The Contemporary Standard is the staple of the Orient Star line: a three-hand automatic with a date, a power reserve indicator and a sapphire crystal, in a case a little over 12mm thick. In 2025 Orient released it in a set of earth-toned dials. Two of them, the green RK-AU0107E and the ice blue RK-AU0109L, are in stock at WatchBay. This guide covers what they are, what is inside them and what to check before you buy.
A short history of Orient Star
Orient’s story starts with Shogoro Yoshida, who opened the Yoshida Watch Shop in Ueno, Tokyo, in 1901 to sell imported pocket watches. The business moved into making wristwatch cases and then complete watches, and after Japan’s postwar downturn it was refounded in 1950 as Tama Keiki in Hino, Tokyo. In 1951 the company became Orient Watch Co., Ltd., and in that same year it released the first Orient Star.
The name set the goal, and Orient Star’s own brand story still uses the same words: a mechanical watch that would be a “shining star” in its design, its parts and the way it was made. Through the late 1950s and 1960s other lines such as Royal Orient and Grand Prix took the top of Orient’s range, and as quartz took over in the 1970s and 1980s the Orient Star name faded for a while.
The 1990s revival and the move to Akita
It returned in the 1990s, when Orient put mechanical watches back at the centre of its range and relaunched Orient Star as its premium line. Two features from that period still define it. The power reserve indicator arrived in 1996 and has been standard on Orient Star ever since, which is why both watches in this guide carry one. Skeleton models followed from 1998 and became the line’s signature design. The F6N43 inside the Contemporary Standard comes from the F6 family, which grew out of Orient’s long-running 46 series calibres.
Production moved north too. Akita Orient Precision Instruments was set up in Yuzawa, Akita, in 1986, and by 1988 most of the watchmaking was concentrated there. That factory now operates as Akita Epson and makes the movements in house. Seiko Epson took a majority stake in Orient in 2001, made it a wholly owned subsidiary in 2009 and fully absorbed the watch business in 2017. Orient Star marked its 70th anniversary in 2021 with a new skeleton on a 70-hour movement, and 2026 is the line’s 75th year.
Where Orient Star fits today
Orient Star is the top line of Orient. The watches are built in Akita, Japan, and the brand is known for mechanical movements it makes itself and for careful case finishing. One point worth clearing up: Orient belongs to the Seiko Epson group, not to the Seiko watch company. Despite the shared Japanese heritage, an Orient Star is a different family from a Seiko Presage or a Grand Seiko.
Two dials, one watch
The RK-AU0107E has a green dial, one of the calm earth tones Orient brought to the Standard series in spring and summer 2025. The RK-AU0109L is the ice blue, released in Japan in March 2025. Everything except the dial colour is shared: the case, the bracelet and the movement are the same. Dial colours like these shift with the light, so judge them from the photos on each listing rather than from the name alone.
The movement: calibre F6N43
Both watches run the F6N43, an automatic movement with hand-winding. It has 22 jewels and a power reserve of 50 hours or more, shown by an indicator on the dial. Orient quotes a static accuracy of +25 to -15 seconds a day. That is a stated specification, not a chronometer certification, and real-world rates depend on how the watch is worn and how it has been regulated.
Two features matter day to day. The seconds hand stops when you pull the crown, so you can set the time to the second against a reference. And because you can hand-wind, a watch that has been sitting in a drawer can be woken up properly instead of relying on wrist movement to build the reserve from nothing. The power reserve indicator is handy if you rotate between watches, because you can see at a glance how much running time is left.
Case, crystal and bracelet
The case and bracelet are stainless steel, with a sapphire crystal on the front that carries an anti-reflective coating. The caseback shows the movement, though it is inorganic glass rather than sapphire. The watch has luminous paint for low light. Magnetic resistance is JIS Class 1, a basic everyday level of protection at 4,800 A/m, or roughly 60 gauss. Water resistance is 10 bar. That covers rain, showers and casual swimming, but this is a dress-leaning watch and not a dive watch, so keep the crown pushed in and skip the scuba.
