New and Reviewed: Orient Star M34 F8 Date with Meteorite Dial
Orient Star released novelties for their 75th Anniversary, leading with the M34 Date Model with Meteorite dial. We received a loaner for evaluation, and bring you this hands-on review.
New and Reviewed: Orient Star 75th Anniversary M34 F8 Date Model with Meteorite Dial
The Orient Star 75th Anniversary M34 F8 Date Model with Meteorite Dial RE-BX0010A retails at USD 3,300. Limited Edition of 255 pieces.
The case and bracelet
The case is from Orient Star’s M34 collection, which they label as their Contemporary collection. This collection draws inspiration and is named after Pleiades, a cluster of stars of Perseus, known for its annual meteor shower.
The case is a classical case with integrated lugs. A polished bezel adorns the case over the dial. The case measures a nominal 40mm in diameter and is crafted from SUS316L Stainless Steel. The bracelet is a three link design, also in the same stainless steel, and carries a trifold deployant buckle with push button for opening. No fine adjustment mechanism is indicated.
The dial and hands
The dial is the outstanding feature of this novelty. Made from a slice of meteorite, it shows the Widmanstätten pattern very beautifully across the dial. This pattern is the characteristic of iron meteorites which forms as crystals over millions of years of cooling. Each pattern is unique, and it is said that the pattern is impossible to replicate artificially.
In the RE-BX0010A, it takes on a grey/silver hue. Orient Star’s meteorite dials are treated with a thin-film coating made by silver deposition to ensure the iron does not corrode over time. The pattern is quite beautiful as the metallic surface gleans and shows off the textured crystalline surface. We find the pattern on our review sample to be particularly attractive.
The sapphire glass over the dial is dual curved and coated on anti-reflective coating on both sides, providing 99% transmittance of light. The dial shows an arc for the power reserve indication below the Arabic 12 o’clock marker. All other markers are bar shaped featuring facets on all 4 sides. A trapezoidal aperture displays the date at 3 o’clock. We find the work in making the aperture cut and sunken power reserve sector to be well executed.
The hands for hours, minutes and central seconds are long and slender. These hands are also faceted. The facets are polished, zaratsu style, and catch light and reflect light at various angles quite beautifully. This high level of finish is typical of watches produced by Seiko Epson, who makes Orient Star as well watches for Grand Seiko and Credor.
The movement
The movement is the F8 N64. The F8 designation tell us that the movement is the highest level movement produced by Orient Star. The movement is automatic winding with the ability of being hand wound. The Cal. F8N64 is fully visible from the sapphire case back. The movement runs at a steady 21,600 bph, and retains a power reserve of 60 hours displayed as a fan shaped gauge below the 12 o’clock on the dial.
The movement features a silicon escape wheel, like the other models within the F8 range, and carries a specification for accuracy at +15/-5 seconds a day, a number which is not impressive. However, given the inherent conservative specification typical of the Japanese, we found that in our daily use over the course of the 1 month loaner, the watch kept good time. This is sufficient accuracy for non-chronometer usage.
Movement finishing is judged to be very good. Many of the typical haute horlogerie elements which we see in watches pitched at a much higher price point are present. The côtes de Genève style rules on the rotor is executed nicely. As are the anglage on the edges of the bridges and the edges of the rotor and its openings. We do observe that the internal openings on the rotor do not feature sharp angles and machined. The screws also appear to be chemically blued, with the slots still in silver. Considering the asking price, we think these omissions are fair and reasonable. The rear bezel carries the verbiage including text for the 75th Anniversary, limited edition and individual serial number.
Concluding thoughts
Overall, the Orient Star 75th Anniversary M34 F8 Date Model with Meteorite Dial is an excellent watch representative of what can be achieved at the value oriented market segment. The watch has excellent aesthetics, and the use of the meteorite dial is a nice value add at this price level. It wears comfortably and offers sufficient accuracy and reliability to go through daily use with ease.
More information is found on the Orient Star 75th Anniversary site.
Orient Star 75th Anniversary M34 F8 Date Model with Meteorite Dial Specifications
| Collection | Contemporary Collection (M34) |
| Model name | M34 F8 Date |
| Reference | RE-BX0010A |
| Movement | Automatic (with hand winding) mechanical in-house calibre F8N64 |
| Power reserve | Over 60 hours |
| Accuracy | +15 seconds ~ -5 seconds per day |
| Case material | Stainless steel (SUS316L) |
| Case size | Height 47.3 mm / width 40.0 mm / thickness 12.9 mm |
| Caseback | Orient Star 75th Anniversary, limited edition and serial number engraving |
| Glass | Front: Dual curve sapphire crystal (SAR coating), back: sapphire crystal |
| Bracelet | Stainless steel (SUS316L) / trifold deployant buckle with push button / width 20 mm |
| Dial colour (material) | Silver (Meteorite) |
| Limited Edition | 255 pieces |
| Other features | Water resistance to 10 bar (100 m), power reserve indicator,second hand hacking, 22 jewels, see-through exhibition case back, date |