On the wrist the Orient Bambino SS maintains the collection’s winning size of 40.5mm wide and 12mm thick. It’s a tad on the larger side as a traditional dress watch, but the design makes the size work perfectly for it. Going smaller would have actually made the design feel old, while going too large would have prevented the Bambino SS from performing its primary function of being a useful dress watch that you can wear to business or formal occasions.
Orient really nailed the dial design on the Bambino Small Seconds in my opinion. Most important is the domed face, which is an extremely uncommon feature on modern watches. The doming effect helps the watch dial play with light in a very flattering way, and also adds a welcome sense of depth. Orient opted for a new dial look that includes applied baton hour markers mixed with Arabic hour numerals. The applied elements are polished, but the finishing is dull enough so that they don’t reflect too much light (a positive thing). The hand designs are interesting as well. It takes a while to notice the character of the hands, since at first glance they just look like traditional dauphine-style hands. Upon closer examination, you may notice that as the hands taper in size, the outer line isn’t straight, but rather gently curved. It is a very subtle design element, but it makes a big difference in helping this otherwise familiar design seem a bit more distinctive. In all, a serious aficionado such as myself is able to notice and appreciate just how much time and effort Orient put into creating the Bambino Small Seconds watch collection.
Inserting the date window on the dial will be one of those things that some watch collectors will take issue with. Though most of Orient’s intended buyers probably prefer the addition of a date window. To the collectors out there who don’t like date windows because they affect dial symmetry, let me just say this. First of all, nothing on the dial is removed in order to make room for the date window. Second, the date is as small as can be and its frame is very discreet. Orient currently offers the Bambino SS dial in white, black, and champagne colors between three different case finishing tones.
It isn’t difficult to imagine other color variations of the Bambino Small Seconds that would be pleasant for Orient to offer. Where is my yellow gold-tone case with matching hands and hour markers paired with the black dial? The answer is, “not here yet” I’m sure. Speaking of the black dial, that model Bambino SS is the most difficult to read because in some light, the hands can blend in a bit with the dial (though I’ve seen a lot worse). Pretty much all the other Bambino SS models have superior legibility – with the yellow gold-tone or rose gold-tone with white dial Bambino SS pieces being perhaps the most legible of the lot.
The Orient Bambino watch case is water-resistant to 30m and has a box-style mineral crystal over the dial. Attached to the cases are surprisingly comfortable and not too-stiff leather straps in either black or various shades of brown. The leather straps are fine, but they won’t last very long. More so, the faux alligator look won’t appeal to everyone. If you are someone who is interested in getting the most out of your watch purchases, my recommendation is that among the first things you do after getting a Bambino SS is to swap out the factory strap with something nicer. FYI, the strap width is the uncommon 21mm wide measurement (something to know when looking for a replacement strap).
Novice or on-a-budget watch lovers will find a lot to enjoy about the Orient Bambino Small Seconds watch from both a value, aesthetic, and utility standpoint. Legibility is generally quite good, and I have to repeat again that in my opinion these watches feel more expensive than they actually are. You can tell that this is a product Orient enjoyed making, and even though it has a simple, highly conservative look, the Bambino makes up for it by being appropriate for so many wearing situations and for so many different types of people. Once again, Orient offers five different versions of the Bambino SS to start with (RA-AP0001S10A rose gold-tone case with white dial, RA-AP0002S10A natural steel case with white dial, RA-AP0003S10A natural steel case with champagne dial, RA-AP0004S10A yellow gold-tone case with white dial, and RA-AP0005B10A natural steel case with black dial) in 2018. Prices for each are either $305 USD or $325 USD depending on the version. orientwatchusa.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Orient
>Model: Bambino Small Seconds (SS)
>Price: $305–325 USD
>Size: 40.5mm wide, 12mm thick
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Certainly, when I want to look my best in formal or business attire on a budget that won’t make others blush.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Anyone who might make at least occasional use of a dress watch and doesn’t already have a decent “go to” piece. The fair price and versatile style of the Bambino SS make it very universal.
>Best characteristic of watch: Orient once again asserts that they are the masters of the budget dress watch in the Bambino SS models. The dials are a great look and the case finishing makes the collection feel a lot more mature. That combined with the finally modern movement made these timepieces hard to resist.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Typical of watches at this price, the straps aren’t the most amazing in terms of quality and will be replaced by many owners eventually. To attract even more watch nerds, Orient might wish to ditch the date window on at least one future model.
