Orient Ray II Automatic – $150 – $160
The design, functionality, and price of Orient’s original Mako and Ray were far from broken. So they didn’t fix them. But what they did do with these new versions was tweak em’, just enough, and in the process they avoided mucking up what they had already accomplished. All while providing a few characteristics the watch wearing community values.
Here’s what’s different:
- A different movement that now hacks and hand winds at the crown
- The extra calendar pusher at 2 o’clock has been eliminated
- The bezel is now 120 clicks instead of 60
200m Water resistance, so feel free to get it wet.
Here’s what’s the same:
- Powered by one of Orient’s in-house, automatic movements
- 200m water resistance
- Mineral Crystal
- 41.5 mm, easily wearable for most, case diameter
- Stainless bracelet that keeps the shine to a minimum
As classic as a diver gets, at a more than reasonable price.
To be able to take your watch off and wind it, quickly via the crown at night, is a nice convenience. Much easier than shaking it back and forth in the morning to get it going again. Plus, not everyone loved the calendar adjustment pusher/crown at 2 o’clock. Made it kinda look like half a chronograph. Now? It’s a classic diver. Still has that solid build quality and feel to it too.
Gone is the extra crown. In comes a hackable movement that you can hand wind.
While the Mako might be Orient’s flagship watch, the Ray is more symmetrical to many eyes. The Mako mixes Arabic numerals w/ stick indicies, while the Ray sticks with indices similar to Rolex’s Submariner.
Good on Orient for not blowing up what’s arguably the best pair of budget divers on the market. Yet at the same time? Kudos to them for trying to improve on what they already had.