Today, we're going to take a look at a relatively inexpensive little dress watch which, although not as great for every day, is one of the best choices out there for an occasional dressy event: The Orient Bambino (AC00009W).
Nick, the "IIII" is actually on most watches with roman dials to the point where a watch with an "IV" on it would be an oddity. The "IIII" is called the "Watchmaker's Four" and is apparently used for visual balance on the dial and because "IV" actually looks too similar to "VI."
Sturm 51 it’s surprising A how many watch guys don’t know this and B how many reviewers haven’t bothered looking into this before they start reviewing.
Sturm 51 It’s a ridiculous reason not to use the correct lettering. I mean, do they really think that someone seeing the hour hand pointing to the 4 o’clock position might think it’s 6 o’clock? The numbers/letters on a dial are just for show. Does anybody actually read the numbers/letters? No. They could put a picture of a hedgehog at that position, and people would still know that when the hour hand is pointing there it’s 4 o’clock. In fact, a clock face is probably the one place that you’re never going to be confused in that way. As for visual balance, I’ve always found the four strokes to look almost silly. But that’s a personal opinion. I guess that 4 strokes balances slightly better with viii at the 8 o’clock position, but surely not enough to justify this ugly corruption. Anyway, that’s just a general point, as the bambino here doesn’t even attempt the 1, 5, 7, 9 or 11 lol
Both are correct. In current use IV is typically used but IIII is also correct. Ancient Romans used IIII more commonly but they also sometimes used other additive forms when subtractive forms would normally be used. That means there is no single correct form, just more and less common ways. The fourth entrance archway into the colossium in Rome has IIII above it and no IV for example.
Thanks for taking a look at this watch, great review and very informative. I've been looking for an entry level dress watch; it's not something I'll wear a lot, but I will need it a few times a month. There appear to be roughly 1 gazzilion options for this guy over multiple generations , I think ill end up checking one of these out.
Orient has been around since 1903. They where acquired by Seiko because it was cheaper to buy them rather than license the Movement. Excellent watch. I have both this one and the Mako. The leather straps are good but the oyster style bracelets are just ok. Even their entry point watches are very good.
I am considering adding this model to my collection. For every day wear, it is my Vostok Amphibia. The Vostok is a watch that you just set the time, put it on and never have to worry about it. Value and quality for the money, Vostok is tops.
hey nick, really enjoy your videos and I know you are a big fan of quartz watches, what would be your recomendation for a dress quartz watch that is smaller than 40mm? (75-150 usd) thank you
10 seconds a day at this price range is excellent. My seiko 5's are actually worse as they can range from minus or plus 15 to 30 seconds a day and they are in the bambinos price range. Also it's a mechanical watch. Expect some level of inaccuracy in mechanicals unless it's spring drive that costs thousands of dollars.
Confession time: started my PC, saw youtube recommentadtions and said (out loud): "oh great, Nick reviews the Bambino, I´ve waited for this !!!" .... 100% nerd confirmed.
Bought this watch around three years ago. I love the design details and domed crystal but I have to be somewhat careful how a wear it and wish there was the option to upgrade the crystal to sapphire. I’ve never wound it with the stem; I just shake it up a bit. And I actually like the noise when it winds. I usually wear it maybe 3 days out of the week so I never found accuracy to be an issue. The look is almost steampunk, kind of a fusion between modern and traditional in that it’s a little larger than a traditional with more vibrant blue hands. The one ugly for me was the shiny black wristband. After switching it out with a tan faux crocodile, it looked 10X nicer! I've also seen it in a navy faux crocodile and that looks great too.
@@user-wy2jm9fe4f Thank you, I didn't know that. So far, I haven't gotten any scratches on the mineral crystal but I'll definitely keep it in mind in case I do.
For me +10 seconds a day is ok. I'd set it 30 seconds slow, then it would be ok for me for 6 days. Nothing bad has ever happened to me because I was half a minute early or late.
I always prefer a watch to err on the side of being slightly fast, as being a little early is rarely a problem. Movements like the one in this Bambino that hack make it relatively easy to deal with a watch that runs a little fast. Once a week I pull the crown, wait a few seconds (however many seconds ahead it is), then push the crown back in. Done. This is usually easier than correcting time on a watch that runs slowly. Additionally, you might take advantage of the positional variance of the watch to limit how much time it gains when it's stored.
I've owned ETA 2824-2's that ran at +16s a day. +8-10s in a non-COSC-certified watch is okay by me. For days I want accuracy, I'll wear my Grand Seiko with a 9F or my Casio Oceanus.
Love the watch and would buy it if I didn't already have a good dress watch I like. A bit on the large size, would be better in 38mm. Looks kind of old, kind of new.
If you want accuracy, great elegance, and a smaller watch than the bambino for about 150 dollars, consider the Seiko Solar watch. (rectangular, with a gold dial.)
I think you require little bit too much accuracy from a mechanical watch. I've heard many guys saying that setting the correct time every other day is their greatest joy of wearing a mechanical watch.
A minute a week is well within the acceptable range for this kind of movement. I believe Orient's announced tolerance is +-25 s/day which is absolutely fine for a $100 watch
@Rex Erection yep, only a quartz is accurate at any price range. Heck Seiko 5's are even worse at this price range. You can even have the watch regulated if he's so insistent on making it more accurate or spend more for a better mechanical watch.
