The $254 automatic dress watch that looks like a $2,000 vintage piece
Is this the right fit?
- Best for
- a first real automatic for someone leaving Apple Watch behind, a wedding or office dress watch, or a graduation gift that won't feel cheap five years from now
- Skip if
- Power reserve is 40 hours, so it stops on Monday morning if you wore something else all weekend
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- Confirm the dimensions, exact model, included parts and return terms on the Amazon listing before ordering.
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The Orient Bambino Version 2 is a 40.5mm automatic dress watch with a cream dial, Roman numeral hour markers, blued sword hands, and a domed mineral crystal that gives it the warped reflections of a vintage Omega. Inside is an in-house F6724 automatic movement that hand-winds, hacks (seconds stop when you pull the crown), and runs at 21,600 vph with a 40-hour power reserve. Leather strap. No batteries, ever. This is the watch the watch-collecting subreddits universally recommend as a first mechanical piece. Best fit: a first real automatic for someone leaving Apple Watch behind, a wedding or office dress watch, or a graduation gift that won't feel cheap five years from now.
Pros
- In-house F6724 movement, not a generic Miyota or Seiko clone
- Hacking and hand-winding capability is rare at this price
- Domed crystal and cream dial photograph beautifully and read as much older and more expensive
Cons
- Power reserve is 40 hours, so it stops on Monday morning if you wore something else all weekend
Frequently asked questions
Does it need a battery?
No. It's a mechanical automatic. It winds itself from your wrist motion or you can hand-wind it via the crown.
How accurate is it?
Spec is -15 to +25 seconds per day. In practice most owners report -5 to +10 over the long run, which is normal for an automatic at this price.
Can I swap the leather strap?
Yes, standard 21mm lug width. Spring bars are included. Quick-release straps aren't standard on this generation, so you'll need a spring bar tool.
Is the crystal sapphire or mineral?
Mineral. Replaceable for under $40 if you ever scratch it. Sapphire upgrades are available from third-party watchmakers.
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