechanical movements are subjected to accuracy evaluations targeting a standard of -15 to +25 seconds per day, reflecting the brand's commitment to dependable performance without relying on external chronometer certifications like . This in-house process, conducted at facilities including those in Akita, , emphasizes end-to-end oversight from component fabrication to final assembly, allowing for consistent quality across models. Production processes vary by movement type to optimize efficiency and craftsmanship. Quartz models benefit from automated assembly lines that enhance precision in electronic integration, while mechanical watches receive hand-finishing on components such as bridges and rotors to achieve refined aesthetics and functionality. Water resistance testing is a critical step, particularly for dive models rated up to 200 meters, where watches are pressurized to verify integrity under simulated conditions. Orient watches comply with relevant ISO standards to certify key performance attributes, particularly in its and lines like the M-Force series. These include ISO 6425 for dive watch specifications, ensuring robust water resistance; ISO 764 for anti-magnetic properties, protecting against fields up to 4,800 A/m; and ISO 1413 for shock resistance, withstanding impacts equivalent to a 1-meter drop onto a surface. Such certifications underscore the brand's focus on durability for everyday and adventurous use. As part of Seiko Epson Corporation, incorporates efforts into its operations, including the use of recycled materials in product development and eco-friendly practices at production sites like Akita Epson. These initiatives align with broader corporate goals to reduce environmental impact through resource and minimization in watch manufacturing as of 2024.

References

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