Orient and Orient Star: What's the Difference and Why Are They Valued in Uzbekistan?
Orient — a brand known in Uzbekistan for generations
For many people in Uzbekistan, Orient is not a new brand discovered through the internet or social media.
The name Orient has been familiar here for several decades.
Japanese watches began gaining particularly strong trust in Uzbekistan from the early 1990s. In many families, these were the watches worn by a father or grandfather — items used for years and sometimes later passed down to the next generation.
That is why attitudes toward Orient in Uzbekistan differ from attitudes toward many younger watch brands.
For some buyers, Orient is **first and foremost a familiar Japanese name, mechanical watches and a sense of reliability that was established long before modern online retail.
**
And behind this familiar name stands a substantial watchmaking history.
Orient
Order Orient watches with free delivery across Uzbekistan or visit our store in Tashkent. Watchz - official dealer of Orient watches in Uzbekistan
A brief history of Orient: from 1950 to the present day
The history of modern Orient begins in 1950, when the Japanese company Tama Keiki Co., Ltd. began producing wristwatches. In 1951, the company was renamed Orient Watch Co., Ltd., and the Orient Star brand appeared at the same time.
Orient began expanding beyond the domestic Japanese market relatively early. From the mid-1950s, the brand increased its presence outside Japan, and over the following decades released a large number of mechanical, classic, sports and technically unusual watches.
One of the most important chapters in the brand’s history came in 1971 with the introduction of the 46 Series movement family. Its architecture later became the foundation for many Orient and Orient Star movements. Epson specifically highlights the simplicity and serviceability of the construction as one of the reasons for its longevity.
In 2017, Orient Watch Co., Ltd. was integrated into Seiko Epson Corporation. Today, the development of Orient and Orient Star watches forms part of Epson’s watch business.
This matters because modern Orient is not a brand that has simply preserved an old name. In recent years, it has continued to evolve its movements, manufacturing processes, collections and technologies.
Why Orient became especially important in Uzbekistan
Orient has something in Uzbekistan that cannot be created by a single advertising campaign — the memory of several generations.
For some people, their first Orient was a gift from their parents. Others remember a mechanical Orient on their father’s wrist. In some families, older watches are still preserved today.
For a watch brand, this is an exceptionally strong position.
A person may see a new Orient model for the first time today, yet the brand name itself does not feel unfamiliar.
That is why modern buyers are interested not only in what Orient used to be, but also in another question:
is today’s Orient still the same Japanese brand trusted by previous generations?
The answer is more interesting than a simple “yes.”
Orient has preserved its core engineering philosophy, while the watches themselves continue to evolve significantly.
Orient TAG00001T0
3 913 000 UZS
Orient’s key feature — in-house movements
One of the most important features of Orient is that the brand develops and manufactures its own movements.
Orient officially describes its system as integrated production — an in-house integrated system for developing and manufacturing watches and movements.
An important clarification is needed here.
It is sometimes said that Orient supposedly has a separate movement for almost every individual model.
Technically, that is not entirely correct.
A more accurate way to put it is:
Orient uses its own families of manufacture calibres, while a specific calibre may be used in several different models and variations.
In our view, that is even more important.
The brand does not need to develop a completely new movement simply for a new dial colour. Instead, it can continue refining a proven architecture and use it across different watches.
For example, the modern sports model Orient Diver Design 40 RA-AC0Q14L uses the in-house automatic F6722 calibre with hand-winding. In the updated 2026 version, the stated power reserve is more than 40 hours.
The classic open-balance Orient RA-AG0002S uses another in-house mechanical calibre — the F6T22.
Orient RA-AG0002S30B
3 470 000 UZS
Therefore, Orient’s manufacture status is not about creating a separate movement for every reference. It is about the brand’s ability to independently develop its own watchmaking mechanics and build different collections around them.
Modern Orient is no longer limited to traditional mechanics
For someone who remembers Orient from watches of the 1990s or 2000s, the modern collection may be surprising.
Orient retains a strong mechanical foundation while gradually expanding into new technologies and design directions.
New generations of mechanical calibres
Modern Orient movements continue to evolve.
For example, in 2026 the brand introduced the updated F6524 calibre for the new Classic and Simple Style 36 series. It is an automatic in-house movement with hand-winding that was redesigned into a three-hand configuration without a date.
This is a good example of how Orient operates today.
