I have a bambino open heart in blue, and really enjoyed this comparison of the different Orient dress watches. Nice to see the style differences and understand the progression of the mechanism.
im a student and looking to build an affordable but well rounded watch collection and your channel has exactly the content i was looking for, and even better you have my wrist size which makes my decisions a lot easier. I really appreciate your channel and hope to build my collection alongside yours. You just earned a loyal subscriber my friend.
Dress Watch: Orient Bambino or symphony dress $135 or less Diver: Orient Mako $140/ Seiko SKX $200 / Invicta Pro Diver $85 Casual Watch: Timex Weekend $30/ Seiko 809 $60 That's a really good watch collection on a budget, after that you can add other time pieces you prefer. Like having an open heart, beater watch, different dial colors, daydare, or extreme minimalism.
Great video! Just bought the Symphony for $85 brand new on eBay from a reputable seller. Amazing deal and I just couldn't let it go. Also, I prefer the fact that the Symphony has a flat glass.
I wind up picking up a Bambino and really like the look of the domed crystal, but I'm always a little nervous about smashing it with how high it sticks up.
I agree with all the comments about the domed dial and crystal. It just looks great, but you have to be so careful to avoid scratching that mineral crystal. I have the RA-AC0001S and I wear it for all formal events.
Great video as always. Orient needs to clear up the confusion with their gen and version number thing. There are gen 1 and 2s of versions 1-3. But then version 4 is newest, so it is a gen 1... I think. Same with the new open heart and small seconds bambinos. It gets real confusing when you start looking at it. There is also gen 1 and gen 2 symphony as well. But the gen 2, has the same movement, just sapphire crystal.
Only reason I know about it, is I picked one up a month ago. I think they are basicly sold out for some reason right now. Still haven't gotten around to reviewing it. But I think you made the right choice with a Bambino.
I have the Symphony IV in blue. It's gorgeous and runs about 3s slow per day. I do love the Bambino but not with its vulnerable, domed crystal, being only mineral. I hate scratches! I'd rather have Sapphire or re-polishable Acrylic. The odd lug width is also annoying. The Symphony's blue is a little darker-looking in real life as you need good light to really see the blue in the dial reflections. Otherwise it looks more black. Your video shows that coloration better than most reviewers. It is subtle and exudes class though, IMHO. I'm glad Orient went back to Sapphire after dropping it on the Symphony III. Good call! Many reviewers criticize the factory leather strap. After working the leather to relax the fibers and applying some conditioner, it is now soft, pliable and ultra comfortable on my 7.25-inch lower arm. Mine came in black and I recently swapped it for a quick release, navy blue, alligator leather strap. Interestingly, that one is not as comfortable as the Orient strap. Thicker padding makes it stiffer near the lugs and not sit quite right (though that might loosen with wear), plus the holes are slightly farther apart, which means I don't quite get the perfect fit on my lower arm. I never really considered the hole spacing on a strap before and that is actually really important. The matching blue strap looks the part though! I wear a Garmin smartwatch as my daily driver and can't stop momentarily looking at my Symphony when my phone vibrates! Maybe just a good excuse to admire it. :-) Always appreciate your casual, down-to-earth reviews.
Just purchased the newer Bambino with the open-heart dial. This one has hacking and hand winding. Didn't think I'd be a big fan of the super domed crystal, but figured I'd gift it if I didn't like it. I was wrong. I really like the look of this watch to include the crystal. I wore it for a few days and put it on my timegrapher, and wow! +3 seconds a day with the dial up and .2ms Beat Error. Totally puts my other watch with a Seiko 4R36 to shame straight out of the box. Now, that may change after the watch breaks in after a month, but impressive, nevertheless. I hear a lot of complaints about the band. Yes, it's a bit stiff. However, it softens up after a bit of wear and is pretty comfortable. Of course, I'm going to buy a higher quality band, but I see no problem with keeping the one that comes with it. Now, the 21mm lug width is annoying. I'm not into metal linked or mesh bracelets so it will not bother me that much. I prefer leather, and I'm finding a lot of those online already. Of course, you can always put a razor knife to a 22mm band and shave it down a bit. A half millimeter on either side would hardly be noticeable. All in all, a great watch. I know what some people in my family may be getting for Christmas now.
