Orient Star Sports Outdoor Field Watch Review (RK-AU0204L)

DOUBLE REVIEW: Shane @Relative Time will also be reviewing the matte black version of this watch on his channel: • Rise of the ExplOrient...
Check out my Amazon store:
www.amazon.com...
Orient Star Sports Outdoor Blue Dial: RK-AU0204L / RK-AU0211L
Gnomon has a pretty good price here:
www.gnomonwatc...
Jomashop has some models in stock at really good prices:
Black Dial: www.jomashop.c...
Black Case Gray Dial: www.jomashop.c...
Black case textured black dial: www.jomashop.c...
Black Case Blue dial: www.jomashop.c...

[@kimibenja1]

It’s really a problem for my wallet that watch enthusiasts are so articulate and great salesmen.

[@d3xmeister]

@4:25 that shot where the power reserve shows accelerated wind down yet the seconds hand appears to move normally, it’s just brilliant. Just shows how talented Dave is and how much work he puts into these videos. Thank you for all the awesome videos !

[@orion4480]

This is a great channel. You provide a great breakdown of each aspect of the watch with easy to comprehend information. The cutaway segments only enhance what is being presented. Well done.

[@JusttheWatch]

Thanks man! I'm always trying to improve.

[@AvgJoeWatchReviews]

Can never go wrong with an Orient. A very underrated brand. Some don’t know they’re owned by Epson which also owns Seiko. This watch is awesome. Has a very IWC look to it! I know I’ll get roasted for that but that was just a blot test reaction it gave me. Love Orient. I have the Bambino and Mako. I love that field watch you reviewed. They are such an underrated company. The lume looks amazing too. Wow. Nice job Dave.

[@MyAffordableWatchCollection]

This is such a beautiful watch! I loved that deep dark blue dial in contrast with the white markers and hands. The finishing of the case looks amazing. Great review Dave, very detailed and beautifully shot!

[@briangray966]

This channel is possibly my favourite on youtube, in depth reviews of the actual watches and lots of other aspects regarding the competition price. value for money etc etc. Thank you.

[@chrisrose3589]

I love to watch videos about watches I'll never afford, but it is really, really nice to have another reliable review of obtainable watches. Thank you. Right now I'm just starting in your past catalog and working my way up to present.

[@JusttheWatch]

JOMASHOP STOCK: Since the review, Jomashop appears to be stocking some models at really good prices, $425 for the silver finished case, and $485 for the PVD finished ones. They don't have this model in stock, but they do have the matte black dial that Shane reviewed. See the description for links. Also be sure to check out Relative Time's review of the black dial version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anu1Y4Ovp62Sjsk

[@carllange3950]

I really like having the power reserve meter on my Orient Triton, Arena and Orient Star GMT. The Arena does not hand wind (or hack) so the power reserve is especially useful.

[@dennischen8887]

Orient Stars are tremendous value for money. I bought my Orient Star Classic for $250 and Orient Star Retrograde for $300 brand new. In house movement, milled clasp, sapphire crystal on the retrograde. Trying finding these features from Seiko in the same price range.

[@haroldtate8510]

I’ve had one for about 3 weeks now, and it’s been very satisfying. Good looks go without saying, and it runs +6 seconds a day. The strap was very stiff and uncomfortable, but some back-and-forth work resolved that. Overall, an excellent piece from Jomashop for under $500 total.

[@LectioDivina33]

My favourite watch of this year which was released at the end of 2019 was the Orient Star Sports Outdoor in Green. I call it the Orient Mountaineer as apposed to the Seiko Alpinist and Rolex Explorer. Orient Star is the Grand Seiko of Orient. This Mountaineer is way cheaper than an Explorer and way better than an Alpinist. I tried the Alpinist on and the dial real estate was way too small for me. This Mountaineer has a beautiful Green dial, cream patina markings, good lume, 50 hour power reserve indicator, black PVD case polished and brushed, good quality mocha brown leather strap, diamond style screwdown and signed crown, see through caseback with nice perlage and gold touches and all for around $630 USD. I was so impressed at the quality and value I bought it and couldn't be happier! 😊 The Mountaineer is a true field watch that does to the Alpinist what the Kamasu did to the SKX. Great video, please do a review of this Orient Mountaineer as you will not be disappointed!

