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Home » Watch Reviews » Orient President Day Date Watch Review

Orient President Day Date Watch Review

January 3, 2020 by Ulises Valenzuela 23 Comments — Updated on March 5, 2020

Orient President Day Date Review

Since the advent of the wristwatch industry, certain watches have transcended the aesthetic sensibilities of their time, having been envisioned to be worn for decades all the way back from the drawing board. The Rolex Datejust, and later the Rolex Day Date, are clear examples of this, and have spawned a plethora of both ill-fated replicas and respectful homages. The Orient 2EV03000BY “Day Date” is, in my opinion, one of the most tasteful homages out there. Today we have the pleasure of taking a closer look at this rare piece, but first, let’s get the basic specifications out of the way:

  • Full reference number: 2EV03000BY
  • Case material: Stainless Steel
  • Case diameter: 36 mm
  • Lug width: 20 mm
  • Lug-to-lug length: 44 mm
  • Thickness: 11 mm
  • Movement: Orient 46E
  • Frequency: 21,600 bph
  • Power reserve: 40 h

Very scarce information about Orient is available online. More commonly known as an independent, small successful brand in emerging markets, nowadays Orient is owned by Seiko Epson, and has recently launched pieces such as the Mako and the Ray to great acclaim due to their astounding value. However, just like Seiko, Orient has experimented with different styles throughout the years. The Orient Day Date is one of such experiments, and brings a great level of affordability to one of the great horology icons of the 20th century. 

Dial

A striking sunburst pattern graces the dial of the Orient Day Date, which is more of a pleasant charcoal shade than true black when viewed on direct sunlight. The baton-shaped hour markers draw attention towards the edge of the dial, which features a railroad track minute scale with small Roman numerals. It should be noted that the much more common 2nd generation model of the Orient Day Date is adorned with a diamond at every hour marker, which in my opinion detracts from the understated elegance of the original Rolex Day Date. This rare example of a 1st generation Orient Day Date is much more balanced, and keeps the famed subtlety of its source of inspiration. The baton-style hands further emphasize the design language of this piece: straight, sober, and refined. At 6 o’clock, the text “21 jewels – Water Resist” tells us a little about the technical aspects of the watch, while the Orient logo at 12 o’clock confidently completes the picture.

Day Date Dial Photo
The cyclops lens creates beautiful refractions in direct sunlight.

Of course, what are we really interested on is the “Day Date” aspect of the watch. At 3 o’clock, the usual date window peers through the charcoal dial, but a much more exciting window is positioned above the Orient logo, proudly displaying the day of the week like a marquee at a movie theater. The star of the show, I often catch myself admiring this mesmerizing, curved window, sometimes without really paying attention to the information it is displaying. Truth be told, it almost pains me to go back to any other watch that features a date complication only.

Case

The case is made of stainless steel, and it’s almost the exact dimensions of the legendary Oyster case. Slim and well-proportioned, it hugs the wrist of the wearer with a distinct sense of aplomb, like it was made to be worn, not just revered in pictures. The fluted bezel provides a sparkling dynamism to the case, achieving an interesting contrast without being unnecessarily loud. The caseback does not show the fluted pattern of the Rolex Datejust, merely displaying the brand logo and some technical information about the movement. The crown is a little uninspired, and could definitely use some branding magic to liven up. 

Day Date side view and crown

Bracelet

In keeping with the aesthetic of the watch, the bracelet is a perfect mix of form and function. Comfortable, light, and supple, its three-piece link construction looks like a million dollars, though of course it isn’t as heavy as the original President bracelet. The clasp is a simple hollow steel piece emblazoned with the Orient logo, but features no less than seven micro-adjustment holes which pretty much guarantee a perfect fit, something that much more expensive brands inexplicably forget to deliver.

Lume

Nothing to see here. Also, the aforementioned “Water Resist” text on the dial suggests the watch is good for 3 atm, at most. Better not take it to the pool.

