A rare specialty Orient Star specialises in mechanical movements and the company takes great pride in the fact that all its calibres are developed and produced wholly in-house at the company’s facility in Japan. “Orient Star maintains an unusual presence by adhering to its unique position, in which orthodox mechanical watches are its flagship products,” explains Mr. Jiro Miyagawa, Orient Star’s Director of Global Business Headquarters. The company has developed a myriad of movements and complications over the years that include power reserve indications, world time calibres, retrograde displays and GMT modules – all in attractively designed timepieces that have captured the hearts of watch lovers in over 70 countries worldwide.

Reliability, endurance and quality ‘Quality’ and ‘reliability’ are synonymous with Japanese technology which has an excellent reputation worldwide. To enhance this favourable image, Orient Star has been collaborating with Subaru Technica Inter-national (STI) in the 24 Hours Nürburgring race – a dynamic partnership that accentuates the endurance and reliability of Orient Star’s timepieces in the most testing conditions. The brand releases commemorative, limited edition collections to celebrate these adventures under the apt name of ‘Japanese Engines’.

Jiro Miyagawa, Director of Global Business Headquarters

Simplicity and beauty Japan doesn’t only have a global reputation for precision technology, it is also renowned for its culture, and in particular its love of purity and beauty. Japanese cooking, art, architecture, gardens, ikebana and more all demonstrate the Japanese people’s love of beauty and simplicity. Orient movements are also conceived with this same philosophy as the company’s movement constructors concentrate on achieving great accuracy and have streamlined their calibres by reducing the number of parts.

Shooting stars For many years the Orient Star mechanical watch collections have only been sold in Japan. This year is the 60th anniversary of the launch of the collection that has gained enormous recognition nationally. To commemorate the occasion, Orient Star will begin the sales of its Orient Star series in overseas markets too, starting shortly in Asia. “We will redouble our efforts to emphasize the appeal of Japanese products to people around the world through our Orient Star series,” shares Miyagawa. “The collection has earned an enviable reputation in the Japanese market,” he notes.

Orient Star Classic Retrograde Two collections will be released on the international watch markets this year, the Orient Star Classic Retrograde and the Orient Star Classic Semi-Skeleton. The Classic Retrograde features a hand showing the day of the week in a fan shape, which automatically jumps back to Monday at the end of the day on Sunday. In addition to the retrograde movement, the timepiece features a power reserve indicator and calendar functions. The indications for these three functions are displayed in a balanced manner on a dial that has a three dimensional structure. Ridge-shaped cuts are made on the model’s hour and minute hands. Visibility is enhanced with a glossy mirror-finish for one side of the hands and a subdued mat finish on the other side. Scratch-resistant sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating allows a perfect view on the dial. Reinforced water resistance for today’s busy lifestyles, as well as a three-part clasp and exhibition caseback also equip this attractive model.

ORIENT STAR CLASSIC RETROGRADE
The Orient Star Classic Retrograde movement took ORIENT WATCH over two years to develop. The model is equipped with retrograde day of the week, a power reserve indicator and calendar functions. The indications for these three functions are arrayed in a balanced manner on its three-dimensional dial. Other features include ridge-shaped cuts in the hour and minute hands, scratch-resistant sapphire crystals front and back with anti-reflective coatings, reinforced water resistance and a three-part, nail-friendly clasp.

Orient Star Classic Semi-Skeleton The Orient Star Classic Semi-Skeleton collection is characterized by a small window at 9 o’clock on the dial that allows users to see the movement of the balance wheel below. The Classic Semi-Skeleton features a power reserve indicator and a second hand halt mechanism to enhance its functions as a manual mechanical watch and make it easier to use. A see-through design reveals the attractive workings of the timepiece’s movement from the dial side or through the exhibition caseback. The design of this timepiece is simple, but the staying power of the Orient Star series is expressed with a powerful mark made on the sloping surface of the lug, between the case and the bracelet, looking as if it was shaved with a round-bladed chisel. The dial is finished with sweeping patterns that enhance the luxury feel of the timepiece.

Looking to the future Orient Star will continue to strengthen its business by emphasizing its mechanical watches. The global launch of the Orient Star brand will contribute to enhancing the image of the brand internationally and will surely be greeted with great delight by the brand’s many fans across the world.

ORIENT STAR CLASSIC SEMI-SKELETON
The Orient Star Classic Semi-Skeleton has an aperture at 9 o’clock to exhibit its mechanism. Features include a power reserve function, second hand halt mechanism, an exhibition case back. Among the design elements are a powerful cut made on the sloping surface of the lug between the case and the band, a beautiful dial finished in radical patterns, a simple bar index and flat sapphire crystals.

www.orient-watch.com

Source: Europa Star April - May 2011 Magazine Issue