[@thetimemachine3828]

Just the Watch - Hey David, I am absolutely certain that I am newer to watch collecting than you are, simply by judging from when you started posting videos! There are 2 things I particularly like about your videos. One is your complete absence of ego and the other is that you concentrate on what *you* like about watches, not what the watch snobs tell us we must like, not what the more "down to earth" watch guys say about the significance of a brands historical pedigree, none of that stuff (not all of which is all bad,....) seems to be of huge significance to you. It is *so* refreshing to have a knowledgeable and personable guy like you talk about the watches that speak to you. I particularly like how you speak about a Chinese Guanqin with the same enthusiasm as you talk about a cool micro-brand like Spinnaker. That's how it should be! My comment most certainly did not come from anywhere but my personal reaction to this watch. I don't know whether to be flattered or horrified that you thought I somehow had more watch experience than you! Flattered in "...ohh, maybe I do know what I'm talking about! Horrified in that "...ohh no, I come across as one of *those* watch guys! Keep on truckin' David - You are my equal favourite (out of 2) of all the watch channels on YT!

[@JusttheWatch]

Yeah, I can totally see how some people would feel that way. In a lot of ways it doesn't really follow the design cues of a true field watch or fleiger, it's kind of a mashup. Maybe I'm just still so new to the hobby that this doesn't really bother me, as I don't have as clearly defined expectations of what a field watch should be, but for whatever reason, everything just came together in what feels like a great watch to me. Great analysis though, thanks for the input!

[@AleksiJoensuu]

Nice to see people saying good things about each other

[@thetimemachine3828]

Aleksi Joensuu : HODINKEE Talking Watches! That's what got me into this whole bloody mess! 🙂 Thank-you for your kind words.

[@AleksiJoensuu]

@@thetimemachine3828 Hey thanks! I read Hodinkee sometimes but haven't watched their videos.

[@thetimemachine3828]

Aleksi Joensuu : You Should. They're good. Very different to David's Vids, but listening to other collectors talking about all the watches I'll never be able to afford is much better than it sounds!!

[@fatback2]

I picked up the black/green dial version a month ago and have been very happy with it. It's a great honest watch with a clean look and solid movement. I chose it over an Alpinist and am much happier with the Orient's simpler style and bigger dial as a daily wear watch.

[@jamieyardley495]

I've just picked this up from Creation Watches yesterday. Their last in stock so don't know if we'll see it again so I had to buy! How have you found the quality of the PVD coating and lume? The more vintage colour looks as if it wouldn't be as bright as the other references. I plan to swap out the original NATO style strap as I've heard the leather inlay can make it a little mis-shapen and uncomfortable.

[@fatback2]

@@jamieyardley495 The coating has been very tough.I haven't put any scrapes on mine. The lume is decent and plenty readable for my needs. Enjoy your new watch!

[@edteach3r]

Another great review Dave; thank you. Kudos on the macro and low light photography. I really, really like this watch and hope the availability issues will be sorted out.

[@JusttheWatch]

Thanks Eddie! I posted in the comments section, but I noticed Jomashop started carrying some of these at pretty reasonable prices, so that was encouraging.

[@piquetuk]

Nice watch, great review. Your camera work seems to be improving every video, I'm very much enjoying the evolution of this channel.

[@swisswatchcompany1710]

Great video! You guys should do more of these👍. I especially loved the outdoor lume shots in the intro and 7:38! Absolutely fantastic.

[@fletchoid]

I bought the grey dial/black case version with the faux patina indices (RE-AU0202N00B) and just love it. I really like having a power reserve at the 12 o'clock position because I like to keep my favorite automatics running so I can switch them out during the week. The lume is very impressive. When I enter a home on a sunny day people are amazed at how bright it is. My only complaint is the damn 21mm lugs. WHY?? Orient WHY?? That being said, after a few weeks of wearing in, the provided strap became quite comfortable, and I am really getting to like the deployant clasp. It was a bit pricey when paid for in Canadian dollars, but it is worth it.

