Orient Mako II FAA02009D9 Review & Complete Guide
We previously reviewed the black version of this watch, the reference FAA02001B9 in this article, but this time, we are looking at a variant of this reference, the Orient Mako II FAA02009D9. The watch remains the same, but it is just the overall styling that has changed.
It retains its loved, appreciated, and classic dive watch design, but it is presented with a different color scheme that is equally eye-catching as it is beautiful.
The Mako II is the second generation and an upgraded version of the predecessor, the Mako. Apart from a number of subtle design tweaks, the major change is the movement, which we’ll go into detail about further on.
In Orient’s own words:
”Since the mid-2000s, the Orient AA02 has been the most popular Orient series to date. With so many diver watches available, it could be said with confidence that the AA02 is one of the top affordable mechanical diver watches on the market today.”
Orient Mako II FAA02009D9 review
The Orient Mako II is one of Orient’s most popular models. And it’s easy to see why. It has a really nice diver design which is a classic and refined look that is one of the most distinct and popular types of watches on the market. In addition to this, it is offered at an affordable and very interesting price, and with that said, it is a timepiece that offers exceptional value for money. This watch is well-built, has high quality, great attention to detail, and of course, most importantly, is powered by an in-house automatic movement.
This watch really has everything that you may want in a dive watch, but it is offered at a price that won’t break the bank.
So without further ado, let’s review and look closer at what the Orient Mako II FAA02009D9 has to offer.
Case
The Orient Mako II FAA02009D9 has a stainless steel case with a circular-brushed satin finish on the top and polished sides. The combination of polished and brushed shows that Orient has paid attention to the details, and it really enhances its overall appearance and impression of quality, making it appear more premium than it is.
At 3 o’clock, we find the screw-down crown. Unsurprisingly, the crown is protected by crown guards which extend from the case.
The case measures 41.5mm in diameter, has a thickness of 13mm, and has a lug-to-lug of 47mm. With that said, the case has a reasonable medium size which, for many men, is not too big not too small. But rather good and appropriate size for many.
Being a dive watch, it offers a water resistance of 200m/660 feet and Orient advises that it is recommended for skin diving only, and not deep diving.
The unidirectional rotating bezel rotates with 120 clicks and has a nice qualitative feel to it. Many affordable divers have a cheap feel to them when operating the bezel, which often feels hollow, but this bezel gives a nice, reassuring feel.
The bezel has teeth around it which helps improve the grip and makes it easier to rotate. The bezel has an aluminum insert that is colored red and blue which pairs exceptionally well with the blue dial. The first 15 minutes on the bezel is colored red, which shows that 60 minutes is running out, when using it. This is a detail that is equally beautiful as it is important when diving.
At 12 o’clock, you’ll find a luminous pip which makes it easier to read the elapsed time in low-lit conditions, for example when diving.
On top of the case, Orient has opted for a mineral crystal. Whilst it would be nice to have sapphire, it’s not something we really expect for a watch at this price point. Especially when the watch is so well-built in many other aspects.
The Orient Mako II FAA02009D9 is presented on a stainless steel three-link bracelet which goes very well together with the overall style of this watch. The bracelet is sporty and has a double Push-Button Safety clasp. This isn’t the most robust and sturdy bracelet out there, and as with most affordable watches, the bracelet is the part that is compromised with the most. The bracelet certainly isn’t terrible, but it is what you can expect from a watch in this price range.
Dial
The watch is presented with a dark blue dial with a lovely sunburst finish, reflecting sunlight beautifully.
The hour markers are applied and have metal frames around them. They also feature luminescent material which helps improve legibility in low-lit conditions. Positioned at 6, 9, and 12 o’clock, it uses Arabic numerals which look great on the dial.
For convenience, we have a day and date window positioned at 3 o’clock with a metal frame around them. This is great for practicality and everyday wear.
The hands are sword-shaped with metal frames and luminescence applied to them. They create a nice contrast and give great legibility. A nice touch is that the second hand has a red-colored arrow top which matches perfectly with the red detail on the bezel.
Around the outer edge of the dial, it has an angled chapter ring in blue on which the seconds markers are printed.
All in all, the dial is really well executed, looks beautiful, and has a high level of finish with sharp details and printing.
Movement
The watch is presented with an in-house Orient caliber F6922 which, as mentioned, is an upgrade from the predecessor. This is because the predecessor didn’t have a manual-winding function, or hacking seconds. In addition, this caliber is often found in Orient watches that are far more expensive, and with that said, the new movement is a great value proposition.
In Orient’s own words:
”It has transitioned away from the reliable 46943 automatic movement to the more robust Caliber F6922 that is automatic, hand-winding and hacking. This new mechanical movement has removed the need for a second crown at the two o’clock position”
This movement is a great value proposition for the Orient Mako II FAA02009D9, and is a workhorse that will continue to tick for years. It is also robust and durable, able to withstand shocks and bangs.
Specifications
- Lug width: 22mm
- Clasp: Double Push Button Safety
- Crown: screw-down
- Lug-to-lug: 47mm
- Thickness: 13mm
- Diameter: 41.5mm (without crown)
- Water resistance: 200 m/660 feet
- Crystal: Mineral
- Power reserve: 40 hours
- Movement: in-house Automatic Orient Caliber F6922 with Hand-winding and Hacking functions
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, Day, Date
- Bezel: Unidirectional rotating, 120 clicks
- Case: stainless steel
- Bracelet: stainless steel
Conclusion
It’s safe to say that the Orient Mako II FAA02009D9 is a watch that offers exceptional value for money. It has a classic and refined design that makes it suitable for everyday wear, and a performance that makes it able to handle demanding conditions such as diving.
For a watch at this price, the watch has beautiful attention to detail with nice case finishing, great dial decorations, and an overall solid and qualitative feel.
The highlight of this watch, apart from its beautiful combination of blue and red, is its upgraded and high-technology in-house movement. In fact, there are few watches in this price range that have in-house movement. And to then have an automatic movement with hacking seconds, manual-winding function, and great durability is a huge plus.
With that said, you really cannot go wrong with the Orient Mako II FAA02009D9 if you want a high-quality, affordable automatic dive watch.
The Orient Mako II FAA02009D9 is available to order on Amazon.
