• Ｗ, Quality Assurance Department


• ●Hobby = Watching football, running
  I played football all throughout secondary school. These days I’m hooked on running and am planning to run my first full marathon at the Matsumoto Marathon soon.


• ● Favourite food = Bread
  Right now I’m obsessed with the delicious taste and aroma of freshly baked bread from the local bakery. I usually go to a bakery called Sweet in Matsumoto City, and I especially recommend the curry bread and milk bread.

Tell us the name of your favourite watch.

It’s been discontinued, but it’s the Orient Star Retrograde (model WZ0071DE).

What made you want to buy it?

I first saw it around ten years ago, at a trade exhibition for new Orient Star products. The model came with a 46 series movement and retrograde function. At first, I thought, “What exactly is a retrograde function?” Then I became curious about the structure of the watch, and the more I looked into it, the more I wanted to buy it for myself, so I ended up purchasing it.

Which parts of the watch are you particularly attracted to?

Analogue displays and hands are used to indicate the time, power reserve and calendar (day and date), giving the watch consistency and you can also easily tell that it has a retrograde function from its design. I love watching the retrograde (day) hand jump from Sunday to Monday; when I initially bought it, I remember turning the hand over and over just so I could see it jump. The model introduced me to the world of complicated watches, and it spurred me on to study the structures of various watches of this kind.

Which model would you recommend right now?

I would recommend the M45 F7 Mechanical Moon Phase Limited Edition (model RE-AY0124N). This model features the 46-F7 series movement, which is an advanced version in the 46 series, coupled with a moon phase function. The complicated functions are impressive in themselves, but above all, I love the visual impact of the all-black colour scheme! The gradation is also beautiful, particularly how the expression of the dial changes depending on the angle of the light.

What points do you consider when choosing a watch?

When I’m choosing a watch, I like to imagine myself in various scenarios. I’m also drawn to watches that are mechanical in nature but feature sophisticated designs – after all, mechanical watches aren’t just tools for telling the time. I’m attracted to semi skeleton and other models that are built and designed to reveal the mechanical movement within, such as those with a see-through caseback. Needless to say, basic functions for everyday use are essential as well, such as high legibility when telling the time, and a power reserve indicator (a function that shows the remaining power reserve).

In addition to the semi skeleton models, many of Orient Star’s other models are also designed to showcase the mechanical movement, such as by incorporating a see-through caseback. This allows the wearer to enjoy seeing the internal mechanism in motion. Many models also come with a power reserve indicator, the practicality of which is appealing.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

This can be said for all mechanical watches, but getting an overhaul (maintenance) service done regularly will ensure you can get many more years out of your watch. I’ve been using my Orient Star Retrograde for ten years now, and it’s still going strong. You want to make sure your favourite mechanical watch lasts for a long time.

The mechanical movement that Orient Star painstakingly developed was first launched in 1971 or the 46th year of Showa in the Japanese calendar. Because of this, the movement is nicknamed “yon-roku” (“four” and “six” in Japanese). Although it has certainly evolved since then, the central mechanism of the movement remains the same. The fact that it has been in production for over fifty years proves just how highly reliable it is.

● Editor’s note

According to Ｗ, most of the watches sent in for after-sales maintenance are damaged in some way. He says “On hot days when you’re sweating, make sure to wipe down your watch after you take it off. This alone makes a huge difference.” Watches may look solid and sturdy, but they’re actually made of precision instruments. Just like health checks and car inspections, watches need regular servicing as well.