[@bigwilliearmitage]

Just adding my praise for this remarkable watch/value. First, it's a very handsome piece (IMO) and well-made with flawless finishing and a rich, deep blue dial. The movement is modestly decorated with perlage and subtle striping, but still beyond what you see typically in mid-level Swatch Group products. I just received mine and it's running +5s /day right out of the box. This is commonly found at $400-$550, and a European watch with similar features and finishing is 2-3x the cost. This is simply a tremendous value. If this is something that fits your style preference, I HIGHLY recommend this timepiece. Great job from Orient Star.

[@calebbutton1939]

First time I've ever been waiting for a video to drop... 2 more minutes, haha.

[@DoyThinksThis]

I hate that my wrist is too skinny for the watches that i like.. Lol

[@aaronkarlin3241]

My favourite watch review channel. Thank you for your work

[@alanmentzer8756]

Great review. Shane at Relative Time referred me over to your site.

[@JusttheWatch]

Thanks! We had a lot of fun putting together this double review, hopefully some of my subscribers head over to his as well!

[@Vox-Populi]

RGB Values! Excellent addition.

[@MrE0919]

Hey Dave, how do you think this would fit on a 6.5 inch wrist? 41 mm seems a little big

[@artswri]

Nice piece, tempting to grab one. Thanks for the excellent video

[@stevefox8605]

I commented on Shane's video that it's very Tudor Ranger like, but with the power level & date, it's maybe more like their North Flag. I like it, cheers 👍🏻

[@383SS420]

Probably my favorite watch in their lineup. The hands are similar to my defender 2. If the price goes down I'll pick one up. I want the grey dial.

[@iHaejeog]

Great video! I love the Orient Star line and they offer some great pieces at a decent price point. I have an Orient Star with a black dial and the power reserve indicator and it's my favorite mechanical piece.

[@edwardgreenaway1808]

It gets cooler as I see it. I love the standard dress model.. now I need one.

[@flyingrocket3879]

I was truly sleeping on this watch well done 👏 this was a great presentation

[@eightosaurusspelunk1598]

Does anyone know of a company making a stainless bracelet for these? I'm a farmer and am often dirty/sweaty so I need a bracelet or it's a no-go

[@jeong121016]

Just subscribed, I am an orient star fan boy and great to see more people taking a liking to it. Though I have noticed on 2019 releases, orient star has went more mainstream with their dial designs except for their open heart diver. Keep up the great work and looking forward to ur next video.

[@jamescarlson3599]

I am really enjoying the content on your channel, great job! I love this Orient! My first impression was of the Tudor Ranger with a touch of North Flag on the dial. "Tudorient" maybe?

[@tylerrohn6938]

I think I like this better than the flat black dial

[@JohnBuckmaster-sw3wm]

Great review… This is the second time I washed it because I’m very much considering buying this watch. Both you and Shane I’ve talked me into it. I have the Kamasu and a couple other Orient dive watches. This looks like an amazing offering and the perfect watch dad some diversity to my collection( Far too many dive watches🙃!Thanks again for the great review!

[@JusttheWatch]

I still love mine. The only thing I don't like about it is the strap. I changed it out for a Horween leather one and put the deployant clasp on the new strap. Now it's pretty much perfect.

[@triples4good]

Great video. Nice piece. I love the way they machined the bezel.

[@EverydayWatchGuy]

I like the design of this watch a fair bit. Although, I wish the finish work/painting (at the macro level) on the hands/date aperture was a little better.

[@JusttheWatch]

Couple of people were mentioning that in the chat during the premier. I didn't really notice it until looking at the macro shots.

[@adventurepromo]

Case and hands are rough around the edges. If you get used to looking at the microbrands around this price point that are pushing so hard for quality and then come back to a watch like this, you realize it's no longer really up to snuff. That being said, I REALLY like the overall look of this watch. It certainly flew under my radar and continued to do so two months into my search for an "exploring" watch.

[@caktaylor]

I saw this watch last year, but I was scared away by the $1,000+ price in the USA. It's good to see that, aside from Orient USA, the price is becoming more reasonable.

[@JusttheWatch]

It'll be interesting to keep an eye on things. Orient's prices seem to always drop. Bad for collectors who buy early, but great for people looking for a bargain.

[@JusttheWatch]

And as I mentioned in the pinned comment above, Jomashop has some of the models available for $425 and $485!

