Orient watches, known for their exceptional value and reliability, boast a rich history deeply rooted in Japanese innovation and craftsmanship. Today, we embark on a journey through time, exploring the fascinating story of how a small watch shop blossomed into a globally recognised brand, culminating in the 20th anniversary of one of its most iconic models – the Orient Mako.

From Humble Beginnings to Manufacturing Prowess

Our story starts in 1901, with Shogoro Yoshida establishing the Yoshida Watch Shop in Tokyo. Initially, the shop focused on selling imported pocket watches, laying the foundation for the years to come. By 1912, Yoshida took a bold step, venturing into the production of gold wristwatch cases, showcasing a commitment to quality and a keen eye for evolving trends.

Post-War Resurgence and Innovation

The aftermath of World War II presented challenges, but the resilient spirit of Orient prevailed. In 1950, the company, known as Tama Keiki Company at the time, began mass-producing wristwatches under the Orient name. This marked the official birth of the brand we know and love today.

A Decade of Milestones

The following decade witnessed a flurry of innovation and achievements for Orient. In 1951, the Orient Star line was introduced, showcasing a commitment to high-quality mechanical movements. 1957 saw the arrival of the “Dynamic”, a testament to Orient’s dedication to design and functionality. The year 1961 marked another significant milestone with the development of their own automatic movement, a feat that solidified Orient’s position as a major player in the watchmaking industry.

Continuous Growth and Global Recognition

The following decades saw the launch of several iconic models, including the “Grand Prix 100” in 1964, the “Calendar Auto Orient” (Orient’s first diver watch) in 1964, and the “Fineness” (the world’s thinnest automatic wristwatch with a day and date calendar function) in 1967. These timepieces cemented Orient’s reputation for innovation, quality, and affordability.

The Rise of a Diving Legend: The Orient Mako

Fast forward to 2004, and a new star was born: the Orient Mako. This robust and stylish diver watch quickly garnered a loyal following among enthusiasts for its excellent value, automatic movement, and impressive water resistance. The Mako’s bold design, inspired by the Mako shark, and its reliable performance under water made it a favorite for both professional divers and everyday adventurers alike.

Today and Beyond

Orient continues to thrive today, offering a diverse range of reliable and stylish watches for watch enthusiasts worldwide. From the classic and sophisticated Orient Star collection to the sporty and adventurous Mako series, Orient caters to diverse tastes and preferences.

Today, we celebrate 20 years of the legendary Orient Mako! To commemorate this special milestone, we’re hosting a competition where you can win an Orient Bambino watch simply by pre-ordering the Orient Mako 20th Anniversary Edition through WatchNation.

Beyond offering exceptional timepieces, Orient holds on to its core values of craftsmanship, innovation, and accessibility. These values have allowed the brand to cultivate a loyal following and establish itself as a leading watchmaker, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of horology.

Why Choose WatchNation?

To let you into a little secret, we are working closely with Orient to bring you new models in volume, whilst allowing us to offer you competitive pricing and challenge non-authorised sellers, both within and outside the UK. This means you can enjoy your Orient without compromising on peace of mind, and enjoy all the benefits that an Authorised Orient Retailer brings including: two-year international warranty, dedicated customer service and technical team, ability to visit us at our Chester-based store, and much more!

Plus, very soon you’ll be able to get your hands on our UK exclusive range that we have curated from the Orient global range. These models won’t be available from any other UK authorised retailer. Stay tuned!

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. The prize draw (the “Prize Draw”) is open to people aged 18 and over and it is available to all people worldwide. 
2. Employees of WatchNation (WatchNation) or their family members, or anyone else connected with the Prize Draw may not enter the Prize Draw.
3. Those who enter into the Prize Draw shall be deemed to have accepted these Terms and Conditions. 
4. By submitting your personal information, you agree to receive emails from WatchNation containing offers and updates that we think may interest you. You will be given the opportunity to unsubscribe on every email that we send.
5. To enter the Prize Draw you must pre-order an Orient Mako 20^th Anniversary Limited Edition Automatic Blue Dial Steel Bracelet Men’s Watch RA-AA0822L from our website.
6. There is no maximum number of entries per person, each Orient RA-AA0822L watch purchased on pre-order counts as an entry.
7. WatchNation accepts no responsibility for entries that are lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete or cannot be delivered or entered for any technical or other reason. 
8. The closing date of the Prize Draw is 23:59 on the 31^st March 2024.  Entries received outside this time period will not be considered. WatchNation reserves the right to terminate the competition at any time.
9. For every 10 pre-orders we are giving away 1 Orient Bambino RA-AC0M04Y10B Watch. This is limited to 100 pre-orders in total.
10. The winner of the prize(s) will be chosen from a random draw of entries received in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. The draw will be performed by a random computer process.  The draw will take place 28 days after the launch of the Orient RA-AA0822L Watch
11. The winner(s) will receive an Orient Bambino RA-AC0M04Y10B Watch, as displayed on the watchnation.com website. 
12. In the event the Orient Bambino RA-AC0M04Y10B Watch is not available, another Orient Bambino Watch of similar likeness will be sent to the winner(s)
13. WatchNation accepts responsibility for any initial shipping costs of the prize(s). 
14. The name and country of the winner can be obtained after the prize(s) are drawn.
15. The prize winner(s) will be notified by email, telephone or post. They must provide a postal address to claim their prize. If a winner does not respond to WatchNation within 14 days of being notified by WatchNation, then the winner prize will be forfeited and WatchNation shall be entitled to select another winner in accordance with the process described above (and that winner will have to respond to notification of their win within 14 days or else they will also forfeit their prize).  If a winner rejects their prize or the entry is invalid or in breach of these Terms and Conditions, the winner’s prize will be forfeited and WatchNation shall be entitled to select another winner. 
16. WatchNation shall use and take care of any personal information you supply to it as described in its privacy policy, a copy of which can be seen here, and in accordance with data protection legislation.  By entering the Prize Draw, you agree to the collection, retention, usage and distribution of your personal information in order to process and contact you about your Prize Draw entry, and for the purposes outlined in paragraph 12 above. 
17. WatchNation accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Prize Draw or accepting the prize. WatchNation further disclaims liability for any injury or damage to your or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participation in or downloading any materials in connection with the Prize Draw. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall exclude the liability of WatchNation for death, personal injury, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation as a result of its negligence.
18. The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable, and is not redeemable for cash or other prizes.
19. The winner(s) may be required to take part in promotional and social media activity related to the Prize Draw and the winners shall participate in such activity on WatchNation’s reasonable request. These requests will be communicated to the winners following the Prize Draw
20. Watchnation shall not be liable for any failure to comply with its obligations where the failure is caused by something outside its reasonable control. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, weather conditions, fire, flood, hurricane, strike, industrial dispute, war, hostilities, political unrest, riots, civil commotion, inevitable accidents, supervening legislation.
21. The Terms and Conditions of this completion supersede any of WatchNation’s standard Terms and Conditions of sale. In line with distant selling laws the customer has 14 days after purchase of their watch to return it. This is a variation of WatchNation’s standard 30-day return window. Any returned or refunded Orient RA-AA0822L purchases will have their Prize Draw entry nullified.
22. The information you provide here will be safeguarded under the GDPR legislation and controlled by WatchNation.
23. The Prize Draw will be governed by English law and entrants to the Prize Draw submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.