For the most part, watch cases are getting smaller as the cyclical nature of societal preference circles back to the standards of the 1950s and 1960s.
But there is still demand for case diameters above the 40mm mark, and Orient is clearly aware of it. After focusing on the new 38mm Bambino Version 7 in 2025, the Japanese watchmaker turns its attention back to the original size of its flagship dress watch.
Orient’s Bambino collection is massive, featuring nine Versions, further expanded with multiple complications and movement options. There’s something for everyone, but the Version 7 offers the broadest appeal.
The seventh generation of the Bambino collection is essentially a Version 1 updated with slimmer dauphine hands and applied indices. It is a classic dress watch that follows the Patek Phillipe Calatrava blueprint.
The Version 7 uses the same round case with gently curved lugs found throughout the collection. This update includes five new dial colors, with the silver sunburst dial available in both steel and gold-tone cases.
Those last two are safe all-around options, but the most striking color is a deep purple, which I’ve never seen on a Bambino dial before. Paired with a brown embossed alligator pin buckle strap, it is as captivating as a sub-$500 watch can get.
