Orient Bambino v4 Review - 5 years later

Since most watch reviews found online are made for new watches, I thought it would be cool to review a watch after several years of wear to see how it holds up. Hope you all enjoy!

The Orient brand holds a special place in my heart, as well as the heart of many recent watch collectors. I fully credit them for kickstarting my interest in the hobby, and this watch was the piece that started it all. 5 years ago, I was a broke college student who couldn't fathom spending $200 on anything, much less a piece of jewelery. With the influence of YouTube and my watch collecting friends, i was quickly sucked into the hobby, and the Bambino line were certainly one of the 'it' entry-level watches of the time.

In 2018, I made the impulse decision of purchasing my very first watch mechanical watch for a whopping (to me) $130 CAD. 5 years later, I could not be more grateful that I did!

Pros:

1. Stunning looks: Like many, I was immediately drawn to the dial design. I've always been drawn to grey dials, and this is an incredible execution. The rose-gold hands/indices can be somewhat difficult to read on top of the grey sunburst dial, but it the proper lighting, the colours really pop! Many Bambino fans will prefer the roman numerals found other models, notably the older v2's, but I love the simplicity and elegance of this iteration. As someone who works a hybrid office job, this watch continues to look fantastic in business-casual settings.

2. Reliable in-house movement: Now that I have a few more watches in rotation, my Bambino does not absorb the same level of wear and tear as it used to. That being said, it still appears to keep great time. I've also grown to really appreciate the utility of hacking and hand winding on a watch. When I first bought the watch, I did not understand or appreciate the novelty of a in-house movements. I was just enamoured by the feel of my an automatic. Every aspect of an Orient is designed and manufactured by Orient themselves, and that is super cool.

3. Wearability: On my slightly above-average wrist size of 7.5", the 42mm case diameter and 11.8mm thickness fits me incredibly well. It is a comfortable wear that does not stick out too much on my wrist. For others with smaller wrists than myself, the recently released 38mm Bambinos will also be very well recieved.

4. Price and availability: While these older models have gone up a bit in price (typically between $200-$250) it is still within a very obtainable pricepoint for many, and is easily found for Canadians on Amazon and other online retailers. Not only this, but there is a great variety of Bambino models with different case sizes, design elements, and complications to explore. I love how accessible the brand is for watch fans, espesially for fellow Canadians who are often subject to higher fees and taxes to ship watches.

Cons:

1. Crystal: While the domed crystal looks great brand new, the fact that it is mineral and not sapphire means that it is an absolute scratch magnet. Even without overly rough use, my Bambino has a steady collection of scratches along the edge of the crystal. Some collectors will not mind the 'distressed' look this creates, and the scratches aren't even visible to anyone but the wearer, but it does slightly get on my nerves.

2. Noisy movement: This point is quite subjective, and not much of a negative for myself, but possibly to others. The mechanics are fairly noisy, most noticeable when winding the watch or when the rotor spins. I actually found this to be quite charming when I first bought the watch, as it just affirmed the complexities of the automatic movement inside! However, for those who are already used to wearing mechanical watches, or are transitioning from quartz, this could potentially be a sore spot for you.

3. Cheaper build quality: As a sub $300 entry-level dress watch, you are recieving a ton of great features with the drawback of a more fragile product. While it absolutely holds up well to more expensive products, I cannot tell for certain how the next 5 years will treat this piece. The crystal mentioned above is one notable downside to the build quality. I've also found that the stem attached to the crown does not feel super secure when pulling to change the time/date. It could be quite possible to overextend the piece, or it simply being worn out over time. I have yet to need a service for this watch, but I'm curious to see how well the movement holds up over time.

4. Stock strap: Another small painpoint and cost cutting measure that is easy to solve. The strap that this watch came on did not look or feel great to me, so it was not long before I replaced it for something I liked more. IMO, this iteration looks best on a darker redish/brown leather stap with white or silver stiching that helps to bring out the rose-gold accents.

Final thoughts: This is THE watch that got me into watches, and possibly my favourite watch ever because of it. While not a perfect watch, or the most durable, I absolutely adore this piece and continue to love wearing it! I would recommend the Bambino line to almost any watch enthusiast, espesially for someone looking for their first proper dress watch, or someone looking for a cheaper alternative to the Seiko Presage line and similar.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts? Anything I didn't consider that I should have? Let me hear it all in the comments!