Hands-On With Orient Star M34 F7 Semi Skeleton: Don't Forget Your Loupe
Some watches look good at first but become great when you really start taking them in. The Orient Star M34 F7 Semi Skeleton (ref. RE-BY0005A) is exactly such a watch. While it may look interesting in pictures, mainly thanks to the opening in the dial for the balance wheel and the gold-tone Roman twelve, it shows a deeper level of sophistication when you get to experience this Orient Star in the metal.
The M34 F7 Semi Skeleton stands near the top of the hierarchy of Orient Star's watches, and position shows through its construction. The watch is crafted with respect for tradition and a true dedication to detail. The stainless steel case has a diameter of 40mm, which gives it a nice presence on the wrist without being either too overpowering or having to make any concessions towards wearing comfort. The bezel is quite narrow and nestled beautifully between the faceted lugs. A height of 13.24mm gives the watch a nice weight and makes it sit well on the wrist, again, without being overpowering. The modestly sized crown is placed in such a way that it doesn't hinder any motions of the wrist, and the grooves on the crown make it so that you have a nice grip.
Notably, while the Orient Star M34 F7 Semi Skeleton is water resistant up to 10ATM/100 meters, it doesn't rely on a screw-down crown to achieve this. This is quite nice, as it allows you to wind and set the watch without having to unscrew the crown.
What is screwed down is the caseback. Behind a sapphire insert, you get to admire the in-house caliber F7F44. With its engine-turned and vertical striped decorations in combination with chamfered edges, it is a pleasing movement to look at. Next to automatic winding, it also supports manual winding, balance stops when setting the time, and has a power reserve of 50 healthy hours. While this all makes the Orient Star a good allrounder, the dial and the bracelet up the game to a level that will make you not want to take the watch off your wrist.
The dial is quite subtle with its dark green color, but has a unique shimmer to it. This is because Orient Star crafted it from colored mother-of-pearl, a subtle touch that adds to the luxury feel of this timepiece. The same can be said of the power reserve index and the ring around the sub-seconds. Here, it is time to bring out the loupe, not only to admire the sophisticated finishes of these elements but also to see that they are actually decorated with a circular groove. Their difference in height also adds to the three-dimensional perception of the dial, with the opening to see the balance wheel further enhancing this. With the loupe, you also get to see that the hour and minute hands are not bent in the middle but have a straight part in the middle. This way, there is always a reflection that makes the hands visible under every angle. You might wander off, with your loupe still in hand, to the hour markers and the chapter ring, only to realize that their semi-matte reflection comes from the same subtle grooved decoration as on the power reserve indicator and sub-seconds.
The bracelet offers a similar pleasing exploration of details, although here, a loupe isn't necessary. What may look in images as a typical H-link bracelet construction with polished segments to jazz it all up a bit, has much more to it. The inner segments that connect the H-links are actually raised slightly, with their angled sides given a polished decoration. This gives the bracelet a more elaborate look than you might expect. The finish is also noticeable in terms of wearing comfort, as it feels very smooth around the wrist. This is not in the least thanks to the shape of the folding clasp. While it would earn even more extra points with a micro-adjustment, adjusting through the spring bar would allow everybody to size the bracelet comfortably.
In terms of experience, is the Orient Star M34 F7 Semi Skeleton a true powerhouse. Its very high degree of wearing comfort allows you to enjoy all of its features. The basis is the well-constructed case, bracelet, and movement, with the green mother-of-pearl dial and gold-tone twelve adding a sense of luxury. To prevent things from getting too serious, the opening in the dial to see the balance wheel adds a sense of dynamic, drawing your eye to the captivating dial. This makes the watch quite an experience and one to enjoy every day as it is a very capable and pleasant all-rounder. The Orient Star M34 F7 Semi Skeleton is priced at $1,330
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