Love your videos. I'm interested in an Orient but was looking for a couple things in the dress watch category. I also like the hand wind but want a Sapphire Crystal as well. Do you know of anything with that combo?
Not a fan of the domed crystal. I also prefer the dauphin style hands as opposed to stick hands. I almost pulled the trigger on a Symphony as it had the flat crystal and the hands I like, but I didn’t. Maybe I’ll ask for it for Father’s Day!
I have the Orient Classic Contemporary Automatic FAL00005B0 Black Dial see-through back. I changed out the flat mineral crystal for a flat sapphire. I don't think there is a name associated with it. Thoughts? I like the day subdial. It has a nicely framed date box at 3. I love the silver XII and the simplistic bars at all the other numbers. Love this watch!
inkitatus1 as another commenter mentioned there's apparently a sort of hard to find Gen 2 version of the Symphony out that has a sapphire crystal, I'd keep an eye out for it when you're searching around!
The blue Bambino is an excellent choice; like you I love the dial! Keep up the videos; although I’m more into the high end watches (specifically Omega) I appreciate your channel a lot! Thanks! 👍😃
Orient Esteem gen. 2, the one with an open heart, now comes with hacking and handwinding at a cost of 100-145, depending on your market of preferance. Gray or white. I think that's a pretty good bargin. I almost went for the semi-skeleton, I found it at 250$ at gray market, but I'm rolling on a budget at the moment so yeah. Sucks, but OE gen 2 is not the worst out there in terms of value. :P Pluss, it has the 22mm lug with.
Wrong information on the Symphony. I just bought one from Amazon, although marked wrongly as a Bambino, has hacking, hand winding, and a sapphire crystal. Mine came with a stainless steel bracelet. I did a Google search on the Orient part number and came up with a Symphony v 2.
I am inclined towards the Symphony in rose gold with the black dial … I like the sober and elegant style of it . I wish the watch was hand wound but it isn't . I also own the Orient Polaris GMT ( white dial ) . Great video , I subscribed to your channel after watching it it .
The Bambino has a high domed mineral crystal while the Symphony has a flat crystal. If you can find the symphony 2 it has a sapphire crystal. It really comes down to which crystal you like better.
I have a bambino open heart in blue, and really enjoyed this comparison of the different Orient dress watches. Nice to see the style differences and understand the progression of the mechanism.
Thanks! Waiting for my Symphony III. I'm a musician. So I'm really excited about this!
im a student and looking to build an affordable but well rounded watch collection and your channel has exactly the content i was looking for, and even better you have my wrist size which makes my decisions a lot easier. I really appreciate your channel and hope to build my collection alongside yours. You just earned a loyal subscriber my friend.
Taha Ibrahimi Glad to hear it! I'm learning as I go, and hope what I'm figuring out is useful to others like yourself!
Dress Watch: Orient Bambino or symphony dress $135 or less
Diver: Orient Mako $140/ Seiko SKX $200 / Invicta Pro Diver $85
Casual Watch: Timex Weekend $30/ Seiko 809 $60
That's a really good watch collection on a budget, after that you can add other time pieces you prefer. Like having an open heart, beater watch, different dial colors, daydare, or extreme minimalism.
@@jmsantiago1 I agree with Jesus Manuel. Perhaps look at a Vostok as well. Their website is called "Meranom"
Great video! Just bought the Symphony for $85 brand new on eBay from a reputable seller. Amazing deal and I just couldn't let it go. Also, I prefer the fact that the Symphony has a flat glass.
