I’ve been collecting for years and bought 2 of these. They are amazing. These are not just for starting collectors. Great piece for beginning to experienced watch lovers!👍🏼

Newbies.... don't worry about the reported negatives on the bracelet. It is one of the MOST comfortable bracelets out there. Taper and width as reported by KZfaqrs often comes down to group think. Not the case with Dave I'm sure, but I HATE taper on a bracelet and know there are lots of folks like me. A broad bracelet makes the watch more solid and keeps it from bobbling around.

I love my Orient Kamasu. Probably one of the best value and one of the most loved watches out there, not just for beginners

I got the new Kamasu (with the more traditional looking dial) earlier in this year as my only watch after letting go of my Seiko 5's. I really like its versatility, how it doesn't look out of place in most scenarios. It also does make you a bit more unique in a budget space where most people opt for Seiko. And while my collection grew a bit again, the Kamasu is still part of my core rotation as a weekend watch.

Had mine for 4 years now and still feels good knowing its still a great value today

I have several high end automatic watches, including Rolex and Omega, and I love my Kamasu. My only complaints are the ones you mention: the crown is a little difficult to operate, the bezel is a little stiff, and I’m not a fan of the bracelet, at all. That said, I always have this on alternate straps. I have numerous silicone straps in various colors (I have the blue dial) that look great, and my favorite is a blue sailcloth strap. It’s a great watch that looks sharp, keeps great time, and can stand up to everyday use. It’s kind of a no-brainer.

The Kamasu is so good it could be your only auto. You can even mod it. The new gradient dials are really pretty.

I have Tissot PRX, SARB033, SARB035 and other 15 plus watches but I still always reach out for Kamasu (same deep green dial color) almost 4/7 days. This is a killer watch! Just buy it

My first watch was the Kamasu and I couldn't be happier. You've got a great channel and I look forward to learning more through your genuine love for watches and critique!

100% agree that the Kamasu is a great watch! I liked everything about it: the red dial, the hour markers, hands, and overall legibility. I paired it with a rubber strap since I knew I'd dislike the bracelet. The only real mark against it was the crown, at least for me. I would've kept it if were larger or the crown guards smaller or nonexistent.

i never tire of hearing about kamasu. probably should buy one.

The Kamasu was my first automatic watch purchase a few months ago. Absolutely love it. Threw a nato strap on it right out of the box. I find myself using the bezel to track elapsed time quite often. Seems like a great gateway watch. Great video!

The Kamasu (I have the blue one) has basically become one of my go-to watches when heading into the office. Brand new it ran +2spd and settled around +7spd, which puts it above most of my NH powered watches.

You can’t go wrong with this watch. Especially with the recent Seiko price increases

I have this exact watch, and I immediately ordered a jubilee style bracelet, solid end-links and milled clasp. It transforms the watch and makes up for it’s one and only drawback. $40 added to the price of the watch made it $240 even. I have a very large collection and I completely agree with you.

i bought it 2020, still runs smooth. Went diving,hiking and all other craziness. It's so far my only watch tho but what i know for fact is that i would never sell it.

I wear one daily, and love it. The sapphire crystal is a must, as I am hard on watches. It's going on 3 years old and I have already replaced the bezel insert. It's an after market and fairly cheap. I like it better however because the zeros are round and not square shaped like the original. Mine will stay accurate to within 10 seconds for a month or so.

During my watch journey I have picked up 3x Kamasu gen 1 in black, green and blue and also from gen 2 the grey and now the red version. I like them all.

Bought the oxblood Kamasu 2 last month. Awesome watch. It's the second cheapest in my collection but the one I find myself wanting to wear the most...

I have had my burgundy dial Kamasu for about 6 months and it’s terrific. It doesn’t compete with my high end Swiss pieces, but it’s better than my Seiko models. If I was a first-in newbie, I would go Orient before Seiko every time.

Just bought a Kamasu. Can't wait to get it out of its box. Seems to be a great start for collecting excellent timepieces

Orient is a sleeper brand. Super good value and really well made. Dont know why they dont get more love...

My Wife bought me this watch for my Xmas 2022 after watching me watching you, review this watch. Absolutely made up and you are spot on with the crown guards restricting access to the crown but even with that is a remarkable watch and has been extremely accurate. I meant to leave a comment long before now but truly enjoy the channel and your expertise on such quality timepieces from Japan. Orient = quality in my opinion.