The problem with the once a month dress automatic is that each time you wear it - you'll need to wind it, and set the time and date. For once a month wear, a dress quartz makes more sense to me.
I love your reviews Nick, but mechanical watches are just not that accurate especially at the lower price points. People who love mechanical watches don't love them because they are accurate. We love them because they are mechanical! Since we all have a phone in our pocket it is really not a big deal to adjust the time once a week or so. For the money, this is an incredible feat of engineering. And yes, if you just want an accurate watch, by all means get a quartz watch and gei gesundt hei.
If they did that in a quartz movement with a little better water proofing that would be ideal for me. I normally go between 3 dress watches, at work, some classier than others over a 5 day period with different metal, leather etc. for colour coordination, but I need a watch to tell time and being off a minute at the end of the day is just not good enough for the money, when a quartz mechanism would do the job far better at a much lower price point.
Hello, I'm a new watch enthusiast, Nick you said the watch is gaining almost 10 seconds a day and by the week it is a minute fast. So what do you do to make the time accurate again? Thanks in advance
That accuracy is pretty standard (and actually fairly decent) from a mechanical watch. You might be able to get it regulated by a watchmaker to maybe +5s a day, but this is no COSC-certified movement. Even on the COSC side, I see see Rolexes and Omegas that are running +3-4s fast a day.
Excellent review. While I really like the look of this watch this review helped convince me that my money is better spent by saving up for something that will give more long term satisfaction. Will look for my first mechanical to be a little more accurate and have a sapphire crystal for starters.
Ferien7 I disagree. Look at watches commonly worn in the golden age of watches (1940s-70s). JFK, FDR, Roosevelt, Truman, Sean Connery, and a host of famous men wore watches well under 40mm. In fact, since last last couple years, the trend is once agin skewing towards smaller watches.
I would have chosen a German made Graf Zeppelin over this as a dress watch, quartz alternative and auto, but great finishing and if you choose quartz, you have all the accuracy you need, always being on time to grab your next glass of champagne at a cocktail party.
Good review but some observations were almost too funny.. if you want accuracy .. look at your cell or just go get yourself an amazing good looking Quartz watch for a fraction of the cost of an accurate mechanical watch lol. Remember the reason you are buying these type of watches is NOT for their accuracy nor their water resistance to go swimming. Other than that the review was on point 👍
For me i like the sound of rotor & the sound or winding it... ofcouse mineral glass... what do you expect from a 100+ dollar watch... seiko will give you watch with sapphire for lowest price of 600 dollars.. this review is obviously not fair.. i love seiko & orient.. but i have more orients than seikos... orient will always be very underreated.. orient gives me wstches with quality, looks, reliability, etc for double the value for my money.. i can get bnew orient diver's watch with sapphire crystal glass ar coated for 200 dollars & an orient star with saplhire glass & power reserve indicator for 350 dollars.. seiko & other branded watches cannot beat that...
Maybe there's a pair of lions. Those could be firefighters. Maybe that's a truck! Join us next time as The Nick interprets ink blots and unpurchased pay-per-view porn channels through the squiggles.
Thank you Kirk, I'm staring at a screen all day for work, get off work cellphone, In this pandemic I wanted a watch that required the least amount of attention.
Few things. What is the obsession with super heavy water water resistance in every watch ever. What did we do without water resistance. What is the obsession with super accuracy too, what are you doing that a minute a week is going to knock you out.
Yes and this watch is perfectly acceptable with its limits for what it is for the price. If you want super accurate then mechanical watches aren’t for you
Nick failed to mention the face of the Bambino is not flat. Rather it has a "hump" or raised part going around the circumference of the watch face. It's hard to see unless you handle the watch in person. When saw this I couldn't tell if it was intentional or a biproduct of cheap manufacturing. It looked cheap to me. Anybody have an opinion? Thanks.
A loud rotor is a good rotor.. Gives it more presence.. Your just being picky. Out an about... You will never hear that rotor.. Unless you are in a library.. Or taking a shit at home.. In your quiet bathroom..
Am I crazy, or is this the first Nick Shabazz watch review that doesn’t mention lume once? Particularly since this one doesn’t seem to have any … EDIT: So I _am_ crazy, or just nutty from lack of sleep, because he _does_ mention it in the last minute. Big derp. Must bed now.
@Nick Shabazz Was expecting you to ding it for that somewhere in the bad or ugly. I’ll admit I’m maybe too much of a lume snob nowadays - if a watch doesn’t have it (or some other means to read it in the dark, like Indiglo or whatever) I move right past it.
@Frank Salem … I specifically paid attention to the final remarks to make sure he didn’t mention lume before posting my comment, and I _still_ managed to miss it. Sleep deprivation does bad things to my brain.
Hyeri You are replyin to two people in this thread, which one has a "wrong" taste according to you? (Spoiler: aestetics are subjective. I can find stuff ugly of pretty no matter anyones opinion)
Orient has yet to realize that if they made this watch in 36 or 38, it will sell like hot cakes. What a bunch of idiots. How can you have this WW2 era design and still go with 40mm? It's keeping me from purchasing this watch
