Tom Austin Orient Star has unveiled two new contemporary collection M34 watches. It features a completely new, luxurious dial. One is a unique green, and the other features a meteor shower inspired motif created using nanoparticle technology. The black dial model is inspired by the Perseid Meteor Shower cascades across the night sky, and is limited to 160 flagship models. Both models represent the Orient Star’s advanced Japanese craftsmanship of over 70 years, utilizing dial finishing techniques that have never been seen before.
Orient is one of the brands that continue to fly under the radar in its collection despite having a decades-long heritage in Japanese watchmaking. Almost in a tradition of Japanese watchmaking, Orient, similar to its parent company Seiko, has a division called the more luxurious and luxurious Orient Star, with a particular focus on more exploratory watchmaking and quality. Orient Star began his life in 1951, but today it is considered an important step up from the rest of Orient.
The latest Orient Star release is based on the contemporary collection M34 F8 dated, dressy everyday watches in 40mm stainless steel, featuring contemporary design elements and timeless aesthetics. This release features two all-new dial finishes, and utilizes nanoparticle technology to produce a deep black dial with a meteor shower effect and a sparkling hammer finish green dial.
The 316L stainless steel case percentage deserves a modern name of 40mm diameter and 12.9mm thickness. The date of the M34 F8 is by no means a huge watch, but it certainly falls into the modern category in terms of style, and with a lug-to-lug measurement of 47.3mm, it is the perfect watch for a slightly larger wrist. There is a blend of brushes and polished surfaces that are often thought up about everyday pieces, and I place the watch in such a way that it doesn’t look too dressy or too much like a tool.
The simple, polished bezel holds the sapphire crystal firmly in place and treats it with an anti-reflective coating. This, along with a screw-down display caseback and a push/pull crown, provides the watch with 100 meters of water resistance. This is enough for a watch like this.
Orient Star has a wide range of configurations in the M34 F8 date range, with most of them running a powerful heavenly theme. The latest collection is no exception, with both dials taking inspiration from vast outer space. The limited edition black dial features a depiction of a Persade meteor shower engraved using nanoparticle metal multilayer technology. This involves several injections of ink made up of nanometer-sized ultrafine fine metal particles into the dial. This technology was originally used in electronics, but is first seen with dial finishing. The result is a deep and impressive effect, unlike most other “starry sky” style dials.
The green dial is again inspired by the same Perseid Meteor Shower, a new variation of the dial finish that was first seen in blue and white on the M34 last year. It features optical multilayer film technology developed in-house by Orient Star, giving the dial a sparkling hammer effect that reflects light from different angles. This is an advanced multi-railing technique that, according to Orient Star, cannot be achieved with traditional painting techniques.
Details of both dials are classy with clear cut, with applied numbers and a subtle little date window at 3 o’clock. The layout is well balanced, with a large power reserve indicator located at 12 o’clock.
Through the Sapphire Exhibition Caseback, you can see the company’s internal caliber F8N64 automatic movement. This is well finished with Geneva stripes and bridge finishes. It’s great to see such details, especially things like blue screws, as a caliber that was developed entirely in-house at this level. The movement boasts a 60-hour power reserve and has an accuracy of +15/-5 seconds per day achieved by Orient Star’s signature silicon escape wheel. With Orient Star’s reputation for high quality and longevity, it’s safe to say this is a robust automatic movement that can be trusted for years to come.
The M34 F8 date is completed with a 316L stainless steel multi-link bracelet for a versatile look with a combination of brush and polished links. In the bracelet, the watch looks at the house next to its competitors, but some of it is in a much higher price range, offering a modern look that can be easily dressed up or down. The bracelet is finished with three folding fasteners made of pressed steel without on-the-fly adjustment. It’s fair to say there are more options in the market with solid clasps that can be tunable at this price level. So this may be an area that Orient Stars need to tackle in the future.
The date for the Orient Star M34 F8 has been updated with these two new dial options, and is a great indication of how Orient Star is investing in manufacturing technology to bring something new to the table. It may feel a bit expensive, especially considering Orient Star’s current brand cache, but you get a watch with a completely in-house automation and a very technical and beautifully finished dial that rivals those of the watch at a very high price.
Orient Star M34 F8 Date Prices and Availability
The Orient Star M34 F8 dates are available from Orient Retailers, with a limited Black Dial version of 160. Price: £2,374.99GBP with green dial, £2,699.9999GBP with black dial
Brand Orient Star Model M34 F8 Date Reference RE-BX0006E – Green
RE-BX0009B – Black Case Dimensions 40mm(d) x 12.9mm
