This is the BEST automatic for beginners in 2022 - Orient Kamasu

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0:00 The Best First Automatic
2:19 1. It's made by a VERY reputable brand
4:13 2. The Movement
6:45 3. Sapphire Crystal
8:21 4. It's a Dive watch
11:05 5. It's not a copy
13:25 The Cons
15:08 Conclusion: A step ahead of it's competitors

[@nicholasestrela3776]

I’ve been collecting for years and bought 2 of these. They are amazing. These are not just for starting collectors. Great piece for beginning to experienced watch lovers!👍🏼

[@nanhinting7447]

is it true that the glass is Sapphire crystal and not mineral glass?

[@atifghafoor6258]

@@nanhinting7447 kamasu is sapphire the mako and the Ray are mineral.

[@thecombckid]

Are the bracelet links hollow?

[@bikertrash.7692]

I have a Mako for more than 10 years....is more accurate than my seiko turtle.....only +5-7 secs a day....

[@capo328]

@@thecombckid The bracelet links are hollow. The clinking made me buy a bracelet from strapcode .

[@unaibb]

I love my Orient Kamasu. Probably one of the best value and one of the most loved watches out there, not just for beginners

[@skiparsenal]

I got the new Kamasu (with the more traditional looking dial) earlier in this year as my only watch after letting go of my Seiko 5's. I really like its versatility, how it doesn't look out of place in most scenarios. It also does make you a bit more unique in a budget space where most people opt for Seiko. And while my collection grew a bit again, the Kamasu is still part of my core rotation as a weekend watch.

[@eastern2687]

By new you mean mako 3?

[@chrisb5986]

The Kamasu is so good it could be your only auto. You can even mod it. The new gradient dials are really pretty.

[@idletime]

Great video Dave 😀 . For those just getting in the Hobby and wondering I wholeheartedly agree. One of if not my first automatic watch that I still have and love is the komatsu's brother, the Ray ll. Granted the bezel was a little tight when I first got it but it broke in and now it works great. On the flip side of that coin I recently picked up a beautiful purple dial Orient world time GMT diver and I love it as well 😇 ..

[@dr.t-chiro]

My first watch was the Kamasu and I couldn't be happier. You've got a great channel and I look forward to learning more through your genuine love for watches and critique!

[@LeeRichardson808]

The Kamasu was my first automatic watch purchase a few months ago. Absolutely love it. Threw a nato strap on it right out of the box. I find myself using the bezel to track elapsed time quite often. Seems like a great gateway watch. Great video!

[@danh5977]

Had mine for 4 years now and still feels good knowing its still a great value today

[@BetamaxBabe]

100% agree that the Kamasu is a great watch! I liked everything about it: the red dial, the hour markers, hands, and overall legibility. I paired it with a rubber strap since I knew I'd dislike the bracelet. The only real mark against it was the crown, at least for me. I would've kept it if were larger or the crown guards smaller or nonexistent.

[@ericm7335]

Newbies.... don't worry about the reported negatives on the bracelet. It is one of the MOST comfortable bracelets out there. Taper and width as reported by KZbinrs often comes down to group think. Not the case with Dave I'm sure, but I HATE taper on a bracelet and know there are lots of folks like me. A broad bracelet makes the watch more solid and keeps it from bobbling around.

[@justinebodlak1373]

I totally agree! The only issue I found is that the bracelet was incredibly hard to resize due to the pins being so so stiff! I broke my tool! Managed to resize the blooming thing in the end and I do like the bracelet and comfort. Overall an incredibly beautiful watch (got the red/maroon version). Totally worth the money. Most beautiful watch I have yet, not the most expensive...

[@Conundrum191]

The Kamasu (I have the blue one) has basically become one of my go-to watches when heading into the office. Brand new it ran +2spd and settled around +7spd, which puts it above most of my NH powered watches.

[@mph7282]

I have several high end automatic watches, including Rolex and Omega, and I love my Kamasu. My only complaints are the ones you mention: the crown is a little difficult to operate, the bezel is a little stiff, and I’m not a fan of the bracelet, at all. That said, I always have this on alternate straps. I have numerous silicone straps in various colors (I have the blue dial) that look great, and my favorite is a blue sailcloth strap. It’s a great watch that looks sharp, keeps great time, and can stand up to everyday use. It’s kind of a no-brainer.

[@jaykwonzzz]

I bought a strapcode Jubilee. It looks excellent. I hated that the bracelet had virtually no taper to it at all.