The brand does not abandon the mechanical architecture it has been associated with for decades. Instead, it adapts it to modern dimensions, design and usage scenarios.
Orient has begun developing Solar more actively
Another noticeable change is the introduction of modern solar-powered watches.
The Contemporary collection now includes the Orient Stretto Solar-powered series.
In these watches, light is used to recharge the internal battery, so the owner does not need to replace a conventional battery regularly.
For example, the Stretto uses the VS224 Solar calibre, with a stated energy reserve of around six months when fully charged.
This is an important change in how Orient can be perceived.
A brand that many people traditionally associate primarily with affordable Japanese mechanical watches is now also appealing to buyers who want modern practicality.
Today, Orient can therefore be:
- mechanical;
- classic;
- sports-oriented;
- diver-style;
- modern and urban;
- solar-powered.
Mechanical watches, however, remain one of the most important parts of the brand’s identity.
Orient production in Thailand: what has changed
In September 2024, Seiko Epson officially announced that production of some Orient mechanical watches would be transferred to its own Epson Precision facility in Thailand.
The company stated that the purpose was to increase production capacity for the brand’s continued global growth. Epson also emphasised that its quality requirements would remain unchanged.
It is important to understand this development correctly.
Moving production of some models to Thailand does not mean that the brand’s origin has changed or that Orient has abandoned its own engineering.
Movement development and watch technologies remain part of Seiko Epson, while the company itself only notes that there may be minor differences in dial and caseback markings depending on the place of manufacture.
For this reason, when comparing older and newer Orient watches, it makes more sense to look not only at the country-of-manufacture inscription but at the specific model, calibre and specification.
Orient is also changing visually
Modern Orient is gradually becoming more diverse.
Alongside familiar classic watches, there are now more contemporary Stretto series, compact case sizes, new gradient dials, updated Diver Design models and more urban Contemporary watches. The current line-up is officially divided into Classic, Contemporary, Sports and Revival directions.
At the same time, Orient is not trying to abandon its past completely.
On the contrary, some collections are built around modern reinterpretations of historical models.
This is one of the most interesting characteristics of the brand:
Orient sells nostalgia while simultaneously developing a modern product.
For a buyer who remembers Orient from their parents’ watches, this creates an opportunity to buy a familiar brand in modern dimensions, materials and technologies.
What is Orient Star?
Orient Star
Order Orient Star watches with free delivery across Uzbekistan or visit our store in Tashkent. Watchz - official dealer of Orient in Uzbekistan
While Orient is familiar to a huge number of buyers, Orient Star sometimes raises a question:
Is it a separate brand, or simply a more expensive Orient?
Orient Star appeared almost simultaneously with Orient itself — back in 1951.
The name was intended to symbolise a “shining star” — watches positioned at a higher level within the company’s watchmaking philosophy.
Today, Orient Star represents a higher level of Japanese mechanical watchmaking within the same Seiko Epson engineering ecosystem.
Orient and Orient Star are roughly like Toyota and Lexus
A simple analogy helps explain the difference:
Orient is Toyota, while Orient Star is Lexus.
Of course, this is only an analogy of positioning — Orient and Toyota are not connected in any way.
The point of the comparison is different.
Toyota can be an extremely high-quality and reliable car. Lexus uses the same broad engineering foundation of the group but places greater emphasis on materials, details, execution, technology and a more premium overall feel.
Orient and Orient Star can be understood in approximately the same way.
Orient Star RE-BX0010A00B
38 090 000 UZS
Orient offers a broader range and places strong emphasis on accessible mechanical watches, classic designs, everyday models and sports watches.
Orient Star moves to a higher level of execution: more complex dials, more refined finishing, sapphire crystals on a greater number of models, movement complications, Skeleton and Semi Skeleton designs, power-reserve indicators, Moon Phase functions and more advanced calibres.
At the same time, the core remains shared:
Japanese in-house watchmaking engineering.
Orient Star is not simply a more expensive dial
The difference between Orient and Orient Star is not limited to exterior design.
For example, the Orient Star RE-AT0003S uses the in-house automatic F6R42 calibre, offers more than 50 hours of power reserve, includes a power-reserve indicator and uses a Semi Skeleton construction that allows part of the movement to be viewed from the dial side. The model uses sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
Orient Star RE-AT0003S00B
8 147 000 UZS
These details illustrate the Orient Star philosophy very clearly.