Orient maybe the best first best automatic, but Orient is a good for any purchase. I like Japanese products, integrity and quality. All I need are Casio, Seiko, and Orient, not some over priced Rolex.

Very good presentation. I like Orient a lot. I don’t understand why one needs to spend more money. I can’t see a reason to do so or I possibly would. Seiko is excellent as well. Also Casio is nothing to laugh at either. As a general rule Japanese companies are very reliable to do business with. In my youth for work reasons I would go to Japan a few times a year. I like the culture and the people very much.

2024 anyone? Ordered one today. Sapphire and rubine display, great looking and versatile

Great video Dave 😀 . For those just getting in the Hobby and wondering I wholeheartedly agree. One of if not my first automatic watch that I still have and love is the komatsu's brother, the Ray ll. Granted the bezel was a little tight when I first got it but it broke in and now it works great. On the flip side of that coin I recently picked up a beautiful purple dial Orient world time GMT diver and I love it as well 😇 ..

I´ve got one, and modded it, changed the bracelet for a jubilee with solid end links and milled clasp, and also changed the bezel, put one with sapphire and lume. Now it has climbed several steps in quality

I bought one of these when I got back into collecting watches, It was one of the original models back in the day. I had it for about a month before I returned it, though I didn't return it for any flaw, I returned it because I was able to get a Seiko alpinist at a really good price. Now I'll confess, the reason why the alpinist was so appealing is because I have RSI pain and larger watches tend to exacerbate it. That being said, the kamasu did not cause wrist pain for me despite its size. I think this is because of its case length which is relatively compact for a 42 mm watch. Just for reference, I own a Tudor black Bay Ceramic (41mm) and I can't wear it more than 3 hours without it hurting my wrist. If I was going to buy another affordable dive watch, I would absolutely get another kamasu, you really can't beat the value proposition of this watch.

The Kamasu was one of my first automatic watches is an absolute value for the price-to-quality ratio. I have the burgundy dial and it is unique and pops on the wrist. I love it and recommend it to anyone that is on the fence. I also just got the Orient Ray 2 this past week and was blown away by its value to price. Can't go wrong.

In the price to quality ratio, this is hands down the best watch, and the design is absolutely gorgeous

Dave, one of the best reviews of the Kamasu I have seen. Thumbs up!

6:28 I agree, the date complication is probably the thing I actually need most on a timepiece. BTW, I have the shirt you’re wearing (in blue). Love it. It perfectly represents my watch passion… and I like supporting a channel like yours. You really have your head on straight in this hobby. 👍🏻

Orient Kamasu is an amazing watch, but I picked Ray 2 as my first automatic watches, and still love them. For $120, they are pretty much the same watch minus sapphire crystal. At the time of my purchase, Kamasu cost $220, which is almost double the cost of Ray2/Mako2. When my Ray2 scratches badly, replacing the crystal to sapphire would cost me ~$30.

The Citizen Automatic Promaster Dive Watch blows this Orient watch clearly out of the water and the Citizen is also ISO certified. Who in the world would pay for this Orient watch when the Citizen has a similar price, sapphire crystal and is ISO certified? Matter of fact, the Citizen also blows the Seiko SKX out of the water because Seiko has QC issues and does not include a sapphire crystal.

I love orient watch...i have my bambino for 20.yrs now

My first automatic (other than the Doxa I inherited) was a Seiko SKN805. If I member correctly, the second was a Chinese "homage," the third was an Orient TriStar, and the fourth was a blue-dial Kamasu. Now I own six Orient dive-style watches, including a "Baby Triton," which I think is a better watch. That said, my black-dial Mako II gets the most wrist time of all my Orients.

I have this watch and I’m happy with this. It’s my go to when I travel abroad or to the beach. Very good fit on my wrist.

For same price, Kamasu 2 has much better case finish with brushed sides / polished edges and more interesting dial, instead of boring full polished design and uniform dial on kamasu1. I got the RA-AA0810N and it's a good step up to my old RA-AA0004. Just my humble 2cents. Otherwise love the channel. Keep up the good work!

Just pick one up with Black and Gold trim, really enjoy it.

bought this watch and replace the bracelet with the Jubilee bracelet. Perfection!

