Orient Bambino 38 Limited Edition (Version 7)
Jan 7, 2024 12:19:12 GMT -8
russtmurray, leffemonster, and 2 more like this
Post by small on Jan 7, 2024 12:19:12 GMT -8
I guess I could just link to the Fratello ( www.fratellowatches.com/hands-on-with-the-orient-bambino-38-in-four-delicious-limited-edition-colors/#gref) review but thought I'd do my own. I'll copy and paste some of the specs from the Orient website...
SPECIFICATIONS
MOVEMENT CALIBER Caliber F6724 Automatic, Hand-Winding, Hacking (Seconds-Hand Halt)
POWER RESERVE Approximately 40 Hours
FEATURES Date, Exhibition Caseback
CRYSTAL Domed Mineral Crystal
DIAL COLOR Salmon
CASE MATERIAL Stainless Steel
CASE DIAMETER 38.4mm
LUG TO LUG LENGTH 44mm
CASE THICKNESS 12.5mm
WATER RESISTANCE 30m
CROWN Push / Pull
BEZEL MATERIAL Stainless Steel
BEZEL FUNCTION Stationary
STRAP MATERIAL Nubuck
CLASP Buckle
LUG WIDTH 20mm
WARRANTY TYPE 1 Year Orient Watch International Warranty
I know I've voiced, like others have, about Seiko making great watches just to make them LE and charge more! Great marketing similar to the ever popular Swiss brand...I have eyeballed Orients for a few years and have been tempted many, many, times to get one of the Bambinos, again many versions out there. A coworker has one of their divers and he raves about how well it keeps time and has had it more than a decade... Anyway, when this dial color came out I clicked on whatever link it was and to my surprise it was a limited edition and each color was only going to have 360 made? Read the article, and saw the other colors as well. I have no idea the significance of 360, but whatever. I love this color. Not sure when these were released I figured they'd be all gone, my luck being what it is...Knowing Seiko has the ability to get on wait list and all, I just have no connections...First site I clicked turned out to be Orient UK which said "sold out". I'm not sure how world wide distributing works for allocations? A bit more searching found them on the USA site, not just in stock but discounted? MSRP $420 down to $330. As I type all but the Blue dial are still showing in stock! I will keep an eye out and maybe when I recover from Christmas spending, I may grab the Champaign Colored dial as well. Not because it's LE but because I like it better than the non LE's currently offered, except for the other one they call Champaign, that is lighter, but with some very very attractive Blue Steal Hands...Umm maybe I like that one better, add cost less???And why, until now, I have not bought a Bambino, as I can never make up my mind! This dial color did it, along with lugs and case size...
I don't think this will ever be a "collectable" or ever more valuable, but I could be wrong. I more likely than not will end up pealing the stickers off and snipping the hang tags, swapping out the strap and wear this...
Never did an unboxing really but the pictures give an indication.
When I slid the outer cover off the box I noticed that the small mark on the outer cover did indent the box itself, so not any real protection. Being a LE there doesn't seem to be any thing special about the packing, no fan fare at all. In fact they just kind of stuffed the manual and warranty papers in with the watch! Just jammed that in there...I have bought recently, some watches out of China, and amazed at what they put in to their packing...for under $75! This they wanted, originally, $420...Box reminds me of those made back in the 70's and before. Seems they have been clam shell for as far back as I have been buying watches new...
The watch is lighter than expected. I think that is because I have been wearing turtles for about two years now, and almost ever watch on a strap feels that way to me....The crown pulls out one click set the date, 2nd click hacks the second and sets the time...Not that we ever really need to do that (See GQ for an explanation). I have set it a few times and let it run and on the dresser sems to keep goo time.
Watches are personal and YMMV but on the wrist this is about as close to perfect a size as it gets. The top of the case and bezel are polished really well, and the sides of the case, which is pretty narrow, are brushed. The crystal just seems soft, not sure how well it would hold up to daily wear, seems it will scratch easily, even under a shirt cuff. I'm thinking this will get worn in warmer weather wear sleeves will be of little concern. At 50m water resistance and a snap back case odds are I will try and remember to take it off even when hand washing...but if not should be fine. Also the case back does say limited edition but it doesn't say how many or which one this one is in the series...I'd have thought for a small run like this they could have managed?