Crystal

The mineral crystal in the Orient Day Date is a good compromise between the acrylic of true vintage pieces and the sapphire of more recent watches. It is not completely scratch-resistant, though. This particular piece has been scratched before, and Polywatch isn’t known to work well on mineral crystals, so I guess I’ll have to source a new crystal later. The cyclops at 3 o’clock is a nice touch, and allows the wearer to easily check the date at a quick glance.

Macro close up of crown

Movement

We finally arrive at the only truly disappointing part of the watch. To be fair, there’s nothing blatantly wrong with the accuracy of this particular piece, and Orient should be absolutely commended for manufacturing their movements in-house. However, the 46E caliber cannot be hacked or hand wound, which is a big letdown. Furthermore, the most useful complication of the watch cannot be easily operated. Pulling the crown out from its resting position to the first step allows to quickly change the date but not the day. The fastest way to set the day is to pull out the crown to the second step, then bring the hour hand to the midnight position, which moves the date forward. Next, the crown must be turned clockwise until the day window displays half of the next day. At this point, one must turn the crown counterclockwise all the way back to 11:30 PM (the day window won’t change position), and then move the crown forward again. The process must be repeated until the wearer arrives at the desired day of the week. Needless to say, this whole procedure is cumbersome at best and makes the wearer think twice before letting the watch exhaust its power reserve. It would be fantastic to be able to quickly change the day and the date using the same mechanism, but alas, something’s gotta give, especially at this price range. 

Final thoughts

Orient day date under tree

In delivering this homage, I think Orient managed to pay a sincere compliment to one of the most well-designed watches of the 20th century, while bringing it down to an affordable level for the masses. Nevertheless, the price of this watch in the used market has been consistently creeping up due to its rarity and superb attention to detail. If you are interested in this piece, search wide and be prepared to act fast in case you manage to find a coveted NOS model. Good luck!

Filed Under: Dress, Featured, Watch Reviews Tagged With: Automatic Watches

About Ulises Valenzuela

Ulises's love for watches sparked at the wee age of five years old. Fast forward to today and he is now a chemical engineer by profession, with a side passion for mechanical watches, especially Swiss.

Comments

  1. Kivi says

    January 5, 2020 at 11:34 am

    One ugly watch

    Reply
    • Ulises Valenzuela says

      January 5, 2020 at 10:36 pm

      This particular timepiece could definitely use some cleaning, but otherwise I think there’s nothing ugly about it, unless of course you think the Rolex Day Date is ugly, too. Thank you for your valuable input.

      Reply
  2. Omar says

    January 24, 2020 at 9:47 am

    I can’t find it without the crystals anywhere

    Reply
    • Ulises Valenzuela says

      January 24, 2020 at 3:20 pm

      The first generation of the Orient President is fairly hard to find. Try looking for it using its full reference number: 2EV03000. Good luck!

      Reply
  3. Lukas says

    May 29, 2020 at 10:00 am

    Hi,

    Could you break down the entire timeline of Orient day date homage?
    I’m wondering from which to which year was in production and what was the retail price?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Ulises Valenzuela says

      May 31, 2020 at 2:53 pm

      Hello there,

      I’m afraid to say I have been unable to find reliable information about the Orient President online. All I know is that the 1st generation (baton markers) was produced in the 00’s, while the 2nd generation (diamond markers) started its run after 2010.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
      • Lukas says

        May 31, 2020 at 5:56 pm

        Thanks a lot!

        What about the ones with the upside down day, were those 2nd gen as well or 3rd?

        Reply
        • Ulises Valenzuela says

          June 5, 2020 at 1:33 am

          I don’t know any Orient watch with upside down day, though admittedly that sounds really cool. Are you sure that’s the Orient Day Date?

          Reply
          • Lukas says

            June 5, 2020 at 7:14 pm

            Hi,

            Yes, the day is at 6’o clock, seems like 3rd generation, or most likely done along with 2nd (diamond markers).
            It also has a sapphire crystal.

          • Ulises Valenzuela says

            June 8, 2020 at 5:39 pm

            I see what you mean now. I’m not even sure whether a “3rd generation” officially exists, but that certainly is a beautiful watch!