[@bh848]

I swear by Orient, my seiko 5 and my SKX and my omega seamaster the most out of my collection. They're my 4 favorites.

[@thejoseyscottrocks]

Dave, you are the man! I love your reviews! You’ve totally helped me get good knowledge of this new hobby of collecting horological pieces of art, without talking over my head, or making me feel stupid. No bells and whistles, just great information! Well done sir! Keep ‘em comin’!

[@ankitshah2795]

I have Tissot PRX, SARB033, SARB035 and other 15 plus watches but I still always reach out for Kamasu (same deep green dial color) almost 4/7 days. This is a killer watch! Just buy it

[@The_Real_Indiana_Joe]

I wear one daily, and love it. The sapphire crystal is a must, as I am hard on watches. It's going on 3 years old and I have already replaced the bezel insert. It's an after market and fairly cheap. I like it better however because the zeros are round and not square shaped like the original. Mine will stay accurate to within 10 seconds for a month or so.

[@mikewikstrom9506]

i never tire of hearing about kamasu. probably should buy one.

[@whywecollectwatches]

Dave, one of the best reviews of the Kamasu I have seen. Thumbs up!

[@campo2309]

Just bought a Kamasu. Can't wait to get it out of its box. Seems to be a great start for collecting excellent timepieces

[@chrispierce8349]

Excellent review on an excellent entry level automatic. Great job Dave. You always shine👍

[@chrisr8112]

I do have a soft spot for the Kamasu, it was my daily diver for a couple of years, and it’s a fantastic offering from a reputable brand. It’s not without its faults, mostly on the bracelet, although I also found the crown too small too. If you’re into dive watches it’s a great first choice, but if you have a penchant for field watches, the Seiko SNK8 series are hard to beat, that was my gateway watch, visible (if so what dated) movement and a classic fliegr design for not a lot of money

[@djsmiley1965]

My Wife bought me this watch for my Xmas 2022 after watching me watching you, review this watch. Absolutely made up and you are spot on with the crown guards restricting access to the crown but even with that is a remarkable watch and has been extremely accurate. I meant to leave a comment long before now but truly enjoy the channel and your expertise on such quality timepieces from Japan. Orient = quality in my opinion.

[@WATCHingJames]

You can’t go wrong with this watch. Especially with the recent Seiko price increases

[@scottlauren3145]

I love my Orient Mako 2. I got it before the Kamasu was released. Always glad to see Orient get some praise.

[@David-nx2vm]

I have had my burgundy dial Kamasu for about 6 months and it’s terrific. It doesn’t compete with my high end Swiss pieces, but it’s better than my Seiko models. If I was a first-in newbie, I would go Orient before Seiko every time.

[@javierpatricioromero8564]

I´ve got one, and modded it, changed the bracelet for a jubilee with solid end links and milled clasp, and also changed the bezel, put one with sapphire and lume. Now it has climbed several steps in quality

[@Watchmade]

During my watch journey I have picked up 3x Kamasu gen 1 in black, green and blue and also from gen 2 the grey and now the red version. I like them all.

[@younusimam-thesalamproject6340]

On a rubber strap this is my favorite watch for daily use. So durable, day/date and lume is fantastic. Best beater out there! I have the green, looks great on leather

[@respectablylate3081]

I own this exact watch and it is everything you say it is! I also own the t-shirt and get in trouble from the family for wearing it so often!

[@JMK15]

This was such a helpful over the old. You answered a lot of great questions and brought up a lot of interesting and valid points. I do like this watch, but that small crown, I can’t get around how small it is. Clear case back I miss, but at the price, I understand.

[@victorzhou231]

This was one of the watches I was considering when I first got into watches recently. However, my friend became interested in getting a watch too so I recommended him this one. He loves that thing and wears it everyday. Having seen and held the watch myself, it's easy to see why.

[@slash2freeze]

I have this watch and I’m happy with this. It’s my go to when I travel abroad or to the beach. Very good fit on my wrist.

[@MWall711]

I have this watch and really like it. It was my second automatic watch behind the Seiko 5. There is one other con that I have found with the Orient. There is no AR coating, and because it does have the flat sapphire crystal, the light can reflect like a laser beam at times.

[@Dialandhands]

I own the green vintage style Kamasu. It’s one of my favorite watches size and style wise. I really like these on a good Fkm rubber strap since they don’t use fat spring bars it’ll take pretty much any good Amazon quick release strap.

[@helmutsilver5006]

Bought the oxblood Kamasu 2 last month. Awesome watch. It's the second cheapest in my collection but the one I find myself wanting to wear the most...

