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bigrustypig 3T WIS 
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My new arrival, the ORIENT CEM75001B is also known as the Black Mako II or HOGRIDER. With this purchase, I have gone full circle by having a watch/es from each of the Japanese Big 3: Seiko, Citizen and now, Orient. All 3, by the way, are true manufactures making 100% of all their components. Orient is a 60 year old Japanese watchmaker with production facilities in Japan, Brazil and Singapore. Orient, believe it or not, is the largest maker of automatic watches in Japan selling about 2 million units a year. The unit I have houses a Japanese-made movement but don't know for sure if it's cased in Japan. The movement may have been made in Japan and assembled there but I have no info if it was cased there, in Brazil or Singapore. No answer to my email to Orient as of post time.  Orient was never in my radar before because my impressions were that it was cheap and was of questionable quality. But when I went to an AD looking for a Seiko that Stew77 (Chris) featured recently, this Hogrider called me...actually hollered at me and then I saw and appreciated its fine craftmanship and outright good quality. My personal comments are the tailend of this piece but meantime, here are some pics and a short amateurish review: Here's the watch inside the box  Here's a pic with some vital statistics  Here, I feature the uncommon day changing button and the crown  Now check out the caseback. Underside of the links are polished rough. Top-side of the links enjoy a finer brushed effect.  Here is the part where I will show you the clasp with a very good logo stamp (ugly shot, though)  To prove my point, notice the excellent quality of the Orient's logo stamp and clasp when ranged against the DSSD on the left and the Sumo in the middle. The DSSD still has some protective plastic 4 months after the purchase  (great plastic, right??) Going topside, look at the bezelwork of the Hogrider vs. the DSSD and Sumo. Not bad right, except that the Hogrider has no pip at 12.  ad, Hold on...you wanna know case thickness comparisons? Well look below, the Hogrider at 13.5mm sandwiched by the DSSD and Sumo looks ok  OK, so you want to see a comprison with the DSSD's size?  OK, what about against the Sumo's dimensions?  Against the DSSD and the very similarly-sized Sumo, how does the Hogrider fare?  The mandatory wrist shots (black dial looks gray because of sunlight and the color contrast with my black pin-striped trousers)  One more?  Yet one more? I have a 6.75 inch wrist  Mandatory lume shot. This is what I don't like about the Hogrider. Lousy lume.  And here is very good lume (in blue) from the DSSD and Rolex says, deep below, blue lume is the most natural.  And comparative EXCELLENT lume from the Seiko Sumo  Did I forget something?  Things I like about the Hogrider: 1) Excellent WIS surprise for great watch quality with a very low price point (about 1/5th of the Sumo). Superb visibility and readability from all angles thanks for sure to carefully applied AR and surely just on the inside. This is not a hackable and not a winding watch but heck, who cares, most of my Seikos are the same. The highlight of this watch to me, is the excellent bezel insert. I looked at it under a 10x loupe and it is so finely made with a deep black luster and sheen even better than Rolex and Seiko. The 60 clicks on the bezel have to be so deliberate that down below, I doubt you'd accidentally move your bezel fast forward. That counts for a lot, where it counts. It's even tighter than Rolex and Seiko, any Seiko diver. That's a whole lot of safety. To me, therefore, lots of surprising quality for so little money. 2) Hefty, heavy, substantial 200m divewatch with a bezel and case dimension that will impress. The watch is like a Sumo that's been flattened by the right pounding fist of Conan The Barbarian because it sits really flat, squat and wide on the wrist, perfect for long sleeved shirts and comfortable, too, by the way. 3) More than 52 hours after my purchase, it's eeriely accurate when regulated versus 3 beacons: my Blackberry and even my Sumo and DSSD. Lost only 4 seconds in 2 days...well, too early to tell, right? I still can't believe that accuracy. Maybe in a few weeks I'll find out with more certainty. 4) Like the Sumo, there are various finishes to the watch's numerous sides, angles and curves. I think the Hogrider wants to challenge the Sumo's finishing and polish on this matter. It's a good fight. 5) Day change press button reminds me of some of my vintage Seikos and even my old Seiko Bellmatic's button profile. Something you don't see everyday. 6) They say the black Sumo is the poor man's Rolex Sub. In that case then, put this up as the pauper's Rolex Sub. So many good things for so little money. 7) The 22mm wide bracelet all the way from lug to clasp end is something perfectly balancing the dimensions of the case. Viz the Seikos and Rolexes out there with narrow 20s and 22s, this Hogrider wins the cake. Now the bad news: 1) Some WIS have been bashing some Seikos for their sometimes cheap and clinky bracelets. Well, consider this the new whipping boy. The bracelet feels cheap and the clasp, has a hard time "going home" meaning you don't get the clicking bullseye when you close the clasp 100% of the time. Takes some time to get used to it. Oh, there's a tiny squeak, too. 2) The hands are too polite. It's like showing up for a bar room fight with everybody bringing baseball bats and you come with a belt . I would have preferred some more grit in the hands. Following that, lume is even more polite and bashful. 3) There's no pip. I always like a pip. Overall impressions: Definetely not my last Orient. I see myself on the prowl at ADs ready to shoot down some more. If you're idealistic and want to have your cake and eat it too, for so little money this is a lot of watch. Truly underrated and can be considered for any WIS' collection. Thanks for viewing and reading  .Last edited on Tue Mar 30th, 2010 11:36 am by bigrustypig |
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natevan70 3T WIS 
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Great review! hand6.gif If we were standing at the counter I'd be pulling my wallet right now. I'll really need to consider an Orient. |
