Also referred to as the little brother to the widely-acclaimed Bambino, the UG1R003W Capital is Orient’s manifestation of a simple, elegant idea. This classic piece is among the cheapest ones in the Orient’s Capital collection, a very affordable watch for first time buyers or those looking to add a low maintenance piece to their collection. Still, it has no major design flaws and lacks no functions a dress watch should have. It’s a truly beautiful piece that will have your eyes peeled to its simple, clean structure. Anyone looking for a crisp, stylish timepiece that will stand out on any business occasion should consider adding this watch to their collection.
Domed Design
Interestingly, both the watch’s dial and crystal are domed, which adds an exciting design element and extra protection against scratches and bumps. On the crisp white dial, a set of silver line markers shine in all their sleek elegance. Hands are matching the styling and color scheme, with minute hands featuring a sword-shaped design while the second hand is a straight, thin line. The sleek markings and hands are matched elegantly with the much-appreciated day and date complication at the three o’clock.
Apart from the above-mentioned parts, there’s not much on the face of the watch. A capitalized word ‘Orient’ is printed in the 12 o’clock position and there is an italic ‘Water Resist’ inscription at 6 o’clock. Very nice and classy-looking altogether with nothing missing or abundant. Flip the watch over and you’ll find a solid case back with the Orient logo and name printed above other inscriptions relating to the watch’s features and material.
A Slightly Larger Diameter
The attention to detail upon which the Japanese brand has built its legacy on truly shows on the UG1R003W Capital. The craftsmanship involved into the execution of the case and crystal is astonishing. If the case wasn’t sized at 40.5 mm you would have thought the watch is coming straight from the 50’s or 60’s.
For a dress watch, this case diameter is more on the larger side and I know some people prefer smaller shells on their formal pieces. However, the aesthetic component of its dial can only be propelled by its size. All of the edges are finished in a crisp manner and the domed glass reflects the luster of the satin dial to a greater extent.
Functions
The Orient Capital UG1R003W provides you with basic functions as expected from any dress watch on the market. Making changes on your dial has never been simpler and smoother, although the crown is relatively small in size even for a vintage dress watch.
Pulling the crown once will allow you to change the day function by rotating the crown up. Rotating it the other way will change the date. To change the time you will have to pull the crown out once more. Of course, to engage the mechanism, push the crown back into its initial position. Effortless and effective.
Quartz Movement
There is not much to say about the movement – it’s a reliable, simple Japanese Quartz movement that keeps the watch ticking at a very precise pace.
It also allows the case to be only 7.93mm thick, which is a great perk to have if you want to slide the watch under your sleeve. At 39 grams, the watch is very lightweight, also due to the Quartz movement inside and absence of hefty case elements.
The Strap
Out of the box comes the brown faux alligator leather strap, which brings out the beauty of the case color successfully and features a matching buckle with an engraved brand name in the middle. The strap might be the only downside to the piece as it shows signs of wear and tear quite early on and doesn’t provide the best comfort.
We know that shiny leather straps tend to be stiff and take time to break in, but this is preventable by including a smoother inner layer. We recommend you replace the supplied strap for another formal model if it feels unnatural on your wrist. Thankfully, the lug is now 22mm wide as opposed to the Bambino model which had a lug width of 21mm and made it particularly difficult to find an appropriate strap. This will make it a lot easier to customize your Capital should you so wish.
Lasting Impressions
All in all, the Orient Capital UG1R003W is a superb example of a finely crafted classic watch on a tight production budget. If it wasn’t for the domed case, it would look almost identical to the vintage watches of the mid-20th century. It looks lovely, has a reliable mechanism and easily- maneuverable functions. The only downside would be the rather rigid strap but this can be quickly replaced. In a single sentence, a brilliant retro-styled dress watch from a reputable Japanese watchmaker. Oh, and it’s yours for under a three-digit price mark. What more could you wish for?
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