Contemporary Modern Skeleton Blackout - Ltd Ed 600pcs Ref. RE-AV0126B

Orient is the name of a Japanese watchmaking firm that is usually known to watch enthusiasts who are in the world of JDM watch collection. Compared to Seiko who have been making waves outside their land lately, Orient until now, have been staying low under the radar for many. They have been in continuation to produce high quality, yet attainable timepieces since the early 1950s, while the firm can further trace back to its roots in 1901 by Shogoro Yoshida opening a pocket watch shop. Unfamiliar, we bet most of you guys are unsure of that Orient started in 1950 as an independent company, producing reliable mechanical in-house movements even until today. In early 2000, Orient had gone under the umbrella of Seiko Epson, as the name suggests, pursuing traditional horology of reliable and affordable timepieces, in parallel to Seiko Watches in true Japanese fashion.

Orient Watches until today, is still one of the widely-recognized watchmakers in Japan, building their quality timepieces and sticking to their "JDM" route. They have a wide variety of selections that cater to anyone with a particular theme in mind, from cocktail event elegant timepieces to ever-ready sports watches that one can take it out for some action.

Orient Star Contemporary Modern Skeleton Blackout - Ltd Ed 600pcs Ref. RE-AV0126B

Like Seiko's luxury line Grand Seiko, we focus on Orient Star; their own JDM luxury line which then further breaks down to three main categories: Classic, Sports and Contemporary, and we focus on the latter.

Dating back to 1951, Orient Star first introduced the market, with their in-house chronometer "true star" timepieces that feature a dressy case blued hands, mechanical movement and timeless dial design. From there, Orient Star came to producing elegant watches like the Orient Star Dynamic, even skeleton-style: Orient Mon Bijou during the 1990s. They along with Seiko and Citizen in launching their sports divers with the Weekly Auto Orient King Diver Ref. 19410 which uses the brand's first-ever automatic mechanism.

Fast forward 50 years, in 2026 Orient have just introduced their premium modern watch- the Orient Star Contemporary Modern Skeleton Blackout, their modern collection 100m everyday kind of watch with a multi-finished bracelet topping off with a balanced yet intricate full black version.

Black dial with semi skeleton display

As we all know, openwork watchmaking is not stranger to Orient Star, they have done so since 1991, and even more significant in October 2003, where Orient Star presented their first-ever semi-skeleton watch - the Orient Star Ref. WZ0011FH.

For a start, the Orient Star Contemporary Modern Skeleton offers a solid SUS316L stainless steel case with a stealthy black plating, creating a full blackout look this time around. Further, measuring 41mm wide, 12mm thick and 49mm lug to lug, paired with a push-pull crown while still bears a decent 100m water-resistant. Since this falls under Orient's premium line, the case gets a byzantine satin-brushed and polished finishing while the back of the watch features full polishing. Even the bezel gets a gorgeous high-gloss polish treatment, pulling the entire dark aesthetic together into an incredibly cool blackout edition.

Seen through its flat sapphire crystal, the Orient Star Contemporary goes intrinsically with the design- a sunburst black background with applied faceted metallic hour markers, with fancy Roman numerals at 12 o'clock for a start. What enlivened Orient Star watches its fan-shaped power reserve indicator at 12'o clock, showing how much juice left on the watch. Thankfully, even while having this complication along with skeletonized cut-outs at 2, 4 to 7 and the main one at 9 o clock to showoff the balance wheel, the legibility on the dial is excellent.

41mm stainless steel case

That said, the legible handset bears the same color tone luminous with those on top of the hour markers, to aid the semi-skeleton dial. Speaking of which, the Contemporary Modern Skeleton's openwork at 9' o clock showcased their attention to detail by framing it with metallic trim, and high-polished balance bridge for the wearer to indulge when glancing at the time. Lastly, the beautiful sub-second dial also in black, fitting with the opened work and rest of the applied markers. With it placed at the bottom of the dial, giving it a more balanced look in coherence with the power reserve indicator at the top side.

Displayed through the screw-in caseback, the in-house caliber F6F44 is the top of the line automatic movement that solely fitted on Orient Star timepieces. The Orient Star Diver Blue Power Reserve feature this incredible horology engine. The 24 Jewels, 50-hour power reserve F6F44 Automatic runs at a daily tolerance of +25 to -15 seconds per day, beating at 21,600bph with a power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock (somewhat iconic across the whole Orient Star flagship line), a sub-second display at 6 o'clock, and a visual open-heart at 9 o'clock.

Orient in-house caliber F6F44 automatic movement

From the middle case all the way through the bracelet, every component features a stealthy black plating paired with a beautifully multi-finished solid end-link construction. Solidly crafted from SUS316L stainless steel, the bracelet significantly elevates the elegance of the entire timepiece while remaining exceptionally sturdy and comfortable. This robust build assures the wearer a safe, secure, and balanced fit when strapping the Orient Star Contemporary onto the wrist.

Overall, the Orient Star Contemporary Modern Skeleton feels thoroughly modern while letting you appreciate the impeccable open-work across the dial. It serves as a highly functional daily wearer that strikes a delicate balance with Orient's rich watchmaking legacy dating back to the 1950s. While it carries a premium price over entry-level Orient dress models, it easily earns its spot as a true luxury timepiece within the brand's top-tier lineup. Limited to just 600 pieces worldwide in this full black execution, it feels as sturdy, robust, and beautifully finished as anyone could ever ask of a high-end JDM mechanical watch. By pairing a striking semi-skeleton design and a 100m water-resistant case with an automatic power reserve caliber and sub-second display, this watch offers incredible value for your money and stands out as one hell of a piece for collectors.

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