Three points. 1. Hand winding on an automatic is more for starting the watch not fully winding it. 2. The watch has a 200m rating so a solid non see through back is expected. 3. It comes with a decent bracelet for the price, manufacturers tend to cut the cost on the bracelet to allow for a higher quality in the watch itself, the reasoning in this is many will swap out the bracelet, it’s the easiest thing to customize. At least they didn’t skimp on the crystal.

Dave, you are the man! I love your reviews! You’ve totally helped me get good knowledge of this new hobby of collecting horological pieces of art, without talking over my head, or making me feel stupid. No bells and whistles, just great information! Well done sir! Keep ‘em comin’!

Being from India, it's difficult to get hold of this watch. somehow I got the red dial Kamasu..n I am in love with it.. i treasure it more than any other watches I have.. I was gonna buy Seiko..but only Seiko 5 falls in my budget and Orient beats it hands down...will plan to get a Triton soon..

I bought one of these 2 years ago it's my daily. You can get a higher-quality bracelet with an OEM fit from Strapcode for about $100. I bought one 6 months ago and it's great.

I have way more expensive watches and I purchased two of these in different colors and they are honestly two of my favorite watches , only my two Orient watches came with the rubber dive bands and I put one of these on a nylon band that matches the watch . They really are my favorites ! And I love dive watches because they are so rugged and being water proof is awesome . I also demand that my watch have good size and I’ve rarely seen a watch too big for me and because I’m a big guy these are again awesome ! I love the Seiko Arnie dive watches and I have the black and the special edition with the blue and green parts and these Orient watches are as good and as cool as those watches . Do yourself a favor and pick one up .

I’ve heard this opinion from every corner of the KZfaq watchverse… bought one, ran about +25-30 secs a day and then the stem broke 2 weeks in. And Orient USA’s service was lackluster to be kind. I have no doubt that a good, well regulated example would give years of satisfaction but I wasn’t so lucky.

I owned this exact green model and sold it to my brother just because the green hue was much more darker than what I expected... I must congratulate you Dave, for presenting on a video the real hue this watch really has; somehow all previous video reviews (at least a couple years old) happen to show a brighter green color. Having said that, it is such a great watch. Quality is there no doubt. I'd pass all your 'negatives' and say that my only real gripe for this watch is the lack of anti reflective coating... If you're trying to make the dial color pop out under the sunlight you'll most likely get blinded by the reflection of the crystal. That is my only gripe for this watch. It is no doubt the best first automatic diver watch to own.

I have this watch and really like it. It was my second automatic watch behind the Seiko 5. There is one other con that I have found with the Orient. There is no AR coating, and because it does have the flat sapphire crystal, the light can reflect like a laser beam at times.

I have a Mako 3 & really like the watch; especially at the price. The only gripe is the bracelet in that it has a very cheap and overly light “tinny” feel to it. I’ve since swapped to a nylon band & it’s a big improvement. Overall, solid watch for $250 US.

On a rubber strap this is my favorite watch for daily use. So durable, day/date and lume is fantastic. Best beater out there! I have the green, looks great on leather

its a very solid watch for the price. Truly one of my most impressive pieces in terms of value. The hand winding is not the smoothest but small pick. It's a great watch.

Great watch, I've bought it three year ago and it's my everyday watches now. Luminous arrows remain lit for a 10-12 hours during night time. Just there is one dissappoting moment is not so good accuracy comparing with powermatic 80 .

That blue dial POPS! 😍

I have just bought a Geckota Pioneer with a NH35 movement. It’s the most beautiful watch I’ve ever owned. I also have the Rolex Sub homage watch made by Steeldrive. It’s wonderful - well made and more accurate than it should be at that price point!

When I first got my Kamasu I was wishing that I could see the movement as it was holding time so well that I thought maybe it was a quartz sitting in there. . Just did a week long check and this sweetheart was only 2 seconds slow after 168 hours. It's the best of my autos'.