If regular Orient is often built around the principle of “a reliable Japanese mechanical product for reasonable money,” Orient Star adds another layer:
interest in the movement itself, finishing and execution details.
Orient Star can also be sporty
Orient Star is not limited to classic and skeletonised watches.
A good example is the M42 Diver 1964 2nd Edition series, developed as a modern continuation of Orient’s historic diver direction.
The RE-AU0602E belongs to a full-fledged diver series with 200 metres of water resistance and compliance with ISO 6425. Its construction includes a rotating bezel, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating and a secure clasp.
Orient Star RE-AU0602E00B
17 098 000 UZS
This highlights another important difference within Orient Star.
The premium direction of the brand does not necessarily mean a thin dress watch.
Orient Star can also be a serious sports instrument, simply executed at a higher positioning level.
New Orient Star technologies: silicon, MEMS and new F8 movements
If regular Orient demonstrates the evolution of mass-produced in-house movements, Orient Star gives Epson the opportunity to showcase more complex developments.
One of the most important modern directions has been the F8 family.
In 2021, Orient Star introduced 46-F8 movements with an in-house silicon escape wheel. The use of silicon allowed the power reserve of certain models to increase to 70 hours.
Modern F8 movements use MEMS technology, allowing escapement components to be manufactured with extremely precise geometry.
In 2026, Orient Star continued developing the series: the new hand-wound F8A62 calibre received a Moon Phase function, an in-house silicon escape wheel and a power reserve of more than 70 hours.
Orient Star RE-BT0006L00B
21 815 000 UZS
At the same time, the brand is developing not only movements but also dial-manufacturing techniques. In the M34 F8 Date, for example, a multilayer optical coating technology is used to create a complex sense of colour depth.
This is already an entirely different level from the perception of Orient as simply a manufacturer of affordable mechanical watches.
Orient or Orient Star — which should you choose?
Despite their common origins, these watches are intended for slightly different buyers.
When it is better to choose Orient
Orient is worth considering if you want clear, versatile Japanese watches that can be worn regularly.
Especially if the following matter to you:
- an in-house mechanical calibre;
- a recognisable Japanese brand;
- a wide choice of designs;
- classic or sports models;
- practicality;
- straightforward construction without unnecessary complexity.
For many buyers, Orient can be a good entry point into the world of mechanical watches.
At the same time, the brand has long moved beyond being only a maker of “first mechanical watches.”
Its modern range contains enough models for people who already understand exactly what they want from a watch.
When it makes sense to move up to Orient Star
Orient Star RE-BX0002S00B
34 165 000 UZS
Orient Star becomes the more logical choice when you want to retain the philosophy of Orient but move to the next level.
For example, if the following are important:
- more complex finishing;
- sapphire crystal;
- a power-reserve indicator;
- Semi Skeleton or Skeleton;
- more sophisticated mechanical functions;
- modern F8 calibres;
- a more premium visual impression.
This is where the Toyota → Lexus analogy becomes particularly easy to understand.
There is no need to abandon a familiar Japanese engineering school.
You simply move to a higher level of it.
Old Orient and new Orient — the same philosophy in different eras
In our view, the most interesting thing about Orient is not simply that the brand has existed since 1950.
Many companies have long histories.
What matters more is that Orient has managed to preserve a recognisable idea while avoiding being trapped in the past.
The mechanical watches worn by previous generations created trust.
Modern Orient continues that story through:
- updated manufacture calibres;
- new case sizes;
- contemporary designs;
- Solar;
- new production capacity;
- the development of Orient Star;
- silicon components;
- MEMS technology;
- new collections.
So when someone buys an Orient today, they are not buying a copy of a watch from the 1990s.
They are buying a modern continuation of the same Japanese watchmaking school.
Orient and Orient Star at WATCHZ in Tashkent
This history is especially important to WATCHZ because Orient has been familiar to buyers in Uzbekistan for a long time.
WATCHZ (Capital Watches) is an official dealer of Orient and Orient Star in Tashkent.
The store offers a wide selection of original models from both brands in stock — from classic Orient watches to sports models and the higher-tier Orient Star direction.
Purchases include the manufacturer’s official warranty.
From July 1, 2026, the standard international warranty for Orient Star was extended to three years.
For buyers, this means modern Orient watches can be chosen not only for the brand’s history or the reputation established by previous generations, but also with full official support.