| Specification | Orient Star Contemporary Standard |
|---|---|
| Collection and series | Contemporary Collection, Standard |
| Movement | Calibre F6N43, automatic with hand-winding |
| Jewels | 22 |
| Power reserve | 50 hours or more, with dial indicator |
| Static accuracy | +25 to -15 seconds a day |
| Seconds stop | Yes |
| Case material | Stainless steel |
| Case size | 38.5mm wide, 46.9mm lug to lug, 12.3mm thick |
| Weight | About 153g on the bracelet |
| Front crystal | Sapphire with anti-reflective coating |
| Caseback | Display back, inorganic glass |
| Water resistance | 10 bar |
| Magnetic resistance | JIS Class 1 (4,800 A/m) |
| Bracelet | 20mm stainless steel (SUS316L), push-button three-fold clasp |
| Wrist range | About 140mm to 200mm circumference |
How the Orient Star Contemporary Standard wears
On paper the case is 38.5mm wide, 46.9mm lug to lug and 12.3mm thick, and the whole watch weighs about 153g on its bracelet. The lug to lug figure is long for the width, so the watch will take up more of your wrist than a 38.5mm diameter suggests. It is worth measuring: the lugs should end inside the edges of your wrist. The bracelet is 20mm wide with a push-button three-fold clasp, and the stated wrist range runs from roughly 140mm to 200mm around.
Every Orient Star Contemporary Standard dial colour
We stock two of these watches, but Orient has made the Contemporary Standard in many more colours. Here is the full line-up we could confirm, including models WatchBay does not currently carry. The RK references are Japanese-market versions, and international versions swap RK for RE.
| Reference | Dial colour | Released |
|---|---|---|
| RK-AU0107E | Green | 2025 |
| RK-AU0108G | Copper | 2025 |
| RK-AU0109L | Ice blue | 2025 |
| RK-AU0110N | Grey | 2025 |
| RK-AU0111R | Red | 2025 |
| RK-AU0112V | Purple | 2026 |
| RK-AU0113Y | Beige Supplied on a leather strap | 2026 |
| RK-AU0114E | Green gradient (“aurora”) 75th anniversary limited edition, 1,200 pieces | 2026 |
The earlier generation of the Standard, first released in 2018 in a slightly larger 39.3mm case, came in black (RK-AU0004B), blue (RK-AU0005L) and white (RK-AU0006S). Outside Japan, Orient now markets the current watch as the Contemporary Date, so you may see that name on international listings. Colours vary by year and by market, and some are hard to find in Australia, so treat this as a snapshot. Stock changes too, so check the Orient Star page for what we currently hold, or email us if you are after a colour we do not list.
RK or RE: Japanese-market versions explained
The RK prefix marks the Japanese domestic market version. International versions of the same watches use RE, as in RE-AU0107E and RE-AU0109L, and they use the same F6N43 movement. The two we hold are the Japanese-market RK versions.
That matters for warranty. The manufacturer’s warranty on a Japanese-market watch is issued for Japan and is generally not honoured by authorised service centres outside Japan. We spell this out on our Warranty and Authenticity page. If something goes wrong, WatchBay coordinates the claim for you, and your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply against us either way. To understand what separates a genuine Japanese-market piece from a lookalike, read our guide to spotting an authentic Japanese watch.
Is the Orient Star Contemporary Standard right for you?
It suits someone who wants a mechanical watch with more finish than the usual entry-level automatic: a sapphire crystal, hacking and hand-winding, a power reserve indicator, and a bracelet that works with a suit as well as a T-shirt. It is a poorer fit if you want a screw-down crown and serious water resistance, a small case with short lugs, or a tighter accuracy specification than +25 to -15 seconds a day.
Where to buy in Australia
Both watches are listed at WatchBay: the green Orient Star RK-AU0107E and the ice blue Orient Star RK-AU0109L. Australian orders of $150 or more ship free and insured, and you have 15 days from delivery to change your mind, under the terms on our Shipping and Returns page. You can see everything we currently hold on the Orient Star page, or email contact@watchbay.com.au with any question before you order.
Orient Star Contemporary Standard FAQs
Does the Orient Star Contemporary Standard have a sapphire crystal?
Yes, on the front, with an anti-reflective coating. The caseback is inorganic glass.
Can it be hand-wound?
Yes. The F6N43 winds by hand and by wrist movement, and the seconds hand stops when you set the time.
How long does it run when fully wound?
Fifty hours or more, according to Orient’s specification.
How water resistant is it?
10 bar, suitable for daily wear including showers and light swimming, but not for diving.