  4. Daniel says

    January 4, 2021 at 2:39 pm

    Thanks for this write up. I love this line of Orient watches and wish they would have continued to make these with the baton indices. Just curious what you paid for yours if you don’t mind hating and also what do you think is a good price for NOs nowadays? Any idea what these originally sold for?

    Reply
    • Ulises Valenzuela says

      January 5, 2021 at 12:02 am

      Hi Daniel, thanks for stopping by! If I recall correctly, I paid about $300 for mine (it is still in need of a service and a crystal replacement). A NOS piece should be about $500, if I’m not much mistaken. As for the original price, I must confess I don’t know.

      Reply
  5. Karan Kapoor says

    May 6, 2021 at 5:26 am

    I’ve been looking at buying it used from a private seller online, and the model number he’s given me is 2EV0002AY. This is supposed to be a 2013 / Generation 2 day date from Orient which has diamonds (sans at 6 and 9 o’clock) and has a mineral glass instead of the sapphire of the newer version. So it’s squarely between the 1st and the latest version in terms of features. It also has a see through case back. Would you know if there was a generation 2 in between, and if there was, what was the original price for it, and how much should it cost?

    Reply
    • Ulises Valenzuela says

      May 6, 2021 at 12:13 pm

      I can confirm that is the Generation 2 of this watch. As for the original price, I don’t really know. Information about Orient models is notoriously hard to find. I guess you can’t go wrong looking for the average listing price on eBay, or Chrono24.

      Good luck!

      Reply
  6. Paul Eustace says

    June 27, 2021 at 6:04 am

    Love this watch, managed to source a 1st gen same as photo but in gold plated. Listed incorrectly as a non runner as couldn’t wind. Bought for £72 – approx $100. Minor scratch on crystal but what a watch.

    Reply
    • Ulises Valenzuela says

      June 28, 2021 at 10:06 pm

      Wow, what a steal! Congratulations!!

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  7. simon trigg says

    June 8, 2022 at 7:08 am

    I have a first generation in all gold plate. One thing I’ve noticed is that despite the fact that you cannot manually wind this watch up, it starts working as soon as I pick it up, even if it hasn’t been worn for months. It also keeps time just as accurately, if not more, than any Swiss timepiece I have, and it has excellent power reserve. It’s probably fine to wear in the shower but that’s the limit! Overall a great watch.

    Reply
    • Ulises Valenzuela says

      June 9, 2022 at 12:19 pm

      Agreed! Such an amazing watch. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  8. Chiam Tau Ting says

    March 1, 2023 at 10:57 pm

    I have this generation, 9 of them, with different color combination, chrome, chrome/golden, golden bracelet and white/black/blue/golden dial, all unused. Intend to sell them as a lot, however I could not find any channel, to my comfort, to do so.

    Thanks

    Brunei Darussalam

    Reply
    • Ulises Valenzuela says

      March 2, 2023 at 11:23 am

      Wow, lucky you, these are fairly rare!

      Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

      Reply
    • Josef Al-Mansour says

      March 4, 2023 at 6:16 am

      Hi!

      Looking to buy one if you’re interested in selling them one by one. Email me at: josefsteam@hotmail.com if you want.

      Reply
  9. Ramsey Chahal says

    April 24, 2023 at 5:24 pm

    Hey Ulises,

    Great post! I recently found a NOS all steel with black dial and I jumped on it. It is absolutely stunning.

    I was hoping to find production year, but can’t find much info online and I’m hoping you can help me decipher production year of this piece. On the back it reads 46E701-90.

    Thank you so much!

    Best,
    Ramsey

    Reply
    • Ulises Valenzuela says

      April 26, 2023 at 1:08 pm

      Hey Ramsey,

      Thanks so much for stopping by. Orient serial numbers are notoriously difficult to decipher, and as you correctly say, there is not much information online. I would even doubt that production year is somehow encoded on the serial number, but that’s just a guess.

      Congratulations on your NOS piece! Wear it in good health.

      Reply

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