Orient Celebrates 75th Anniversary With 1950s Logo Bambino Limited Editions & First Solar-Powered Bambino

Orient Watches is celebrating its 75th anniversary with some very cool limited-edition pieces that bring back a vintage aesthetic that, to be completely honest, I had no idea about. This trio of Orient Bambino limited editions is done using the brand’s original logo from the 1950s which makes for some of the Japanese brand's most attractive watches in recent memory. In addition to these three LEs, Orient is also expanding the Bambino collection to include four new dial colors for the Bambino Classic and three new dial colors for the Bambino Day/Night. Finally, there is the exciting new addition of the first solar-powered Bambino in a 38mm case.

Let’s start with the Bambino 75th Anniversary Limited Edition Ref. RA-AC0027S, which is a take on the Bambino Classic and is limited to a still-not-so-small 9,500 pieces. The classically designed white dial has pink-gold-colored indices, blue hands, and that vintage Orient logo while the exhibition caseback has “Orient Since 1950 75th Anniversary” embossed on the sapphire crystal, beneath which beats the Caliber F6B24 with 40-hour power reserve. The watch comes on an interchangeable calf leather strap, as well. The case measures 40.5mm wide and 12.3mm thick with a lug-to-lug measurement of 46.5mm (30 meters of water resistance). In addition to this limited edition, there are four new standard Bambino Classic models introduced in green, navy blue, beige, and Bordeaux dials (sharing the same specs as the limited edition).

Next up is the Bambino Sun and Moon 75th Anniversary Limited Edition Ref. RA-AK0808S which is limited to 5,500 pieces. With the same aesthetic signatures as the classic LE, this one has a sun/moon indicator at 5 o’clock and day-of-the-week indicator at 10 o’clock. This case measures 41.5mm wide and 14.2mm thick with a lug-to-lug measurement of 47mm. The movement here has the same specs as the Bambino Classic with additional functions. In addition to the anniversary LE, there are new green, navy blue, and Bordeaux dial color options for the Bambino Sun and Moon.

Finally, there is the 75th Anniversary Bambino in a 38mm case (Ref. RA-WK0006S), which is limited to 750 pieces. This joins the Mako collection in Orient’s growing solar-powered catalog and is the first Bambino to do so. It also debuts Orient’s first leather strap made of synthetic apple leather, which is created from upcycled apples. I’d love to handle this new sustainable material in person so I can get a feel for it compared to typical leather. This watch measures 38.4mm wide and 10.5mm thick with a lug-to-lug measurement of 43.5mm. In addition to the 75th anniversary model, there are white, pale green, ivory, black, and pale pink dial options available.

These new limited-edition Orient Bambino watches are so good looking that I can’t help but wish Orient would introduce the vintage logo to its regular production line. I’ve always admired Orient watches but the aesthetic has never really drawn me in too much; that said, I would absolutely rock one of these vintage logo models. We don’t have full information on U.S. availability and pricing so far but there is information for the European market: the limited-edition Bambino Classic is priced at £330, and the limited-edition Bambino Day/Night is priced at £400. We’ll also update with the price of the solar-powered Bambino once we find that out.