Orient Star has expanded its Classic Collection M45 with two hand-wound moon-phase watches built around a newly developed movement and design theme centred on the quiet passage of time. The models, one a regular production piece, the other a limited edition of 140, take their cues from the Pleiades star cluster, a recurring inspiration for the Japanese brand.
The watches share the same 39.5mm stainless-steel case, dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflection coating, and a new in-house hand-wound calibre, the F8A62. What separates them is the way each interprets the night sky. The regular model uses a white dial with a fine radial pattern and a thick, glossy clear coat to evoke the stillness of moonlight.
Blue leaf-shaped hands, a long minute hand that almost grazes the scale, and the absence of a seconds hand all contribute to an unfussy, traditional look. Orient Star has also removed the scales from the power-reserve indicator and moon-phase display, which it says encourages the wearer to take in the dial as a whole rather than read it at a glance.
A long minute hand that almost grazes the scale, and the absence of a seconds hand all contribute to an unfussy, traditional look…
The limited-edition variant takes a more atmospheric approach. Its dial moves from grey at the centre to black at the edges, with a stamped texture representing the dense star field of the Pleiades. Multiple rounds of pad printing add depth to the Roman numerals, and silver dots pick out the cluster’s brightest stars. Grey hands with contrasting finishes complete the muted palette. As with the standard version, a thick clear coat heightens the sense of visual depth across the dial.
Inside both watches is the new calibre F8A62, a slim, hand-wound movement designed to fit the line’s pared-back aesthetic. It offers a 70-hour power reserve and features an in-house silicon escape wheel for improved efficiency. Through the exhibition caseback, the movement shows a bridge cut-out revealing the blue escape wheel, Geneva stripes inspired by star trails, and a crescent-shaped opening that leads the eye towards the re-engineered moon-phase mechanism. The moon itself is crafted from mother-of-pearl, giving it a soft sheen that changes under light, while the surrounding sky carries scattered stars.
The new additions continue Orient Star’s shift towards themed collections based on mythological and astronomical motifs. The M45 series represents its classical, universe-inspired designs, while the Contemporary M34 and Sports M42 collections address sharper styling and performance pieces respectively.
The M45 F8 models sit at the more refined end of the brand’s portfolio, offering a traditional hand-wound layout, detailed finishing and a moon-phase complication presented with a measured, artistic touch.
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The Luxe Review 
Orient Star has expanded its Classic Collection M45 with two hand-wound moon-phase watches built around a newly developed movement and design theme centred on the quiet passage of time. The models, one a regular production piece, the other a limited edition of 140, take their cues from the Pleiades star cluster, a recurring inspiration for the Japanese brand.
The watches share the same 39.5mm stainless-steel case, dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflection coating, and a new in-house hand-wound calibre, the F8A62. What separates them is the way each interprets the night sky. The regular model uses a white dial with a fine radial pattern and a thick, glossy clear coat to evoke the stillness of moonlight.
Blue leaf-shaped hands, a long minute hand that almost grazes the scale, and the absence of a seconds hand all contribute to an unfussy, traditional look. Orient Star has also removed the scales from the power-reserve indicator and moon-phase display, which it says encourages the wearer to take in the dial as a whole rather than read it at a glance.
The limited-edition variant takes a more atmospheric approach. Its dial moves from grey at the centre to black at the edges, with a stamped texture representing the dense star field of the Pleiades. Multiple rounds of pad printing add depth to the Roman numerals, and silver dots pick out the cluster’s brightest stars. Grey hands with contrasting finishes complete the muted palette. As with the standard version, a thick clear coat heightens the sense of visual depth across the dial.
Inside both watches is the new calibre F8A62, a slim, hand-wound movement designed to fit the line’s pared-back aesthetic. It offers a 70-hour power reserve and features an in-house silicon escape wheel for improved efficiency. Through the exhibition caseback, the movement shows a bridge cut-out revealing the blue escape wheel, Geneva stripes inspired by star trails, and a crescent-shaped opening that leads the eye towards the re-engineered moon-phase mechanism. The moon itself is crafted from mother-of-pearl, giving it a soft sheen that changes under light, while the surrounding sky carries scattered stars.
The new additions continue Orient Star’s shift towards themed collections based on mythological and astronomical motifs. The M45 series represents its classical, universe-inspired designs, while the Contemporary M34 and Sports M42 collections address sharper styling and performance pieces respectively.
The M45 F8 models sit at the more refined end of the brand’s portfolio, offering a traditional hand-wound layout, detailed finishing and a moon-phase complication presented with a measured, artistic touch.
The Orient Star Mechanical Classic M45 Watch (RE-BW0004S) sells for £2699; the limited edition RE-BW0005N is priced at £2,799.
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