I’d anyone is coming from an Apple Watch and wants a “real” watch; this is your best option. For roughly $100 you can buy a Vostok watch from Russia, that’s the watch I bought and have had for 1.5 years. I love it but the benefits of this orient make it more then worth the price difference. If you’re unsure on an automatic watch don’t worry, this is a watch you can own and wear for two months and sell on eBay for the price you paid; you’ll just lose shipping costs. If you at all want an automatic watch you can’t go wrong with this orient, I got a watch for half the price of this and this is a dream model to me. You can make your money back if you ever change your mind and want to sell this plus for $200 you may find a watch that you absolutely love. Watches can be for life so if you want to “join the club” this is your most affordable yet best option. Again you can make your money back but this watch will teach you if you like automatic watches or not

My Kamasu on the leather strap helped me get through a bad case of COVID. Just love it. On the rubber, its served as a reliable tool in my emergency job

Got the Zeppelin Hindenburg LZ 129 as my first automatic. Fully agree that the Kamasu (i have the blue gold limited edition), is an almost perfect first watch

The Kamasu i got definitely feels more well built than my Seiko 5 GMT, amazing value for the money

I have a red dial Kamasu. A great looking, robust watch. A true value. Sometimes it takes a couple attempts to line up the threads to properly screw down the crown, and the bezel can also be difficult to grip, slightly slippery. No big deals.✌🏽

I love my Orient Mako 2. I got it before the Kamasu was released. Always glad to see Orient get some praise.

My first automatic dive watch was/is an Orient Ray2, had it for years...still is a go to for me. I paid $120 usd for it.

I own this exact watch and it is everything you say it is! I also own the t-shirt and get in trouble from the family for wearing it so often!

I do have a soft spot for the Kamasu, it was my daily diver for a couple of years, and it’s a fantastic offering from a reputable brand. It’s not without its faults, mostly on the bracelet, although I also found the crown too small too. If you’re into dive watches it’s a great first choice, but if you have a penchant for field watches, the Seiko SNK8 series are hard to beat, that was my gateway watch, visible (if so what dated) movement and a classic fliegr design for not a lot of money

My 1st gen kamasu is my daily beater and its amazing.

I started (well, re-started) with a Seiko SRPH87K1 for around €230, with a 4R35 calibre, in my opinion much more elegant

Thanks to your video I figured out how to set my first ever watch.

Great review, thanks. My Kamasu green was ordered based on this review and is on the way - courier should be here in ½ hour :-) Already have a brown leather Hirsch strap waiting for it....

You're completely wrong (jk) . . . the RED DIAL version is obviously much prettier . . . Seriously, at about $200 USD, 200mWR, feels good, good weight, solid clasp (so far). SUPER EASILY readable in both Daylight and Night via Lume. I absolutely love mine. (It's my 4th Mechanical, the Seiko 5 you show early on in the video, was my first one. It's a bit thicker but also EASILY readable day or night.) Depending on a person's price capabilities . . . the Kamasu is the model I'd recommend. (If you're mowing lawns to buy one for dad . . . the Casio Duro is nothing to scoff at for a "dress watch" at a lower price.) Great video. Thanks for showing it off to the masses.

I have to say I like my red Kamasu. That being said the dial in certain light does look a bit cheap. The dial is not smooth it has refinement issues. Also if your looking for your first automatic you will definitely want to see the movement in the back. Thanks for the review!

This was one of the watches I was considering when I first got into watches recently. However, my friend became interested in getting a watch too so I recommended him this one. He loves that thing and wears it everyday. Having seen and held the watch myself, it's easy to see why.

Yeah, Kamasu will probably stay the best entry level auto for years to come. 👏

Orient has always been a favorite. Orient never went down the battery rabbit hole. They just kept making good watches at great prices. I have a few and love 'em all.

Beginner in what aspect? Sounds like others might be hard to control? Difficult to use? To maintain? To carry?

Love mine. Got a couple of other Orient divers. They're a lot of watch for the money with in house movements and heritage. All good

Great video and if you want something slightly sportier and $50 cheaper, the Mako II is a great option but you'll be giving up the sapphire crystal.

Just ordered this green kamasu, I can't wait. My first orient. Also I have 2 presage seiko, for the price that I've paid, i can't believe they didn't put sapphire crystal, so many scratches, I'm at the point of replacing the crystal.