[@IansModRite]

Kamasu and Commuter have been relatively recent pickups for me, and i love them but, damn, this Orient Star is nice 😍 I do have to admit though that Orient the favorite brand in my collection, so I'm a bit biased to there watches over others

[@toddtannenbaum7092]

Enjoy your reviews (I subscribed!), but please consider consistently adding information about the movement performance to your reviews. Especially for non-quartz pieces. E.g. “Manufacturer claims X hours of reserve, but my testing found Y hours”.... “Spec on this movement is X seconds per day, but over the past week mine has been running Y seconds fast/slow on wrist...”. For the win, invest in a budget timegrapher so you can give your viewers even more quantitative insight into the performance of the movement beyond what we can find in the spec section of a sellers web page. Thanks for considering these suggestions!

[@JusttheWatch]

Yeah that's definitely an area I need to be more consistent in. The movement in mine is running +13 seconds a day. Meant to mention it but realized I left it out after I had already posted the video.

[@Wu_the_Invincible]

The Reserve de March at 12:00 is reminiscent of Jaeger Le Coultre's 1948 Powerwind presentation, except JLC used a rotating disc that changes to red in the last 15 hours. A dress watch with a bumper movement and also dial versions with the quarter Arabic numbers. I have one in 37mm. Orient Star is nice but my hang up is the date window changing the sense of symmetry.

[@alexsandovallapostol9998]

Another really good review Dave. Field watches are like an Achilles Heel. Sturdy and elegant, easy to read (Arab numerals), knowing Orient they did a great job. I'll be looking out for this one. Thank you

[@erolgermannemmanuel5637]

Fully happy to have found an Black dial copy at 426.- Sfr. In Switzerland ! Great video, thanks .

[@matto.1074]

I really like this watch... I just don’t like power reserve meters. Great video. Thanks for doing this!!!

[@TheTownWatch]

Great review! I watched both yours and Shane’s!

[@bboooobbyy]

Bought the Orient Defender when I first got into watches a couple years ago. This would make for a nice upgrade 🤔

[@JusttheWatch]

I've been eying the Defender for awhile, another really unique take on the field watch.

[@caktaylor]

There is now a Defender 2 with an upgraded hacking, hand winding movement. Unfortunately, it still has a mineral crystal. It is currently $230-$245 at the Orient USA website.

[@PalmuserSavage]

Thks for the review.

[@gwolks1008]

A killer watch! Very nice! P. S. Gnomon (from Greek, and pronounced no-u-mon) is the part of the sun dial that casts the shadow, so that time can be read. I thought you might want to know that, given you're in the watch business =) Keep up the good reviews!

[@drwindsurf]

This is a really interesting watch, thank you for sharing this one with us Dave. $350 is a great deal - congratulations. I would love to see more JDM watches if you have a local jeweler that would would be willing to loan you some watches (now that you have reached

[@JusttheWatch]

Unfortunately I live way out in rural Japan, not many Jewlers around. The only "watch shops" I've seen here really just exist to do minor repairs like changing straps and batteries.

[@drwindsurf]

@@JusttheWatch Sounds like where I live :)

[@pick42]

Love the blue dial, leather strap version here but cannot find it anywhere. Nice review!

[@robertb925]

Thanks for the lume comparison!

[@williamhill7312]

Just bought a used Black Dial for $300, great video

[@user-br6gu8dn5j]

Its more like orient star is = seiko presage.

[@bobthestinky7369]

Orient should introduce an Orient SUPERNOVA line to truly match with Grand Seiko (although they are technically owned by Epson who owns Seiko so that'd never happen).

[@user-de9kc1zh7g]

It's a pity why I only found out about this watch now. I can't buy the Explorer or the Mark, but it's perfect for me, and I don't want to spend money on imitations.

[@jaydunluan7095]

Ive seen that watch and its gorgeous. Its a cross between a field and a flieger watch, very high quality.

[@billyw1464]

I don't mind 21mm strap, however lug to lug is a bit too big for me lol

[@Mister_Phafanapolis]

21 or 19mm lug width is a deal breaker for me. If it was a bracelet then maybe. But I am already stocked up on a variety of 20 and 22mm straps and spring bars and don’t want to buy in to a third or fourth size. Shame.