I wind up picking up a Bambino and really like the look of the domed crystal, but I'm always a little nervous about smashing it with how high it sticks up.
How is the dial? Sun burst?
I agree with all the comments about the domed dial and crystal. It just looks great, but you have to be so careful to avoid scratching that mineral crystal. I have the RA-AC0001S and I wear it for all formal events.
You picked the version I prefer the most, so I’ve concluded that you have impeccable taste. Well done! Great value on these.
austin cramer Thanks man! It wasn't an easy decision with so many options, but I'm really happy with it so far!
Great video as always. Orient needs to clear up the confusion with their gen and version number thing. There are gen 1 and 2s of versions 1-3. But then version 4 is newest, so it is a gen 1... I think. Same with the new open heart and small seconds bambinos. It gets real confusing when you start looking at it. There is also gen 1 and gen 2 symphony as well. But the gen 2, has the same movement, just sapphire crystal.
Relative Time I thought I saw something about a Gen 2 Symphony but couldn't figure it out, didn't realize it was a crystal upgrade.
Only reason I know about it, is I picked one up a month ago. I think they are basicly sold out for some reason right now. Still haven't gotten around to reviewing it. But I think you made the right choice with a Bambino.
I have the Symphony IV in blue. It's gorgeous and runs about 3s slow per day. I do love the Bambino but not with its vulnerable, domed crystal, being only mineral. I hate scratches! I'd rather have Sapphire or re-polishable Acrylic. The odd lug width is also annoying.
The Symphony's blue is a little darker-looking in real life as you need good light to really see the blue in the dial reflections. Otherwise it looks more black. Your video shows that coloration better than most reviewers. It is subtle and exudes class though, IMHO. I'm glad Orient went back to Sapphire after dropping it on the Symphony III. Good call!
Many reviewers criticize the factory leather strap. After working the leather to relax the fibers and applying some conditioner, it is now soft, pliable and ultra comfortable on my 7.25-inch lower arm. Mine came in black and I recently swapped it for a quick release, navy blue, alligator leather strap. Interestingly, that one is not as comfortable as the Orient strap. Thicker padding makes it stiffer near the lugs and not sit quite right (though that might loosen with wear), plus the holes are slightly farther apart, which means I don't quite get the perfect fit on my lower arm. I never really considered the hole spacing on a strap before and that is actually really important. The matching blue strap looks the part though!
I wear a Garmin smartwatch as my daily driver and can't stop momentarily looking at my Symphony when my phone vibrates! Maybe just a good excuse to admire it. :-)
Always appreciate your casual, down-to-earth reviews.
Just purchased the newer Bambino with the open-heart dial. This one has hacking and hand winding. Didn't think I'd be a big fan of the super domed crystal, but figured I'd gift it if I didn't like it. I was wrong. I really like the look of this watch to include the crystal. I wore it for a few days and put it on my timegrapher, and wow! +3 seconds a day with the dial up and .2ms Beat Error. Totally puts my other watch with a Seiko 4R36 to shame straight out of the box. Now, that may change after the watch breaks in after a month, but impressive, nevertheless. I hear a lot of complaints about the band. Yes, it's a bit stiff. However, it softens up after a bit of wear and is pretty comfortable. Of course, I'm going to buy a higher quality band, but I see no problem with keeping the one that comes with it. Now, the 21mm lug width is annoying. I'm not into metal linked or mesh bracelets so it will not bother me that much. I prefer leather, and I'm finding a lot of those online already. Of course, you can always put a razor knife to a 22mm band and shave it down a bit. A half millimeter on either side would hardly be noticeable. All in all, a great watch. I know what some people in my family may be getting for Christmas now.
Great Video. I now have a much better understanding of the different versions.
Love your videos. I'm interested in an Orient but was looking for a couple things in the dress watch category. I also like the hand wind but want a Sapphire Crystal as well. Do you know of anything with that combo?
Great choice. I have a Symphony Gen1, but if I were to buy another Orient dress watch I'd go with the same one you chose.