Here I review two watches, one with Seiko movement and one with Citizen movement, in steel case with sapphire crystal, and I bought *both* for about $100: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pdyllbJltJO8eHU.html

Good points and well made. For anyone wanting to spend 200, this a super duper buy.

i bought it as my first mechanical watch...i love it ... only 1 thing i dont like is that it runs arround +15 sec/day ... i know its in the specs and it may be normal for a watch in that price range but i would love to see +5 or less... unlucky there.. other than that its an amazing watch

I really enjoy you and your reviews. I also think this is a fine watch. So please don't misunderstand. I do find some of this review a little annoying. First, if this is a great watch, looks great, has great features, keeps good time--why do you keep positioning it as a "first watch" or "entry level watch"? Why would it not serve as your only watch? Makes no sense. And this description that you would move to this mechanical from a "throw away watch".... The Kamasu will need service in 5 years or so, or it will cease to be reliable. That service will likely cost more than the price of the watch, so most people will throw away the Kamasu in 5 years. The Kamasu is the throw-away. I have several quality mechanicals, but I also have an array of quartz watches. For example, I have a decades old Omega Seamaster with a quartz movement that keeps perfect time and only requires a $10 battery every 3 years or so, and it will run that way forever. I also have a Seiko everyday/dress watch with quartz movement, sapphire crystal, 100 meter water resistance, and a strapcode replacement bracelet with solid links and endlinks. All in, I'm under $200 on the Seiko. It keeps perfect time and will run forever. Is it a throw-away? Your language reflects your disdain for... what? That said, take care and keep up the good work. I enjoying watching.

22mm lug width is great for aftermarket straps availability....there is no way I wear a watch with hollow end links, so to me 22mm is welcome. But I get your point.

I agree. Orient is the perfect brand for beginners but also enthusiasts. But from China San Martin watches are a look worth.

Great video. I had 2 of the Orient Ray 2's. Love them dearly. But I think the most comfortable and stylish affordable option was the Seiko Sea Urchin. Best beater watch ever.

Yes, I find Kamasu beautiful, but I don't like heavy watches or watches over 146 grams. If it had a titanium case, I would definitely buy it.

Best intro song for your videos! Great job on the content 👍

I have Orient Kamasu and Seiko Sumo Hulk and can say it compares. I think the red dial is better but I have a sunburst green for a low key design. Despite being small I like it since it fits my wrist better but I prefer a larger case and face of the sumo as I am used to big cases. The sizes are not very far from each other and is very tolerable even for my small wrist.

Love the video, love the watch, gonna buy a green one when I graduate in a few months! But I wanna say, the sound is awesome. Just noticed that the voiceover is killer, great quality! Cheers Dave!

Perhaps, but if they had the 20min mark in red ...or blue...it would be perfect!! Loved Orients...thank you for the review

The longer you have this watch in your collection the more likely you'll end up doing a few modifocations to it. Just a simple bracelet and bezel swap can change the look and feel higher end quality

Bought the red one this year and its time keeping is excellent about 5 seconds plus a day. It wears great. As u say 20mm lug width would make it perfect. The bracelet is a little cheap but otherwise its excellent

This is a great automatic for anybody, not just the beginner! I’d go with the earlier 40mm in blue. 174 bucks on Joma, get it while it’s hot.

Kamasu is a great watch. I have 2 thinking about a 3rd. Spot on review Dave.

I am also live in Japan. Only recently have I come to appreciate Orient watches. (I am getting older and losing interest in [Swiss made] watches ;)

I have a good sized collection containing German, Swiss, and Japanese watches. But I’ve never owned an Orient. Since Black Friday is tomorrow…maybe I’ll have to do a serous search. Great video. Thanks. Happily Holidays.

I have a Mako USA II which is my daily and the now unavailable limited edition Kamasu. Orients are by far the best entry level automatics hands down imo.

Got mine in dark blue a few days ago, looks even better in person, recommend for sure! Also I think the clasp while stamped is defo still very secure

I have 5 or 6 Orient watches....mechanical watches. They are shockingly good.

I wore an Orient Ray II for a year just fine. When I upgraded to the Kamasu, it just did not stay on my wrist. Ray II has a mineral crystal and the Kamasu has sapphire which lacks AR coatings. Sapphire has an index of refraction of 1.76 compared to 1.5 of glass. If you know the Fresnel equations from optics, this means sapphire has much more reflective glare. Hence the need for an AR coating. The dial of the Kamasu has low contrast and is hard to see behind the glare at most lighting angles. If the Kamasu had a mineral crystal, it would have been a great watch. I bought a double domed sapphire crystal with AR I'm going to install on my Kamasu so I can wear it again.