Orient Bambino V3 Review & Complete Guide
The Orient Bambino is a popular dress watch that is simple, clean, and elegant. The watch offers great value for money and is exactly what you want a dress watch to be. Orient has moved all of the superfluous details and kept only the most important things.
Orient continuously updates its model lines with ”generations”, or ”versions”, over time, similar to many other brands. But to make it easy to distinguish them, Orient names them version 1, version 2, version 3, and so on… But this is actually the second generation of Bambino Version 3 as well. Complicated? A bit! But the watches are all that matter.
In this article, we are reviewing and looking closer at the Orient Bambino Generation 2, V3, which stands for version 3.
Orient Bambino V3 Review
If you are looking for an affordable and classic dress watch for formal occasions, the Orient Bambino V3 may just be the watch for you.
The Bambino V3 is considered, by many, one of the best-value dress watches out there. At a price of just over 100 USD, you really cannot go wrong with this timepiece. It is powered by an automatic movement, has the finish and build quality we have come to expect from Orient, and of course a stylish and timeless design.
It is also worth noting that this model is available in a number of different iterations and designs. 4 of them to be exact. The models are as follows:
- FAC0000CA0 – Grey dial
- FAC0000DB0 – Black dial
- FAC0000DD0 – Blue dial
- FAC0000EW0 – White dial
The Orient Bambino has a number of design features that are iconic and make it instantly recognizable. These include a simple case, domed crystal, and minimalistic design. In short, a watch that works for everyday wear but in particular, well on formal occasions.
Orient Bambino Version 3 case
The case of the watch is not something that stands out from the crowd exactly. In fact, it is meant to be sleek and discreet, as a dress watch should.
The case has a diameter of 40.5mm, a thickness of 11.5mm, and a lug-to-lug measurement of 46.5mm. This sounds like a medium-sized timepiece, but what a lot of people have reported is that the case wears smaller than what its dimensions on paper may suggest.
Firstly, its thin case makes it sit flat and slim on the wrist, allowing it to slide under a cuff without any issues. Furthermore, the lugs are quite short and therefore do not point out on the sides of the wrist unless you have tiny wrists. With that said, the Bambino version 3 definitely wears smaller than 40mm and is more like a traditional dress watch. There is not much to say about the case itself, but it is robust, durable, and well-finished for its price.
FAC0000CA0
With that said, this is a size that will work well, and appeal to a wide array of wrist sizes.
When talking about the case, it is very simple. It has a thin polished metal bezel, and the sides are polished too. The case has rectangular thin polished lugs which, as mentioned, are relatively short. The whole case is, unsurprisingly, polished, to give it more of an elegant look.
The crown is positioned at the 3 o’clock side and is signed. This is a push-pull crown that blends into the overall design of the watch well.
The domed crystal mentioned earlier is made of mineral glass. It’s not as tough as sapphire crystal, but mineral glass is what you can expect from a watch in this price range.
The case offers a water resistance of 30m/3ATM. This means, in practice, that it is splash-proof, but not suitable for submersion. This is not really a big deal considering the fact that you probably won’t go swimming with this watch anyways.
Worth noting is that the lug width is 21mm, and this is something that people have complained about. The 21mm size makes it harder to find suitable straps for it which can make it a bit frustrating. It would have been better to have a standard lug width of 20mm.
FAC0000DB0
As a dress watch should, the Bambino version 3 comes presented on a leather strap, either black or brown, depending on which version you choose. The leather straps give them that dressy and formal look that they should have. Considering their price, the straps aren’t the best in terms of quality, but they are not terrible, either. Perhaps a bit stiff.
Orient Bambino version 3 dial
The dials are something that Orient has paid quite a bit of attention to.
As mentioned, the Bambino V3 is available with several different dial colors so you can find one that you like. The dials have a stunning sunburst finish which reflects the light beautifully, and this keeps them from being boring and simple. At the same time, they are executed in such a way that they are not perceived as ”too much”.
Regardless if you want something bright and fun, or something discreet and classic, the different iterations make it possible to find the perfect watch for your preference.
In addition, the domed glass really adds personality to the watch and makes it more appealing.
What also stands out about these watches is their rectangular hands. Honestly, my first reaction when seeing them was that they looked flat, boring, and dull, but over time, I have come to appreciate them more. Yes, the hands are perceived as less elegant due to the fact that they do not have beveling or details, but they are simply a central part of the watch’s personality. The rectangular hands ensure great legibility, and whilst some people may dislike them, they give the watch a distinct look.
Furthermore, at 3 o’clock, it has a date window. The date function is always a practical feature to have, as knowing the date can be a truly useful function.
For added elegance, it has rectangular metal hour markers applied at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. The seconds markers between the applied markers are printed onto the dial.
FAC0000DD0
Orient Bambino Gen 2 version 3 movement
The watch is powered by Orient’s in-house automatic F6724 which is a really great value proposition for a watch in this price range. Furthermore, this movement has both hacking and hand-winding functions. These are two functions that are often not found in automatic movements in watches of this price range.
The movement beats with a frequency of 21600 BPH.
FAC0000EW0
Specifications
- Water resistance: 30M
- Lug-to-lug: 46.5mm
- Thickness: 11.5mm
- Diameter: 40.5mm
- Crystal: domed mineral glass
- Lug width: 21mm
- Movement: Automatic Orient Caliber F6724 with hacking and hand winding functions
- Frequency: 21600 BPH
Conclusion
All in all, there are many reasons why the Orient Bambino version 3 is so immensely popular. This is truly a watch that offers great value for money and which few other brands can compete with.
The Bambino Version 3 from Orient is available in several different executions, but at its core, it has a clean and elegant design that works well for many different occasions, although it is primarily made as a dress watch.
In terms of build quality, this is certainly a watch that punches well above its own weight. It is powered by a reliable and sturdy movement, has passed stringent quality controls
There are some designs that simply never go out of style and are truly timeless, and the Bambino Version 3 is one of them. Whether you want a reliable and classic dress watch for everyday wear or an affordable dress watch for formal occasions, this is definitely a great choice.