[@LordLares7]

Love the video, love the watch, gonna buy a green one when I graduate in a few months! But I wanna say, the sound is awesome. Just noticed that the voiceover is killer, great quality! Cheers Dave!

[@shcmoly]

Kamasu is a great watch. I have 2 thinking about a 3rd. Spot on review Dave.

[@PanSearedRibeye68]

One of the best reviews I’ve seen.

[@swiss86watches]

Great Video brother big Fan of Orient love their in house movements and passion for Automatic watches ☺️

[@jeeperspeepers8323]

An excellent review! Really enjoy the channel. Thank you.

[@Hy5st77]

Thanks to your video I figured out how to set my first ever watch.

[@itsajaysharma]

Great video. I had 2 of the Orient Ray 2's. Love them dearly. But I think the most comfortable and stylish affordable option was the Seiko Sea Urchin. Best beater watch ever.

[@phillipbailey70]

Picked a blue one up a couple of weeks ago - love the dial face, hands and for some reason the logo is pretty to me 😍. Came on a Nato as a bargain so I'm enjoying the search for the perfect strap 😉

[@denis888red]

Good points and well made. For anyone wanting to spend 200, this a super duper buy.

[@marsoelflaco5722]

I have a red dial Kamasu. A great looking, robust watch. A true value. Sometimes it takes a couple attempts to line up the threads to properly screw down the crown, and the bezel can also be difficult to grip, slightly slippery. No big deals.✌🏽

[@leifwavetv5285]

Great review got the kamazu today totally love it

[@micksumo]

Bought the red one this year and its time keeping is excellent about 5 seconds plus a day. It wears great. As u say 20mm lug width would make it perfect. The bracelet is a little cheap but otherwise its excellent

[@Jojo-yo7pi]

Best intro song for your videos! Great job on the content 👍

[@georgegonzalez-rivas3787]

Excellent points and criteria (yay saphire crystal)! So I'm subscribing and looking forward to more such reviews. (I also just put this watch on my acquisition list!)

[@asadyezdan3858]

Got mine in dark blue a few days ago, looks even better in person, recommend for sure! Also I think the clasp while stamped is defo still very secure

[@UGA.D]

Excellent video, Dave! I have the white Mako USA II which is very similar. Definitely a great watch.

[@butnugit]

Great video, Dave. It seems like the Kamasu would be a great first automatic, or 15th. 😂 I was all set to buy the red dialed one this summer, but in a moment of weakness I bought something else, instead. In my defense, the Kamasu will still be around, whereas the watch I just bought may or may not be available. The Orient will definitely be my next purchase, though.

[@donmongoose]

A red dial kamasu was the second automatic watch I bought and still love it. The bracelet feels a bit cheap (unsurprising at this pricepoint) but it looks great on a burgundy Nato.

[@vijey221]

Hello Dave, great review as always. You should feature the citizen nb1050 in your channel. It's the best seiko sarb033/035 alternative imo, miyota 9000 movement, sapphire crystal, excellent finishing and a decent bracelet for around $400. It's definitely better than the seiko sarbs!

[@mungunshagaienkhbayar966]

Great video. I always liked your intro song and the visuals. Got my 1st gen kamasu when it came out and it is my fav daily watch. Compared to my other affordable auto watches (seiko, tissot), the black dial kamasu gets more wear. Only thing that is tick me off is that when i adjust the hour hand, the date window also seems to move a little and stops. Wondering it's a defect or not, ill just have to get it checked out. Other than that i would 100% recommend to any watch collector

[@Blunt33bdx]

I bought it this summer 2022 in blue - My first automatic it's honestly a great watch for the price !

[@webvideofan]

6:28 I agree, the date complication is probably the thing I actually need most on a timepiece. BTW, I have the shirt you’re wearing (in blue). Love it. It perfectly represents my watch passion… and I like supporting a channel like yours. You really have your head on straight in this hobby. 👍🏻

[@tedsklarchuk5868]

My first automatic dive watch was/is an Orient Ray2, had it for years...still is a go to for me. I paid $120 usd for it.

[@user-ye4ek7gq5c]

In the price to quality ratio, this is hands down the best watch, and the design is absolutely gorgeous

[@Digital_Ken]

Great review ! 👏 it would awesome to see you do another review with the 2nd Generation Kamasu

[@campshay19]

I got this the summer of 2020, excellent watch for the money

[@PWCDN]

its a very solid watch for the price. Truly one of my most impressive pieces in terms of value. The hand winding is not the smoothest but small pick. It's a great watch.

