What is the better choice? $200 for an Orange Ray or $180 for an Orange Mako XL ?

[BadVista]

Hello all. I'm new to this forum, but not very new with Orient. :) I have one rather odd question for you guys. While, I own 2 Mako: a black and a pepsi already, I'm getting this on-and-off bug making me want to add another orange diver to my collection. Problem is that, in the country I live, a Mako cannot no longer be found. Even a Ray seems to get discontinued (from being imported here.) And for some reasons, I want to stick with Orient for now.

I have looked around both B&M and e-mailed online stores. The only 2 orange diver Orients I can find are a Orange Ray at $200 USD and Mako XL for $180 USD. These price seem a little steep to me, since I remember I bought my pepsi mako for only $130 USD. The retailers I talked to all said, MSRP for the Orange ray is a tad higher than Mako XL, which is why Ray's price come out a little higher. I don't mind bigger size of Mako XL since I plan to switch bracelet with a Zulu anyway.

At this point, I still cannot make my mind. So, I post this as an odd question to you guys. Which one of these 2 would you pick? and Why?

Thank you

[kyleman]

Hi BadVista,

I just posted a thread on the topic. I hope it helps!

Orient Ray and Mako XL, Long-winded tête-à-tête

[ManMachine]

The price is a bit high for these. In the U.S., $190 can get you the Seiko Orange Monster. Maybe you should check the availability of that? Orient is now a subsidiary of Seiko.

[conjurer]

I'd get the Mako XL. For me, it seemed a slightly better watch, a little better made than the Ray.

[Quake1028]

I just got my Orange Mako XL from Amazon for $141.89: Amazon.com: Orient Men's Orange Mako XL 200m Diver's Watch 21 Jewels CEM75001M: Watches

[AutomaticWatch]

The price is a bit high for these. In the U.S., $190 can get you the Seiko Orange Monster. Maybe you should check the availability of that? Orient is now a subsidiary of Seiko.

This is Japan we're talking about though. It's by no means a subsidiary by conventional means. They are more like brother and sister than that Orient reports to Seiko, or is in any way inferior. I'm not the most objective person, but I wouldn't put the Monster above the XL or Ray. And yes, I do own a black monster ;).

If you already have 2 Mako's I'd personally go for the XL, just because it's more significantly different from the Mako. And the size is really nice.

[bambini]

i would choose the mako xl.

[bedlam]

I would take the Ray over a Monster if they were the same price. The choice between the Ray and Mako XL comes down to case size preference and if you want a dressier look. The Mako XL is a big watch on the wrist, though it rides nice and low. The Ray has a classic dive watch dial, whereas the Mako looks dressier. The Ray has substantially better lume than the Mako XL.

[BadVista]

Thank you everyone for your opinion. While, I also like an XL, i'm not sure I want an XL to be orange. And also, I concur with some opinions here that at around $200 for a ray, I can almost get an orange monster already. An orange monster from a non-AD around here can be had for around $230. But I like the dressier Mako/Ray better than Monster.

Meanwhile, a friend of mine is helping me locating an orange Mako. He said they should be plenty around and probably around $130. So, I still keep my finger crossed.

[Bobomatic]

If you want an XL, you can get a great bargain here:

Orient Men's Blue Mako Automatic Dive Watch CEM75002D | Discount Watch Store

I made them an offer for 100 bucks and they came back with 126, so I bought it on a whim. Got it in the mail the other day and I love it. Great watch for the price.