[@thetimemachine3828]

Phafanapolis : yeah good point. I said in my reply that the 21mm didn't really bother me because there are relatively cheap and pretty good quality bands on Aliexpress in the odd sizes, but I didn't think about it in those terms. I have a bucket load of 18mm and 20mm straps and springbars, and I have 2 watches with 22mm straps, however neither of them are very Strap Happy and both sit on the same bands. When you're used to swapping out watch straps routinely having an odd size Strap Happy watch would be a bit of pain... I think you've changed my mind to some extent!

[@gpearce11]

Apparently 9 times out of 10, a 22mm strap will squeeze in. This is good for me because while 21mm is becoming much more available, it’s much rarer with XL straps that I prefer for my 8in wrists.

[@thetimemachine3828]

Geoffrey Pearce - Another good point from a fellow 8"er (...ahem!).

[@JusttheWatch]

Yeah, I really would have preferred a standard lug size, but I think the rest of the watch makes up for that. For me, this is a pretty high end piece, one of the most expensive in my collection, partially for that reason I think I'm more willing to go through the trouble of finding a 21mm strap that really fits the watch, rather than just going through my strap box and constantly rotating through (which I definitely love to do on some watches, but that's part of the fun of having a collection of watches right? I can have some watches that I can rotate through all kinds of straps on, and others that I just stick with the one strap that fits it perfectly.)

[@michaelbarton5169]

The "Explorient" ...too funny

[@Ryuugaminechan]

Really looking forward to picking this model next month :)

[@webe1309]

I really like Orient; I’m wearing a 1st gen Mako USA as I write this. But the 21mm lug is a deal killer for those of us with large wrists. There’s little chance that the stock strap will fit and finding a 21mm long strap is virtually impossible.

[@bdumon]

I find that Nato straps vary greatly in how they fit so the 21mm doesn't bother me. I love Orient watches and I own 3 of them. I would like an Orient Star as well but I think for a field watch my next Orient will be the Defender.

[@user-ij5ox3ci8j]

Снова, присмотрелся к этим часам. Спасибо, Вам !

[@edwardgreenaway1808]

I'm looking forward to it.

[@saiyajedi]

Probably the more apt comparison with Orient Star would be to Seiko’s Presage line. Somewhere in between Seiko’s lower-tier models like Seiko 5 and the no-expense-spared Grand Seiko. (Ah, but this one being a sportier model, maybe Prospex…? Something like that.)

[@udojager2673]

Great review. Great looking watch.

[@bboooobbyy]

Like the lume comparison! Nice to have some numbers for an objective comparison

[@JusttheWatch]

I've been working on something like that for awhile. I'd love to be able to have a way to give an objective score that can be used to compare against all the watches that I've reviewed. With a little more work I should be there. Definitely will be the topic of a video whenever I get it nailed down.

[@williamsipe1151]

I really like this one! My only complaint is the rough brushed finish on the hands. Its becoming more popular and I have a TSAO with them. I don't know why they bother me so much but it does.

[@ricardochaveste7367]

Very cool indeed looks more expensive than looks great value for money, yeah I can see my self picking one my self, love the blue, Thank you my friend for sharing this awesome review 👍🏼👍🏼

[@peterstone9705]

Great looking watch, thanks for the excellent content you are putting out.👍🇬🇧

[@malikknows3510]

Nice video. For me, a field watch is a military watch. As such, a field watch shouldn't have a flat crystal, it will reflect light and give one's position away to the enemy, a concern fliegers don't have. I agree 100% on the power reserve indicator. It's a mystery to me why more watches don't have this feature.

[@aaronb.4499]

Power reserve indicator = "The Winder Reminder" 😅

[@qpooke]

Just picked up a rk-au0203b, (black dial) lovely watch but crown wobbles when unscrewed, I guess this is not normal.

[@mariog7213]

I like that big crown. Kinda reminds me of iwc

[@AvgJoeWatchReviews]

Mario G agreed!☝️

[@woonfaseng8737]

Orient Star vs Orient is more like Seiko Presage vs Seiko (common)

[@davidschulz5334]

I’m getting one. The hands aren’t the prettiest but it’s hard to find a field type watch with date and power reserve. I really wish Hamilton would move the power reserve from the Jazz master line to their Field line. I’m a sucker for a power reserve function.

