Orient Explorer Dual Time Automatic – $500.50 w/ DAPPERED30
Note: There are tons of 30% off codes floating around out there. Don’t feel obligated to use ours. Also, these can sometimes (but not always) go for less during sales, or, via 3rd party websites.
Less is more… only when it’s not. And the Orient Explorer Dual Time automatic is wearable proof that sometimes? More really can be more. When it’s done right. And the Explorer is done oh-so-right.
Lots going on, but well balanced and classy enough to be dressy.
If it wasn’t for their well loved collection of dive watches, the Explorer might have been Orient’s flagship watch. The quality and looks put it just below their high-end “Orient Star” line. And some would argue that if it ever gets a movement with a hand-winding/hacking crown, it’ll make the leap to that next level up.
Exhibition caseback. Subtle branding at the crowns. Quite the attention to detail.
Equipped with an in-house automatic movement, the Explorer gets its name from the second time zone window between 9 and 10 o’clock. Good for the globe-trotters out there who want to keep track of the time at home. Meanwhile, a power reserve indicator sits at noon, and a slide rule circles the edge of the dial. This thing has a lot going on. Yet the placement and ratio of all those options is done so well that it’s still quite easy to read. Instead of a rectangular date window at 3 o’clock mucking up the looks, Orient’s designers decided to have the date indicator be a sub-dial at six. Brilliant. A sapphire crystal, exhibition case back, and wearable with all shades of brown burgundy strap finish off the package.
It somehow walks the line between super dressed up and sporty. Maybe it’s all those complications, yet the font is clean and delicate enough to make them blend well with the sharp, shined up hands. It is a fairly unique design in the world of watches, which often can be an industry that is one long line of derivatives.
Power reserve indicator at noon. Date sub-dial at 6 o’clock. 44.5mm case.
Wear it with a suit. Wear it with jeans and a sportcoat. Wear it with a polo and chinos. Just be prepared that when you do wear it, to accept compliments and answer the covet-tinged question of… “what is that?” from other watch wearers.
Enter here to win the burgundy strap Orient Explorer shown above. One entry per person. Deadline for entry is 11:59 pm ET 8/26/16. Thanks to Orient for providing this Explorer dual time automatic for Reader Appreciation Week!
UPDATE: Congrats to A. Braidwood who won the drawing for the Orient Explorer!