Orient Watches Available on Amazon

I'm on many watch company email mailing lists.  Much of the incoming mail goes unread but I almost always pause to check out email from one company:  Orient.  This Japanese company has been making high quality timepieces since 1950.  They make their own in-house movements.  From a design perspective, the company  covers a broad spectrum of watch types from conservative dress watches to sport and dive watches.  Orient makes watches worth collecting.

Vintage Orient 21 Jewels Men's Watch, Manual Wind - Photo By Joe Haupt from USA (Vintage Orient 21 Jewels Men's Watch, Manual Wind) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Now, Orient watches are available on Amazon.com.  That's cool.  If you like the convenience of Amazon or if you have a gift certificate or Amazon Prime, it's great to be able to find these watches conveniently.  According to the Orient USA website, there are 6 different categories of Orient watches:  Orient Star, Diver, Sport, Executive, Classic, and Ladies.

Orient Star Watches

The top line watches in the Orient product line up are Orient Star watches.  These watches have fine automatic movements that rival the best from Switzerland.

Orient Star - Classic Watch - Photo By David Guinea (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Orient Star watch featured below has a classic 38.5 millimeter case diameter, a gently domed crystal, an automatic movement that is self-winding, manual winding, and hacking.  It also has a 40 hour power reserve.

Exclusive Exotic Moto Koure Watches

Wow! What kind of watch is that?  It's the question everyone asks when they see a dazzling new watch.  In this case, the answer will be this is the quartz Moto Koure Mark I.

Moto Koure Mk 1 Quartz Watch

Moto Koure: it's an exotic sounding name for a watch brand.  For many years, we could only marvel at exotic, exclusive, and elusive watches from afar.  Truly unique watches with iconic looks and timeless style were reserved for the very rich.  Now, the micro brand watch revolution is changing all that.   Moto Koure stands out as an up and coming brand from Australia that is bringing quartz and automatic watches to the market with a unique and exciting style.

The Moto Koure name sounds like a Grand Prix race or rally held in the 1950s.  Those of us who grew up reading Road & Track may think of drivers like Juan Fangio and Phil Hill.  While the brand name incorporates founder Jason Koure's last name, the moto is indeed inspired by motorsports.

A moment in the 1954 Italian Grand Prix: Ascari (Ferrari 625) chasing Fangio (Mercedes-Benz W196)

Each watch in the Moto Koure Mk 1 collection evokes the look of a vintage sports car dash.  This racing green automatic Mk 1 shows a richly detailed square watch with two subdials ringed with chrome and set inside a "dash" of wood-grain.  A date window lies at 6 o'clock.  The watch has a scratch resistant sapphire crystal.  The case is stainless steel.  The Mechanical watches are based on the reliable Seiko NE88 movement.  I like the details of this watch.  Even the crown appears to be interestingly textured.  The pushers look broad and comfortable.  The rich leather strap evokes the interior detail of a vintage sports car. 

Moto Koure Mk1 Automatic

There are 8 models in the Mk 1 collection, four are quartz and four are automatics.  Moto Koure is now taking 50% deposits for these new watches.  As with most startup brands, early birds got the best deals. But, pre-production pricing is still available.  Right now, it looks like the quartz models will cost just under $350.  The Mecha-Quartz models are based on the venerable Seiko VK quartz movement.  The automatic watches will cost just under $880.   Watch production is expected in June 2016.

I like these Moto Koure watches a lot.  They have a design that is both classic and unique.  As watch collectors, that is just what we want from a micro brand.  Moto Koure is also keeping collectors well-informed of their progress.  It's exciting to see this brand's designs come to fruition.  You should definitely check out the website at www.motokoure.com.  It's worth a visit just for the pictures.

What kind of watch does Justin Bieber wear?

I recently ran across this Justin Bieber watch at Walmart.  It's a pretty goofy young Justin Bieber pictured on the box and dial.  The non-rotating bezel features Bieber's name as well.  The strap appears to be comfortable silicone.  Since this watch has probably been on the shelves for awhile, it might need a new battery.

Of course, he probably doesn't wear a watch like the one bearing his name.  According to this blog post by Amit Dev Handa, Bieber was spotted at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards wearing a Rolex 18K Gold Day/Date II.



The young Justin Bieber favored digital watches like the venerable Casio G Shock.  Here are a couple of photos of the young popstar from 2009 and 2010.

A Young Justin Bieber in 2009 - Photo by Kevin Aranibar of Kerosene Photography from New York, United States [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Justin Bieber in 2010 - Daniel Ogren [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

I guess it pays to sell lots of watches with your image on them!  But, then again, there aren't any Bieber mug shots from back in his the G-Shock days.  Sometimes, a back to basics approach is the best path.

Three Totally Crazy Watch Designs from Oulm Watches

Watches are conversation starters. It's nice to receive a compliment or segue into a conversation around watches. Companies like Diesel, Bell & Ross, and Urwerk watches have defied the conventions of watch design and won big.  With business casual being the norm in most offices, men can wear all kinds of weird watches without fear.  Plus, with global sourcing of watches, unusual watch designs don't have to cost big bucks.  Here are three completely wild watch designs from a company called Oulm that cost less than $20 each.

Oulm Russian Aviator.

This whimsical watch had a definite steampunk vibe.  But, it also has two very useful ways to tell time and can be a great asset to anyone working in multiple timezones.  Best of all, this watch can be had for a pittance.  I like this watch a lot because of it's steampunk look and it's simple design.

 

Oulm Four Dial Watch.  

The next watch on my list is a Four Dial watch.  The watch has two timekeeping dials, a thermometer dial, and a compass dial.  The large watch face also has three non-functional decorative  subdials.  

Oulm Three Time Men's Military Watch.

I'm not sure what military would adopt this last watch, but I'll bet they have really high jackboots, and some very creative marching steps.




These Oulm watches for men win the internet when it comes for wild design, but their sub-$20 price tags make them affordable exotics for any of us. They are so inexpensive that even you can take a fashion risk. In the worst case scenario, you simply end up with a very interesting conversation piece in your collection!