Not a fan of the domed crystal. I also prefer the dauphin style hands as opposed to stick hands. I almost pulled the trigger on a Symphony as it had the flat crystal and the hands I like, but I didn’t. Maybe I’ll ask for it for Father’s Day!
I have the Orient Classic Contemporary Automatic FAL00005B0 Black Dial see-through back. I changed out the flat mineral crystal for a flat sapphire. I don't think there is a name associated with it. Thoughts? I like the day subdial. It has a nicely framed date box at 3. I love the silver XII and the simplistic bars at all the other numbers. Love this watch!
Great video, keep up the good work!
Thanks, appreciate it!
Been eyeing the Bambino for a while, but not a fan of domed crystal & was unaware of the symphony - spot on! Cheers 👍👍
inkitatus1 as another commenter mentioned there's apparently a sort of hard to find Gen 2 version of the Symphony out that has a sapphire crystal, I'd keep an eye out for it when you're searching around!
Just the Watch excellent, thanks 👍
The blue Bambino is an excellent choice; like you I love the dial!
Keep up the videos; although I’m more into the high end watches (specifically Omega) I appreciate your channel a lot!
Thanks! 👍😃
FlorianLify
Thanks!
Looks great with domed sapphire crystal from long island watch.
why doesn't Orient do these bambinos in a 36-38mm range/option? Are watch makers biased against smaller dials?
Great video!
We now have Version 5 for Gen 2 as well.
Orient Esteem gen. 2, the one with an open heart, now comes with hacking and handwinding at a cost of 100-145, depending on your market of preferance. Gray or white. I think that's a pretty good bargin. I almost went for the semi-skeleton, I found it at 250$ at gray market, but I'm rolling on a budget at the moment so yeah. Sucks, but OE gen 2 is not the worst out there in terms of value. :P Pluss, it has the 22mm lug with.
Thanks for the update. Orient's been pretty good about upgrading their models, might have to do another run down in the future.
The Curator is better than all three imo so I bought one.
Wrong information on the Symphony. I just bought one from Amazon, although marked wrongly as a Bambino, has hacking, hand winding, and a sapphire crystal. Mine came with a stainless steel bracelet. I did a Google search on the Orient part number and came up with a Symphony v 2.
If I remember correctly the v2 symphony hadn't been released it wasn't widely available when I made the video.
@@JusttheWatch thanks for the clarification.
A perfect review! thank you!!
Well, I always find something I could improve. Thanks!
I am inclined towards the Symphony in rose gold with the black dial … I like the sober and elegant style of it . I wish the watch was hand wound but it isn't . I also own the Orient Polaris GMT ( white dial ) . Great video , I subscribed to your channel after watching it it .
Thanks! Rose gold and black is a really striking combination!
i have absolutely no doubt in my mind that bambino's date complication is bugged
Never knew you were into watches Austin Powers!
Yeah, baby.
what about the Orient Envoy?
No love for the Envoy? :(
What's whatch to buy. Bambino or Symphony, i want to buy someone.
The Bambino has a high domed mineral crystal while the Symphony has a flat crystal. If you can find the symphony 2 it has a sapphire crystal. It really comes down to which crystal you like better.
The hands dont bend. The glass makes it look like that.
My Orient Esteem 2 can hand-wind and hack.
John Hewison Thanks for the info! Hadn't been able to find any info on the Esteem 2, so it's good to hear from someone with first hand experience!
I can confirm it does both
i think esteem gen 2 have hacking and hand winding
I believe you're correct. When I was researching these I couldn't find any info about the Gen 2 Symphony so it was a mistake on my part.
@@JusttheWatch no offence just wanna let you know😂
this guy's teeth are beautiful
Diego, that comment is so uncool.
Not a fan, of you not having braces when you were a child but it is what it is
I did have braces! But I kept losing my retainer...
Sure you were a loved as a child