[@namduonghoang2931]

bought this watch and replace the bracelet with the Jubilee bracelet. Perfection!

[@Hard_7_Iron]

I have a good sized collection containing German, Swiss, and Japanese watches. But I’ve never owned an Orient. Since Black Friday is tomorrow…maybe I’ll have to do a serous search. Great video. Thanks. Happily Holidays.

[@the14thearlofgurney84]

Love mine. Got a couple of other Orient divers. They're a lot of watch for the money with in house movements and heritage. All good

[@jaimealejandromoralesmejia9415]

Dave excelente video!! Saludos desde Lima Perú

[@borzoomoazami8201]

Amazing video, and thank you for also mentioning the cons. I loved the watch, specially the sapphire crystal is so important for someone like me who is just starting to collect better timepieces. Also love the style and I think it is a safe point to start enjoying this beautiful world.

[@rangersmith4652]

My first automatic (other than the Doxa I inherited) was a Seiko SKN805. If I member correctly, the second was a Chinese "homage," the third was an Orient TriStar, and the fourth was a blue-dial Kamasu. Now I own six Orient dive-style watches, including a "Baby Triton," which I think is a better watch. That said, my black-dial Mako II gets the most wrist time of all my Orients.

[@voiceofexperience]

That blue dial POPS! 😍

[@user-ri9ov9mf3z]

Thank u so much for helping understand the orient nako process

[@slowbluesmaster]

Great value for money! I own the maroon dial version and wear it on an olive green canvas strap.

[@alanmentzer8756]

Great call, Dave.

[@samnova450]

Just pick one up with Black and Gold trim, really enjoy it.

[@bongverzano4742]

I love orient watch...i have my bambino for 20.yrs now

[@odilpereira]

I have an Orient Superior caliber F49, inferior to the caliber F69, but still very good. I intend to buy a Kamasu soon and your evaluation Dave, was decisive for choosing this model. Tnx.

[@TheBimmer74]

Besides a saphire crystal, good lume is also a must have for this style of watch and Orient watches even beat Seiko in this regard. I just bought an Orient Star Diver and it has the best lume I have yet to encounter!

[@matthiasvangysel938]

i bought it 2020, still runs smooth. Went diving,hiking and all other craziness. It's so far my only watch tho but what i know for fact is that i would never sell it.

[@pinikpikantv3555]

I have Orient Kamasu and Seiko Sumo Hulk and can say it compares. I think the red dial is better but I have a sunburst green for a low key design. Despite being small I like it since it fits my wrist better but I prefer a larger case and face of the sumo as I am used to big cases. The sizes are not very far from each other and is very tolerable even for my small wrist.

[@johanvandersandt8904]

Orient is a sleeper brand. Super good value and really well made. Dont know why they dont get more love...

[@simonthomas5113]

I have two Kamasu's (RA-AA0810N19B and RA-AA0003R19A) and I'm getting great accuracy from both of their F6922's. Plus 5 and plus 9 seconds daily, and they're outperforming most of the other movements in my collection. The bracelets are getting some scratches, but the crystals are spotless.

[@Avaddon911]

I wear the RA-AA0810N19B daily and I love it. I sleep with it half of the time because I forget it's even on my arm until I get blinded by lume 😂

[@eagz3394]

Great video and if you want something slightly sportier and $50 cheaper, the Mako II is a great option but you'll be giving up the sapphire crystal.

[@antoniopintomonteiro5907]

Great review! Congrats! I have 2 Orient watches both Ray II. They are very similar to the Kamasu. Yes, buy one! It is a no-brainer buy! One thing I should mention though. Chinese SteelDive watches are also very good. Surprisingly good! they operate with nh 35 machines, very good casing but, as you said, basically copies of other watches. Lume on the hands is usually bad as well. However, very good watches! Orient has other models within the same price range (or near this price range) that are very interesting as well. The baby Triton and, of course, the Ray II. I would say that Orient watches are "serious watches" that last for a lifetime. In my view, it is definitely a collector's item that you can use on a daily basis.

[@erdnadre7566]

I really your reviews! And the sound of your voice!

[@eddiehe7454]

The Kamasu i got definitely feels more well built than my Seiko 5 GMT, amazing value for the money

[@mikeprice1875]

Hey, that was my first auto! Great choice Dave.

