Vintage Orient "King Diver" 1000m Review...

[Zoodles95]

Hi All,

I recently had lunch with long time forumer Robert Backstrom and he loaned me his Orient "King Diver" 1000m watch to take home and evaluate. I have done some researching and forumer Ryan did several posts on this watch in the past. Here are links to some:

http://www.larrybiggs.net/scwf/index.php?mod=103&action=0&id=1030667474

http://www.larrybiggs.net/scwf/index.php?mod=103&action=0&id=1008559669

The "King Diver" was apparently released after 1965 and retailed for 18,500 yen. The version I have right now has 27 jewels but the version relased in 1965 had 30 jewels.

Anyways this is a very interesting watch with a handwinding movement. When the crown is pressed in (this is not a screwdown crown) the crown turns freely. In the "second" position you can change the time, and in the "third position" (all the way out) you can handwind the movement. I have yet to figure out how to independently change the day or date.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03837.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03836.jpg

Please excuse the poor pics as I took them outside a few weeks ago and was without my camera until recently. If I learn more information about this watch I might put together a little FAQ for it.

Being an older diver it is quite small compared to today's divers. From reading Ryan's earlier posts about this watch apparently there is only one gasket with the crown so this watch is really only a "sports" watch in that it can probably only go to 100m or so. No way this one is going to the depths of a 6215 or 6159 diver as a contemporary example.

I thought it might be of interest to contrast the watch against my 62MAS in terms of size and features as well as the modern SKX031.

For a sense of perspective here is a pic of the King Diver, 62MAS, and SKX031:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03840.jpg

Here's the "tale of the tape" or widths including crown if you will...

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03830.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03832.jpg

And lug width:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03835.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03834.jpg

Two classics side by side:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03829.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03846.jpg

But can a 1000m rated watch compare to the Marine Master? Let's find out!

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03842.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03843.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/DSC03844.jpg

These pics are interesting as the MM isn't that far off size wise to its "Grandfather" the 6159-700x. In this context I think the 62MAS is more of a comparable to the King Diver than the 6159-700x despite the depth rating.

The Orient is a very interesting watch. I believe that it is a friction operated bezel assembly; but it is presently stuck and I have no desire to mess around with such a rare and historic piece. The caseback is beautifully decorated and there is some really nice text and contours to it. Unfortunately I am doing this review away from home so I will need to snag some better pics and some caseback ones. I should also take some closer shots of the dial.

So, in a sense this is a "preview" of my Orient 1000m King Diver "Review".
Any one have one of these vintage beauties or have any idea of value?
"Making the world a better place one Sawtooth at a time!" (Zoodles 2006)

http://www.orientalwatchsite.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1196&p=5366&hilit=king+diver#p5366

I got these pics from the post linked above:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/O-KD1000M-F2.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/O-KD1000M-F.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/O-KD1000M-B3.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/O-KD1000M-B.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/O-KD1000M-M.jpg

I wonder how accurate this movement would be if the owner got it serviced and regulated?The case is the same as the Nivada Depthmaster 1000m, you can see in back Swiss writing for the case brevet with the cross. You can found this case use with the following brands: Nivada Depathamaster, Austine, Sandoz .....That's just what I thought, here`s my Nivada Depathamaster 1000:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s162/thereaper101/IMG_0009.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s162/thereaper101/IMG_0012.jpg[/quote]

[Zoodles95]

Oops! The title should be" "Orient King Diver...". When I edited it would not allow me to change the title of the thread (sigh...).:-s

[TZAG]

:-p Great review of a great watch! |> Never saw such :-p watch before so I have to thank you for this. :-! Looking at it I find a significant similarity with another well known brand. Orient's case is almost identical with Panerai's (without crown protection) and bezel I think too.

[TZAG]

Oops! The title should be" "Orient King Diver...". When I edited it would not allow me to change the title of the thread (sigh...).:-s

Go further to advanced edit ;-)

[Zoodles95]

Go further to advanced edit ;-)

Awesome, THANKS!!!:-!:thanks

I usually post on the SCWF and OSWF so I haven't posted here (and on the WUS Dive forum) in a while. I should try to swing by every day. I have missed some great threads! Look for some more pics below!

[Zoodles95]

First the post:
http://www.orientalwatchsite.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1196&p=5366&hilit=king+diver#p5366

And the pics from this post:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/O-KD1000M-F2.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/O-KD1000M-F.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/O-KD1000M-B3.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/O-KD1000M-B.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/Orient/Vintage%201000m%20Diver/O-KD1000M-M.jpg

Seeing this pics helps me avoid temtation to open up the watch (I tinker with my beaters but I leave the restoration of my beloved divers to the experts).

It seems like a good quality movement...

[TZAG]

It's too bad not to have such watches still in production. :-(

[Zoodles95]

It's too bad not to have such watches still in production. :-(

A Lot of people sure do agree with you. Thankfully there are watches such as the Seiko Marine Master which harken back to the 1968 6159-700x. There is an interesting discussion going on about this at the SCWF:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/78440/thread/1184135969/A+response+from+Seiko+of+Japan...

Seiko essentially stated that they aren't interested in discussing their "ancient" watches from the past. This is such a contrast from many Swiss watch companies which either keep the same models year after year (Rolex Sub etc, Omega Speedmaster), or make watchs with the essence of past watces (Omega Planet Ocean like 1960s Seamaster 300, Doxa etc, etc, etc). If there is one thing I criticize Seiko for (and they are my favourite watches) it is that they:
a) don't market or acknowledge their higher end watches here in North America
b) don't treasure their rich history as much as they should or care that their older watches are being restored and worn. It is this repect and love of a marque's history that drives their reputation forward.

Just some rambling WIS thoughts...

Some other pieces I have had restored that would be nice if Seiko did a modern interpretation of (like they did with the Marine Master):
6309-7049:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/6309s/DSC03221.jpg
6306-7001:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/6306/6306-7001%20From%20Jack/DSC03720.jpg
6105-8110:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/6105s/6105-8110%20coming%20from%20Jack/DSC03822.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f90/Zoodles95/6105s/6105-8110%20coming%20from%20Jack/DSC03826.jpg

Oh and a new Bell-Matic would be nice too!!!

[TZAG]

Or a nice "Navigator" ;-) |>

http://www.dealingtime.com/upload/files/16/Seiko/DSC00247.jpg

[Betampex]

Beautiful vintages watches :-!

congrats

Paulo