As I understand it this is an Orient Movement, yet the DiaFix spring on the cap jewel looks very Seiko? Again odd, because I don't see that used on the newer Seiko movements I have been in to, where it's more rectangular, vs three sided...The rotor has some extra attention not sure but from some pictures it's not special to the LE...
Here you go.
SPECIFICATIONS
MOVEMENT CALIBER Caliber F6724 Automatic, Hand-Winding, Hacking (Seconds-Hand Halt)
POWER RESERVE Approximately 40 Hours
FEATURES Date, Exhibition Caseback
CRYSTAL Domed Mineral Crystal
DIAL COLOR Salmon
CASE MATERIAL Stainless Steel
CASE DIAMETER 38.4mm
LUG TO LUG LENGTH 44mm
CASE THICKNESS 12.5mm
WATER RESISTANCE 30m
CROWN Push / Pull
BEZEL MATERIAL Stainless Steel
BEZEL FUNCTION Stationary
STRAP MATERIAL Nubuck
CLASP Buckle
LUG WIDTH 20mm
WARRANTY TYPE 1 Year Orient Watch International Warranty
I know I've voiced, like others have, about Seiko making great watches just to make them LE and charge more! Great marketing similar to the ever popular Swiss brand...I have eyeballed Orients for a few years and have been tempted many, many, times to get one of the Bambinos, again many versions out there. A coworker has one of their divers and he raves about how well it keeps time and has had it more than a decade... Anyway, when this dial color came out I clicked on whatever link it was and to my surprise it was a limited edition and each color was only going to have 360 made? Read the article, and saw the other colors as well. I have no idea the significance of 360, but whatever. I love this color. Not sure when these were released I figured they'd be all gone, my luck being what it is...Knowing Seiko has the ability to get on wait list and all, I just have no connections...First site I clicked turned out to be Orient UK which said "sold out". I'm not sure how world wide distributing works for allocations? A bit more searching found them on the USA site, not just in stock but discounted? MSRP $420 down to $330. As I type all but the Blue dial are still showing in stock! I will keep an eye out and maybe when I recover from Christmas spending, I may grab the Champaign Colored dial as well. Not because it's LE but because I like it better than the non LE's currently offered, except for the other one they call Champaign, that is lighter, but with some very very attractive Blue Steal Hands...Umm maybe I like that one better, add cost less???And why, until now, I have not bought a Bambino, as I can never make up my mind! This dial color did it, along with lugs and case size...
I don't think this will ever be a "collectable" or ever more valuable, but I could be wrong. I more likely than not will end up pealing the stickers off and snipping the hang tags, swapping out the strap and wear this...
Never did an unboxing really but the pictures give an indication.
When I slid the outer cover off the box I noticed that the small mark on the outer cover did indent the box itself, so not any real protection. Being a LE there doesn't seem to be any thing special about the packing, no fan fare at all. In fact they just kind of stuffed the manual and warranty papers in with the watch! Just jammed that in there...I have bought recently, some watches out of China, and amazed at what they put in to their packing...for under $75! This they wanted, originally, $420...Box reminds me of those made back in the 70's and before. Seems they have been clam shell for as far back as I have been buying watches new...
The watch is lighter than expected. I think that is because I have been wearing turtles for about two years now, and almost ever watch on a strap feels that way to me....The crown pulls out one click set the date, 2nd click hacks the second and sets the time...Not that we ever really need to do that (See GQ for an explanation). I have set it a few times and let it run and on the dresser sems to keep goo time.
Watches are personal and YMMV but on the wrist this is about as close to perfect a size as it gets. The top of the case and bezel are polished really well, and the sides of the case, which is pretty narrow, are brushed. The crystal just seems soft, not sure how well it would hold up to daily wear, seems it will scratch easily, even under a shirt cuff. I'm thinking this will get worn in warmer weather wear sleeves will be of little concern. At 50m water resistance and a snap back case odds are I will try and remember to take it off even when hand washing...but if not should be fine. Also the case back does say limited edition but it doesn't say how many or which one this one is in the series...I'd have thought for a small run like this they could have managed?
As I understand it this is an Orient Movement, yet the DiaFix spring on the cap jewel looks very Seiko? Again odd, because I don't see that used on the newer Seiko movements I have been in to, where it's more rectangular, vs three sided...The rotor has some extra attention not sure but from some pictures it's not special to the LE...
Here you go.
