
Orient Triton (“Baby Triton/Mini Neptune?”) review
- Posted by Shaun Seah
- On 13/01/2022
- 2
Today we have a watch that we’ve still yet to properly decide on what to name it other than going by its reference number. Names such as “Baby Triton”, “Mini Neptune” and “Triton Lite” have all sprung up with no real conclusion. This isn’t a real surprise though as the model it seemingly replaces is also called different names depending on where they’re being sold.
I do however think that this watch is in fact its own creation and although seemingly a replacement for the now discontinued Orient Triton/Neptune, is not meant to be an evolution of it and I’m going to explain why in this review.
Specs
Case size: 43.4mm
Lug to lug: 51mm
Lug width: 22mm
Thickness: 12.8mm
Case material: Stainless steel
Glass: Sapphire Crystal
Caseback: Screw case back
Movement: F6722 (Automatic, Hacking, Hand-winding)
Complications: Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Date
Power Reserve: 40 hours
VPH: 21,600
Jewels: 22
Water Resistance: 200m
RRP: S$569
Reference: RA-AC0K04E
Overview
So the main difference between this new model and the previous Triton is that you get a thinner case and lower price at the expense of losing the power reserve indicator, AR coating and JIS certification. This comes as part of Orient’s move to make power reserve indicators an exclusive feature of their higher end Orient Star line, with their M-Force line also losing its power reserve indicator in its latest iteration. This also means that the M-Force line is the only remaining ISO/JIS certified air diver in the Orient catalogue.
The new “Triton” line as I will refer to it in this review comes in 5 different styles, a black, green and blue dial version on a metal bracelet, a bronze case green dial version on a nylon strap and a 2500 piece limited edition bronze case gold gradation dial version on a leather NATO strap. The piece I have with me today is the bronze case green dial version that was lent to me for review by BigTimeSGP.
Case
So the case shape and dimensions are very similar apart from the slight reduction in thickness. The 43.4mm case size and 51mm lug to lug distance undoubtedly puts it in a different size class from the Mako, Ray and Kamasu lines and more in-line with the Kanno.
This watch does wear big on my 6.25” wrist, about the limit of what my wrist can support. Although the lug to lug distance is very similar to my Orient Star Diver, it does wear bigger probably due to the less downturned lugs compared to the Orient Star. If you have medium to large wrists you should be fine with this but those with smaller wrists like myself may want to try it on first.
This particular model has a bronze plated case giving it a slightly more vintage look. The top of the case and lugs are brushed while the sides and between the lugs are polished. A slight polished bevelling runs between the two finishes and very elegantly over the crown guards. On the back we have a polished, non-plated screw case back with the signature dolphin motif etched onto it.
A sizeable straight crown flanked by elegantly shaped crown guards sits at the 4 o’clock position, reminiscent of the SKX. The top of the crown is polished and signed with the Orient crest. A coin edge finish together with its large size makes it very easy to operate. Being a screw down crown helps it to achieve its 200m water resistance rating.
The bezel is another standout for me and not just for its striking two tone colour way. The matte orange and green aluminium insert matches the matte green dial perfectly while also making it pop yet still look refined. The bezel edge is very aggressively cut making it even easier than the Kamasu to operate. Its smooth 120 clicks also feel noticeably more pronounced with hardly any back play.
A clear flat sapphire glass tops it off and sits lower than the bezel giving it a nice amount of protection from accidental knocks.
Dial
The dial sees one of the biggest visual changes in that it loses the power reserve indicator. Now this may be disappointing to some people but I actually think the dial looks much cleaner and deeper without it.
The applied indices remain the same with round markers throughout and tapered rectangles at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock position and a triangle marking 12 o’clock. A plain cut out date window follows the crown at 4 o’clock cutting halfway into the marker. The 3 hand design is the same sword and arrow hands as the old Triton and is also very similar to the Kamasu, just with a different finish.
The flat matte green dial is simple in a brilliant way as it really allows the hands and indices to stand out and give a nice depth to the watch. The chapter ring is also printed flat onto the dial and we no longer have the angled chapter ring of the previous Triton. The lack of a power reserve indicator leaves space for the Orient crest to be printed beneath the 12 o’clock marker with a single line of “Automatic” text below. Another two lines of “Water Resistant” and “20 bar” text are printed above the 6 o’clock marker completing the roomy look of this dial.
Lume on this piece is impressive, covering all indices and hands, it appears closer to the type of lume found on the Orient Star than on the Kamasu. Overall, the dial is highly legible in both light and dark conditions.
Movement
For this series Orient has put in their new generation calibre F6722 movement in place of the 40N5A movement found in the previous Triton. That is not to say that the new movement is better than the previous one as it does lose the power reserve indicator. This new movement however puts it in line with the rest of the refreshed Orient line up in their efforts to clearly differentiate the Orient Star line from the regular Orients.
The F6722 and its variants have proven to be solid performers offering self-winding, hand winding, hacking and a 40 hour power reserve while also being durable enough to be used in the ISO rated M-Force line. Orient states an accuracy of -15/+25 spd but it’s not uncommon to find them running well within this range.
Strap
This version comes on a green nylon strap with matching bronze hardware and a signed buckle. I originally thought they had simply reused the same green nylon strap and PVD hardware that came with my Orient Defender II but was pleasantly surprised when I found that the colour of the hardware was in fact different. It may seem like a small thing but its nice to see these details being taken care of in this price range.
The nylon strap is comfortable enough for everyday wear and although not the highest quality around you certainly won’t be rushing out to buy a replacement right away.
Final thoughts
So on the surface, this new Triton may seem like a step backwards given that it loses some of the key features of the previous one. However upon closer inspection, I feel that Orient is simply trying to clean up their product lines and differentiate more clearly between their various tiers.
For Orient dive watches we now just need to choose between two main size categories, each one with an entry level model and a middle tier model. So we have the smaller sized Mako/Ray line which steps up to the Kamasu, and then we have the larger Kanno line which then steps up to the Triton. The M-Force sits in its own category as the only remaining ISO rated dive watch for the most demanding of users. Stepping up further to the Orient Star line gives you access to power reserve indicators and more ISO rated models with better quality finishing.
For the reduced price of this new Triton, I think it is still a great value as the majority of us will be saving on features that honestly don’t actually matter much to us. I admit this is the complete opposite of what my initial thoughts were when I first heard about this watch and I am glad that having it on the wrist for some time was able to change my mind. While I still love my Kamasu, if this Triton came in a smaller size I would pick it up in a heartbeat.
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