Mechanical Contemporary Skeleton Blue Grey - Ltd Ed 1000pcs Ref. RE-AV0132L

Orient truly lives up to its name as the rising star of the Japanese watch industry, boasting a substantial following of watch enthusiasts seeking to spruce up their JDM watch collections. Crafting high quality timepieces with excellent value for money since the early 1950s, this watchmaker comes from humble beginnings. Orient's roots can be traced back more than a century to a wholesale pocket watch shop set up by Shogoro Yoshida in Tokyo. It is impressive how this small watch shop selling imported watches in 1901 survived the test of time and continues to produce reliable mechanical in-house movements even until today. In early 2000, Orient was taken under the umbrella of Seiko Epson, known for its reliable and affordable timepieces, which offers Seiko Watches encompassing the essence of Japanese fashion.

Till date, Orient maintains its reputation as one of the most widely-recognized watchmakers in Japan with exquisite JDM offerings. Featuring a wide variety of selections that cater most preferences from sophisticated, extravagant dress watches to action-ready sports watches, this Japanese brand showcases their own JDM luxury line comprising three categories namely Classic, Contemporary, which we will delve into here, and Sports.

Orient Star Mechanical Contemporary Skeleton Blue Grey - Ltd Ed 1000pcs Ref. RE-AV0132L

Guaranteeing versatility with timeless designs suitable for any occasion, the Orient Star Contemporary Collection dates back to 1951 when the first timepiece incorporating Orient's in-house chronometer was released. Each "true star" timepiece shows off an elegant dress watch case, silver hands, a reliable mechanical movement and trendy dial designs. Over the next few decades, Orient introduced well-received line-ups like the Orient Star Dynamic and skeleton-styled Orient Mon Bijou. Orient also launched sports divers such as the Weekly Auto Orient King Diver Ref. 19410, built with the brand's first-ever automatic mechanism, around the same time as collections from Seiko and Citizen were released during the 1990s. And now, Orient presents a new addition to the collection, the Orient Star Contemporary Modern Skeleton Blue GreyLimited Edition, a premium everyday watch exuding modern vibes that graces your outfit with mesmerising elegance.

Perfecting the craft since 1991, openwork watchmaking is no stranger to Orient which had released their first-ever semi-skeleton watch, the Orient Star Ref. WZ0011FH, in October 2003. The expertise of this watchmaker is proudly showcased on the intricate dial workings of the Orient Star Contemporary Modern Skeleton. Admire the stunning skeletonized cut-outs, especially at 9'oclock which reveals the balance wheel powering this fine timepiece, on its gradient blue grey dial. Hence, the openwork at 9 o'clock reveals the watchmaker's attention to detail in framing this cut-out with sleek metallic trimming and applying a high-polish to the balance bridge underneath, to bring out the aesthetics of this semi-skeleton dial. Moreover, the beautiful metallic seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock fits in seamlessly with the openwork design and balances the aesthetics of the watch.


Blue grey dial with semi skeleton display

Moreover, the Orient Star Modern Skeleton Blue Grey is crafted with a solid SUS316L stainless steel case that measures 41mm in width, 12.1mm in thickness and has a lug-to-lug of 49mm. Fitted with a push-pull crown that allows for a decent 100m water resistance, this timepiece flaunts a byzantine satin-brush and polish finishing on its case while the back of the watch features a full polishing, unique to Orient's premium line. What's more, its bezel gets a full high gloss polish treatment that bestows the watch with an alluring lustre.

Protected beneath a flat sapphire crystal, the Orient Star Modern Skeleton reveals an intricate dial adorned with applied faceted metallic hour markers and gold-trimmed Roman numerals at 12 o'clock, alongside the signature fan-shaped power reserve indicator so emblematic of Orient Star. Luminous-filled markers and hands glow a vivid green in darkness, while the dial's remarkable clarity, despite its complexity, stands as a testament to Orient's mastery in blending functionality with refined design.

39mm stainless steel case

Under the theme of Keshiki, which celebrates the beauty of Japanese landscapes, the design embraces dial colours inspired by the sky and sea that connect the world. Within this concept, the poetic idea of snowlight comes alive, capturing the serene beauty of light shimmering across snow-covered ground and softly illuminating its surroundings. The new blue-grey execution enhances this imagery as it gradually fades into a deep navy in the upper half, creating a gentle interplay of light and shadow that evokes the quiet elegance of a tranquil winter landscape.

Each piece carries a unique serial number engraving on the screw-in case back, emphasizing its exclusivity. Through thecase back, the in-house caliber F6F44 is revealed, an automatic movement crafted exclusively for Orient timepieces. This refined engine is equipped with 24 jewels, provides a 50-hour power reserve, and runs at a steady 21,600 vibrations per hour, showcasing Orient's dedication to both precision and craftsmanship.

Orient in-house caliber F6F44 automatic movement

The Orient Star Contemporary Modern Skeleton comes on a 21mm stainless steel bracelet that has a combination of satin brushed finish and polished finish, complimenting the finishes on the case. The bracelet is fitted with solid end links to hold the watch securely on the wrist.

Drawing on more than half a century of dedicated watchmaking expertise, Orient presents the Orient Star Contemporary Modern Skeleton as a perfect blend of modern design and traditional craftsmanship. Its impeccably executed skeleton dial continues the brand's proud horological legacy, while the Keshiki motif captures the tranquil beauty of Japanese landscapes. As part of the Contemporary collection, this model offers remarkable value, pairing refined elegance with a luxurious presence that makes it shine effortlessly on any occasion.

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