[@tedblack2415]

It's one of my favourite watches but it does have its weaknesses , the crown being one (weak,wobbly,small,mine broke within 6 months ) and bezel being the other(gained excessive play & now 60 click ) but the bracelet though basic is solid & comfortable and the movement imo is more stable than the nh35/36, plus you'll find there's scarce aftersale support , contrary to your comment @ 8:13.

[@johnbuckmaster569]

I have this exact watch, and I immediately ordered a jubilee style bracelet, solid end-links and milled clasp. It transforms the watch and makes up for it’s one and only drawback. $40 added to the price of the watch made it $240 even. I have a very large collection and I completely agree with you.

[@LorenHeiman]

Details on the bracelet? Most I've seen are closer to $60. Thanks!

[@IemonandIime]

What bracelet did you get?

[@ju00]

My 1st gen kamasu is my daily beater and its amazing.

[@arnoldgibbs3089]

Very good presentation. I like Orient a lot. I don’t understand why one needs to spend more money. I can’t see a reason to do so or I possibly would. Seiko is excellent as well. Also Casio is nothing to laugh at either. As a general rule Japanese companies are very reliable to do business with. In my youth for work reasons I would go to Japan a few times a year. I like the culture and the people very much.

[@regorschneid5245]

When I first got my Kamasu I was wishing that I could see the movement as it was holding time so well that I thought maybe it was a quartz sitting in there. . Just did a week long check and this sweetheart was only 2 seconds slow after 168 hours. It's the best of my autos'.

[@Gumby56]

excellent video,I agree with all your comments. btw, i own 24 automatic watches, most of which are swiss made.

[@NoNo-je3cc]

Nice touch with that pilot metro m nib in the background.

[@LookingThroughOsLense]

Great videos by the way!!!!!!!

[@lordcharfield4529]

I have just bought a Geckota Pioneer with a NH35 movement. It’s the most beautiful watch I’ve ever owned. I also have the Rolex Sub homage watch made by Steeldrive. It’s wonderful - well made and more accurate than it should be at that price point!

[@derbagger22]

I think all the colors are so attractive, yet the black just has such an elegance about it. Comparing all my watches, the black Kamasu is just the best all arounder I own. It's on a Strapcode bracelet as the stock one is garbage and the hollow end links caused the springbars to deform in only a few months...

[@javierjimenez786]

I owned this exact green model and sold it to my brother just because the green hue was much more darker than what I expected... I must congratulate you Dave, for presenting on a video the real hue this watch really has; somehow all previous video reviews (at least a couple years old) happen to show a brighter green color. Having said that, it is such a great watch. Quality is there no doubt. I'd pass all your 'negatives' and say that my only real gripe for this watch is the lack of anti reflective coating... If you're trying to make the dial color pop out under the sunlight you'll most likely get blinded by the reflection of the crystal. That is my only gripe for this watch. It is no doubt the best first automatic diver watch to own.

[@snowmean1]

Orient Kamasu is an amazing watch, but I picked Ray 2 as my first automatic watches, and still love them. For $120, they are pretty much the same watch minus sapphire crystal. At the time of my purchase, Kamasu cost $220, which is almost double the cost of Ray2/Mako2. When my Ray2 scratches badly, replacing the crystal to sapphire would cost me ~$30.

[@vodkawhiskeyrum]

This is a great automatic for anybody, not just the beginner! I’d go with the earlier 40mm in blue. 174 bucks on Joma, get it while it’s hot.

[@hardikdamania6850]

Being from India, it's difficult to get hold of this watch. somehow I got the red dial Kamasu..n I am in love with it.. i treasure it more than any other watches I have.. I was gonna buy Seiko..but only Seiko 5 falls in my budget and Orient beats it hands down...will plan to get a Triton soon..

[@lurchlads]

I received my Blue Kamasu w/Rubber strap the same day you posted this. Love the watch, though the crown, while still useable, is too small. Other than that, it is a fantastic watch.

[@draakisback]

I bought one of these when I got back into collecting watches, It was one of the original models back in the day. I had it for about a month before I returned it, though I didn't return it for any flaw, I returned it because I was able to get a Seiko alpinist at a really good price. Now I'll confess, the reason why the alpinist was so appealing is because I have RSI pain and larger watches tend to exacerbate it. That being said, the kamasu did not cause wrist pain for me despite its size. I think this is because of its case length which is relatively compact for a 42 mm watch. Just for reference, I own a Tudor black Bay Ceramic (41mm) and I can't wear it more than 3 hours without it hurting my wrist. If I was going to buy another affordable dive watch, I would absolutely get another kamasu, you really can't beat the value proposition of this watch.