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bigrustypig 3T WIS
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natevan70 wrote: Great review! hand6.gif Hahaha  , great comment. Thanks, Natevan. |
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stew77 Admin 
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Jeff, amigo, compadre...an absolutely fantastic comparison review of your new Orient arrival!!! ...the detail of the commentary and excellent photos with feature highlights and comparison notes is truly outstanding!!!! Your review is inspiring as I really value your "in the flesh" impressions of this timepiece as that is where quality (or lack thereof) will really show itself. At the price that these Orients are available for, I am seeing this as a true and absolute NO BRAINER... Love your excellent comparison comments and shots to the absolutely iconic DSSD and one of my favorite Seiko's (the Sumo). Like you said...some stylistic similarities to Omega...and dare I say that I see a little of the brand new Rolex Submariner case style in this Orient (I'm not saying it is the same or comparable to the new Sub...it is just that wider, blockier lug style sort of struck me a bit and that is the one that came to my mind first). It sure seems like this Orient is an absolute "how can I go wrong" watch...yes, as you pointed out, the Lume and bracelet quality is not going to set any standards, but I bet this one would look good on a Zulu or nice leather strap as well.... Thanks again for the excellent review my friend.  |
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toxicavenger 3T WIS 
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Great review! That is one nice looking hog that is for sure. |
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Nabco 3T WIS 
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Awesome Jeff, and a great review...a very classic diver with some nice touches  |
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Devin 3T WIS 
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Thanks for the review Jeff!I like it!! |
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metsfan999 3T WIS 
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Now THATS a review!!! Superb job! |
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Janner 3T WIS 
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Great review, have not considered Orient before but will be looking out for one now. |
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Paladin 3T WIS 
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Great review Jeff! Another fine edition to your massive sushi bar |
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ncvol17 3T WIS 
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Great review, but...I really like the markers on the Seiko.I love the round markers and the lume it projects.... The Rolex is a beauty but out of my price range since they upped prices so often over the time this recession has deepened..but for all 3 .. well done |
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Paxman 3T WIS 
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Thanks for taking the time to put your review together, Jeff. Very nice and informative. I like this model much more than the original Mako which had to go because of the goofy crowns but I wish this offering had decent lume. Orient makes a nice watch so I can't understand why they didn't go with a better lume on this model. With a better bezel and improved lume the Mako2 coul've been a contender but Orient just missed with this one imho. |
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IanM 3T WIS 
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Jeff - I have had a couple of Orients - the orange monster version, and the big 300m black sat diver. Both had exceptional build quality, and they are for sure worth the bucks. That Hogrider is just an instant classic. I would miss the pip at 12 too, but the 44mm case size is attractive as is the strsight and non-tapered bracelet. Is there a yellow version? That was a great review with excellent pics! Enjoy that puppy! IanM hand6.gif |
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Graham 3T WIS 
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Jeff Kudos on a great review. Congrats on the Orient! I will have to research this baby some more..... I must say I enjoyed the company of my Orient blue Mako for two weeks solid during my recent bike trip. Can't remember when last I wore a watch for that long.. |
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Tony Duronio 3T WIS 
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Nicely done Jeff...I like that one alot. |
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akshayb 3T WIS
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 That's a real review Jeff, thanks for details AkshayB |
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bigrustypig 3T WIS
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Thanks, gentlemen. I also posted some of my responses to your queries and comments on Daily Wrist Check. Well, 3 days after the purchase, it is still doing a good job at about +4 seconds. Again, too early to tell. A yellow variant would be a good one but I think Orient reserves the yellows for the higher priced Orient Star. Thanks again. |
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ndburley 3T WIS 
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Great review, I have 2 Orients but not a diver...maybe thats on the cards now :) Bouncy.gif |
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tpdtopcop 3T WIS
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congrats. that rolex lume is very nice. |
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OldeCrow 3T WIS 
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Very nice review Jeff, I always enjoy opening a new Orient box, there doesn't seem to be any rime or reason to the level of finish and materials they use in their watches per price point so it's a surprise every time you get a new one!  |
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tombs 3T WIS 
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Exellent review Jeff! I have own this model myself and the quality impressed me. Congrats and enjoy it :-) |
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