Orient Kano review – An affordable diver for larger wrists

When we talk about entry level dive watches, we often tend to think about watches like the Orient Mako, Seiko 5KX, Kamasu, Ray, and so on. Then we have the Orient Kano, the larger entry-level alternative to the Orient Mako. While I usually don’t go for watches in this size range, being offered a chance to review it did teach me some surprising things about it.

This post is not sponsored but this watch was kindly provided as a review unit to me by BigTimeSGP, the local Orient AD in Singapore, so shoutout to them.

Specs
Case size: 43.9mm
Lug to lug: 50.2mm
Lug width: 22mm
Thickness: 12.9mm
Case material: Stainlesss steel
Glass: Mineral crystal
Caseback: Screw stainless steel
Movement: F6922 (Automatic, Hacking, Hand-winding)
Complications: Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Date, Day
Power Reserve: 40 hours
VPH: 21,600
Jewels: 22
Water Resistance: 200m
RRP: S$369
Reference: RA-AA0914E

Overview
The Orient Kano is a relatively new model line having only been released in 2019. This watch effectively fills the gap for an updated, larger sized entry-level dive watch. On paper, it seems like Orient just produced a larger Mako/Ray. Its execution however, which I will go through in this review, is what really impressed me. This is not simply just an upsized Mako/Ray and I will explain why in a bit.

At launch, the Kano already came in quite a few different flavours and certain variants have been added and removed along the way. Today this watch currently comes in the following variants:

RA-AA0008B: Black dial with black bezel on a stainless steel bracelet
RA-AA0009L: Blue dial with blue bezel on a stainless steel bracelet
RA-AA0010B: Black dial with black bezel on a rubber strap
RA-AA0011B: Black dial with red bezel on a rubber strap
RA-AA0912B: Black dial with Pepsi bezel on a stainless steel bracelet
RA-AA0913L: Blue dial with blue and orange bezel on a stainless steel bracelet
RA-AA0914E: Green dial with green bezel on a stainless steel bracelet
RA-AA0915R: Red dial with black bezel on a stainless steel bracelet
RA-AA0916L: Blue dial with blue and orange bezel on a rubber strap
RA-AA0917B: Black dial with black and gold bezel on a stainless steel bracelet with gold middle links
RA-AA0918S: White dial with black bezel on a stainless steel bracelet

The one that I am reviewing today is the green dial with green bezel model.

Case
One thing that really surprised me is how wearable this watch actually is. I measured the case at 43.9mm which is actually slightly larger than the Triton I reviewed awhile back. Even so, it wears noticeably better on my 6.25” wrist than the Triton did. This is mainly due to the 50.2mm lug to lug distance which is respectably short for the case size.

While the Triton felt svelte but long and was crafted with a more elegant look, the Kano is contrastingly denser, more compact and blocky giving it a very solid and chunky look and feel.

Much like its smaller brother, the sides and bottom of the case are mirror polished while the top of the lugs are circular brushed giving it a tool like aesthetic. The case design is pretty basic with no intricate bevelling between the two surfaces which is expected for an entry-level automatic. 

We do have a nicely sized crown surrounded by crown guards at the 3 o’clock. The crown is signed and very tactile to operate because of its size. Not at the level of those you’d find on pilot watches but not far from it. The back features a standard screw case back with the usual markings and dolphin motif found on Orient dive watches.

The bezel is one area that surprised me. Instead of simply making a larger Mako bezel, the one on the Kano is a completely different and more refined looking design. The edge of the bezel is circular brushed and very cleanly cut to give a solid grip unlike the smoother and less grippy bezel found on the smaller Mako. The 120 clicks are also smooth with very minimal back play, perfectly acceptable for this price range in my opinion. The bezel on my unit aligns very well with the chapter ring. The aluminium insert is nice and glossy when new but don’t expect it to hold up well to scratches over time.

