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It comes in 4 designs, 3 standard models in grey, blue-green and blue gradation dials and a 2000pc limited edition burgundy dial in a copper plated case. The 3 standard models come on a metal bracelet while the limited edition comes on a vintage style leather strap. If someone is looking for an entry watch, he will not be disappointed pulling the trigger on a Kamasu.
It's the first time I am reviewing a watch made by Orient but it is not the first Orient watch I own. My first Orient was an Orient Star GMT I bought in 2002. I really loved this watch but it got stolen in London in 2011. These are regular editions, which differ in dial and bezel color and watch bends. A limited-edition RA-AA0007A09A completes the Orient Kamasu family.After two month, I took the watch to the Baltic Sea, everything I noted is still valid. The Kamasu is a nice, little gem, a fun watch, a daily beater. For the price even pre-discount, you get a reputable brand with decades of watch making experience, incredible build quality and finishing for the price, a sapphire glass crystal and a proven in-house movement. I’d be hard pressed to find a better value than this. Now obviously, I wouldn't classify Orient as a micro brand. Being a subsidiary of the Seiko Epson Corporation, Orient avoids this issue, which often occurs when there is a frenzy for a particular model. They've also enjoyed a long watchmaking history of over 75 years, offering a wide variety of watches for all tastes and wrist sizes, which I'm sure allows their tooling and production to continue at full throttle. Orient also produces its movements in-house; more on that later. The sapphire crystal fits exactly into the case, everything sits secure and tight. The crystal does not line up precisely with the case.
I learned that Kamasu is the Japanese word for Barracuda. Both, bezel and minute hand, give a corresponding impression. Looking at the bezel it looks like a barracuda took a bite. The minute hand comes to a very sharp point, like the teeth of a barracuda. Lume is plentiful and very visible in the dark, much like how the dial is also highly visible in the day. This is hands down a tool watch through and through. Yes, let's talk about this beauty of a dial! Probably the first thing we notice about any watch; the first characteristic that grabs our attention! It's like walking into a house as a prospective buyer and thinking either "I could live here for years" or "Nope, get me out of here!". The shade of green is perfect and behaves differently depending on the light. It has a pleasing sunburst effect, and although it is green, it often exudes teal hues. The texture under macro examination exhibits a subtle orange-peel texture.
Seiko SKX Vs Citizen Vs Orient Kamasu
Decision points: When originally looking for a Ray replacement, I was considering the Triton/Neptune, the Ray II, the Kamasu and the Kanno. The Ray II got ruled out because my dad has my original Ray and I didn't want just the upgraded movement. The Kanno got ruled out on case size over 43mm, so it was down to the Triton/Neptune or the Kamasu. I REALLY like the Triton/Neptune, but I was looking for a desk diver/beater. The Neptune's height meant it'd difficult with shirt cuffs (I have similar height divers and its a pain with long sleeves. Kamasu it was! Dimensions: Hard to tell in the picture, but my SKX007K2 is wider at 43mm, although it appears shorter lug to lug. the SKX is a smidge taller, and the short L2L makes it wear "fat". Winner: Orient Kamasu.
There exists a small space in the world of mechanical watches, a space that is occupied by only a handful of brands that are able to deliver solid build quality from a reputable manufacturer at a reasonable cost. Orient is one of those few brands, and the Kamasu expertly exemplifies those abilities. These are the important elements that really matter, and this is how a watch can earn its “cred”, not from shady marketing or murky sourcing. The Kamasu reminds all of us cynics of one thing: sometimes you can believe the hype. About the author You've got broad and lumed indexes complimenting the handset, which reminds me of those divers of the 1960s from Cimier, Longines, Iaxa, Rotary (to name just some). Well needless to say, I absolutely love this watch. So much so that it has actually taken over my Orient Defender II as my go to daily watch, the one that I grab whenever I can’t or don’t have time to decide on what to wear. The dial refresh really did it for me and has caused my diver collection to expand beyond what I had originally limited it to.
The Orient Kamasu — a fish for all seasons
The combination of case diameter, height and bezel might cause the watch looking smaller as it really is. However this may be, with a L2L of 46,5mm it is a perfect fit on my wrist. Hi there folks! My blue Kamasu has finally arrived, so for those of you wondering which of Orient's budget divers is for you I thought I'd record my initial impressions and make a few comparisons to the standard at the price point, the Seiko SKX 007. I will also make a few remarks regarding the original Orient Ray. I gave my blue Ray to my father and two years later came to miss the blue beater. The Kamasu is the replacement, and a bit of an upgrade. The lume used throughout is all in matching green. While it may not be the same luminescent formula, Orient could have fooled me into thinking I was looking at a Seiko with C3 at first glance. Longevity is acceptable with the lume, and although it's not going to win any lume wars, it is miles better than many other, lesser watches you could find at this price point. The lettering on the dial is quite unobtrusive. There`s the Orient emblem applied/printed at 12 and in very tiny letters you read "Automatic" (cursive, white), "Water Resistant 20 bar" at 6.
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