[@derbywinner6316]

Beautiful watch from Orient. Orient always deliver quality for your money

[@zHumanfactor]

Nice review Dave, as usual. :)

[@albertodelafuente6072]

I think the seiko equivalent to Orient Star would be the Seiko Pressage

[@JogieGlenMait16]

Wow. First Orient Star review I ever saw.

[@pick42]

21mm lug is so limiting!

[@TheWeardale1]

I do like orient, have their excellent panda.. :) like this one, but not too fussed on the hands... and I'd change the strap too..

[@Ronin228]

I feel like this would look great on the vintage bond strap, I might need to pick one up!

[@yousefgeorge3060]

Yeah! I love the explorer vibe this give off

[@ozziebrito4527]

Thank you for this review. Very well done. Soon to get 100k subscribers. God bless

[@kevinstanley5945]

Dave, what a fabulous watch. I've actually been searching for a Seiko Presage that is very similar to this Orient. Could you possibly get a hold of the Seiko SRPB67J1? I think you'll find them similar, and just as interesting! I do love Orients...I have the Ray II in black and the Kamasu in Blue. Amazing divers as you've pointed out in the past. Keep up the great videos!

[@robertcameronjones]

That's a nice looking watch -- strap too.

[@styraxopoponax8294]

Thanks for this informative video. Just want to emphasize that Gnomon is 100% legit if anyone is curious. I'd order again from them with confidence.

[@oes2546]

8:55 I knew it :) Since I had my Citizen Promaster BN0200 I've had a hunch Citizen is the true lume king. Seiko gets all the hype with their lumibrite. I've sold the BN0200 due to it being too large for my wrist, but as I can remember it, it's the best lume I've ever seen. Better than my Seiko new generation Monster, and a hundred miles better than my Certina DS Action Precidrive diver. (Even my SNXS79 is noticably better than that one.)

[@wakawaka1976]

Wish Orient Star made a type B Flieger with the power reserve indicator on the back so as not to clutter the dial...

[@williamhill7312]

My next watch

[@LectioDivina33]

The strap size 21mm is fine as Rolex just introduced the same size with the new submariner, so 21mm will be much easier to find soon! 😊The strap itself is actually good quality. Its not cheap and hard and not super soft and expensive, it's in the middle soft and comfortable. As its a Japanese watch the straps are on opposite sides, swap them around and it is perfect! Size is perfect for me.

[@MegaBlackley]

I love the design but I'm concerned the 41mm might be too small for my tastes; I bought an Orient Mako USA II and it is on the cusp of looking too small to me and it's 41.5. This watch seems to be all face, though, so it may look larger than it is as a result. I really can't stand the 21mm lugs, though, because my favorite field watch is a strap monster (SNZG15) that looks amazing with just about anything out there -- i just fitted it with camo and orange straps and it looks insane. That said, I'd love to have an Orient field watch, but they're gonna have to fix the lugs and maybe make it a little bigger to get me to jump in.

[@cleftoftherock6797]

If putting this on a winder should this watch be wound clockwise, counter clockwise or both?

[@eyeheartsushi2212]

Pretty cool watch but the date window kind of throws off the look for me. Didn’t know about this watch. Appreciate the record.

[@davidrowland3628]

What a great and timely review. I'm about the pull the trigger on this very watch. I notice Amazon Japan has the model RK-AU0211L.. It looks identical but is almost $200 more than the one you referenced. Do you know what is the difference?

[@Hoppetakeyama]

Great looking watch. However, it would look much better if there is no date window.

[@daniellee8162]

It sort of reminded me of the Tudor North Flag

[@domokun938]

Nice watch but too large. For the price, I think Hamilton Khaki field automatic line is great. 80 hour power reserve, 38mm case, 47mm lug to lug, free sprung balance, sapphire crystal, 100m water resistance and available from $400 US, swiss made from the swatch group. What more could u ask for?

[@Andrew-J316]

A tad too expensive for a watch that has 21mm lugs and a homage to a Rolex Explorer IMO. They could also have changed the date wheel color and decorated it a bit for that price. It is in the price realm of other watches I would rather have. Thanks for the review!

[@grandriver3152]

Perfect 1 watch collection.