The Orient Star Retrograde Power Reserve SDE00001W Mens Watch is one of those well-proportioned watches that have the right amount of presence without being unnecessarily huge. Its great looks are a result of its gold accented hands on its white dial but this gold is not the cheap, flashy variety but rather, a subdued, satin tone. This makes the Orient Star an elegant piece and lends it a more formal look. But then again, it’s so well balanced that it goes even with semi-casual outfits.

The Orient Star Retrograde Power Reserve SDE00001W Mens Watch has quite a few loveable things into it, one being the 38.5mm/14.25mm case that fits almost every situation; from corporate to casual, despite its prominent vintage inspirations. Its primary difference with Orient’s other formal offerings is its more compact form but with a more efficient in-house movement and a great look. This, perhaps, is the reason many people so far opted for the Orient Star alongside the most expensive Swiss brands.

The appearance of the Star Retrograde is a very distinguished one and the dial itself can take the entire credit for that. Its depth, further enhanced by the register cutouts does the trick and also reveals the higher level of workmanship than any other Orient Star Retrograde within the price range. The Orient Star Retrograde comes with a duo-tone stainless steel bracelet and sapphire crystals on both sides, the dial side glass with an anti-reflective coating. Inside, ticks Orient’s in-house 40A50, which can store power up to 40 hours. Apart from the three hand timekeeping mechanism, it also drives the 7-day retrograde (goes back to Monday after Sunday) and date calendar registers. The other register keeps track of the power remaining in its main spring.

Despite inheriting the mechanical watchmaking heritage, the Orient Star Retrograde Power Reserve SDE00001W Mens Watch features more sophisticated design and tech specs. It makes the watch fit diverse settings; thanks also go to its alternate matte and mirror finish. The Orient Star also features enhanced visibility, also with the backside crystal that helps to see the elegantly decorated rotor more clearly.

The Orient Star Retrograde Power Reserve SDE00001W Mens Watch is as much meant for the starters as veteran Orient Watches for Men collectors, solely because it defies the norms of mass-produced timepieces. The first one is its solid case and bracelet construction; next, it’s the lips of the bezel and the well-executed lugs.

Talking about the bracelet, its solidity minimises play at the end links and also at the buttons of the deployment clasp. It makes the bracelet a very comfortable one.

Ultimately, The Orient Star Retrograde pulls off with its thousand dollars appearance and its unusual complications that imparts it a killer look and put into into a stylish man’s list of considerations.