Topping it off is a plain flat mineral glass crystal, typical of entry-level Orient dive watches. Unlike the smaller Mako’s however this one is pretty much flush with the bezel which should offer it a decent amount of protection from glancing knocks.

Dial
If you’re one for a simple yet sporty looking dial, this is one to consider. A flat deep green sunburst face and rectangular markers are basically what makes up the dial of this watch. A printed chapter ring continues the simplicity of the design and ensures no alignment issues.

For complications we have a day date window cut out at the 3 o’clock that is framed on the top and bottom by white borders. The Orient logo is applied beneath the 12 o’clock with printed “Orient” and “Automatic” text. The remaining text is printed at the 6 o’clock stating the watch’s 20 bar water resistance.

We have sword hands that match the assertiveness of the rectangular markers and a slender polished seconds hand adds a touch of elegance to the dial. I’m quite happy to see that the minute and seconds hands do extend right to the chapter ring which is something we don’t always see on larger sized entry-level watches. 

While the hands and markers provide plenty of real estate for lume application, I was honestly hoping it would be a bit brighter than it actually is. Now don’t get me wrong as it is still on par with the lume found on the Mako and the Ray, however the size of the markers didn’t really offer as much luminescence as I had expected. It is still very useable, just that given the amount of room there is on the hands and markers, I did expect it to be a bit closer to the brightness of the Orient Stars.

Movement
The movement used in this watch is effectively the same series as what you’ll find in pretty much any modern Orient sports watch, which is a great thing at this price point. The automatic F6922 hacks and hand winds and has so far proven to be a pretty robust movement. 

Don’t be fooled by the -15/+25spd accuracy specification because more often than not you’ll find these running well within these specifications. In my experience, all my Orients with these movements typically run within the range of +0/+15spd. This is quite a bit better than other watches I’ve had around this price range and easily gets close to watches that cost two to three times as much.

Bracelet
Not much should be expected of bracelets in this price range, but I’m quite tempted to say I really like this one. Yes it has folded end links, a stamped clasp and isn’t particularly resistant to scratches despite being a mostly brushed finish, but that doesn’t make it a bad bracelet. 

I’ll explain.

Aesthetically, the blocky end links and raised middle link of the oyster style bracelet gives it quite a solid look that really matches the straightforward size and design of the watch itself. I even had to double check that the end links were in fact folded links because they were so squarish and well-fitted to the case that they almost seemed solid.

The bracelet is also smooth and comfortable to wear and this is helped by the use of a stamped clasp which I feel helps reduce the weight of the bracelet. Of course a milled clasp is desirable but I never felt this clasp wasn’t solid enough for its intended use. We even get 4 micro adjust holes which is more than some OEM bracelets found on watches twice the price. I’m looking at you Hamilton.

Overall, although this bracelet isn’t as solid feeling as aftermarket options that cost as much as half the watch, I don’t feel any less confident about using it for everyday rigours. But if it really isn’t to your liking, the 22mm lug width offers you an abundance of third party options.

Final thoughts
So to summarise, I actually ended up liking this watch a lot more than I thought I would. When I first received it, it really wasn’t the typical size that I usually wear and I seldom go for green dials. But after wearing it daily for awhile now, the surprisingly good wearability and comfort of this watch along with its straightforward no nonsense looks has actually got me considering picking one up.

It does lack the more premium features like a sapphire crystal and solid end links of which I do already have quite a few of, yet I still find myself being naturally drawn to it for some strange reason. Show me a blue dial and I may quite possibly be sold. Damn this hobby.

As an entry-level diver, especially for the larger wristed people, I honestly think this is a winner. And I say that after coming into this review with zero preconceptions. It has a solid case, a no nonsense dial design and a robust movement, all for a price well under S$400 before you even factor in the generous discounts that you’ll usually find on this watch. If you’re in the market for a dive style tool watch and have a limited budget or simply want a pick up and go piece, you should definitely check out the Kano.

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