Orient Mako & Ray: The Divers That Built a Following

The Orient Mako and Orient Ray are the watches that made Orient an enthusiast favourite. For roughly two decades these 200-metre automatic divers have offered a genuine mechanical dive watch for the price of a quartz fashion watch, and they remain fixtures of every affordable-diver list.

2004: The Mako

The diver that fans christened the Mako (Orient model EM65) arrived in 2004, powered by the robust calibre 46943 automatic. It combined a 200m-rated steel case, a unidirectional bezel and a highly legible dial, and its original configuration used a secondary control at 2 o'clock for setting the day. Regional variants followed, including the Mako USA for the American market.

2010: The Ray

In 2010 Orient added a classic-styled sister model that fans called the Ray . The Ray and Mako share their essential construction and differ mainly in dial and hand design, giving buyers a choice between two looks on the same proven platform.

2016: Mako II and Ray II

In April 2016 the Mako II and Ray II introduced the in-house calibre F6922 , adding the two features enthusiasts had most wanted: hand-winding and hacking seconds, with about 40 hours of power reserve. The secondary control was eliminated. Both measure about 41.5mm across and 12.9mm thick with a 47mm lug-to-lug, use a 120-click unidirectional bezel, a mineral crystal and a screw-down crown and caseback, and are rated to 200 metres. At launch the Mako II cost US$325 on its bracelet, and the Ray II US$335 on a bracelet or US$305 on rubber.

Successors and Spin-offs

The Mako name continued with the sapphire-crystal Kamasu, also known as the Mako III, the smaller Mako Sport, and the Mako Chrono Solar, a panda-dial solar chronograph. The Mako and Ray have also become favourite platforms for modding, with aftermarket bezels, dials and sapphire crystals widely available.

How They Compare

The Mako and Ray's great rival was the Seiko SKX, which offered ISO-rated dive credentials but no hand-winding or hacking. Against quartz alternatives such as the Casio Duro, the Orients offer an automatic movement for a modest premium. For more options, see the best watches under $500.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Orient Mako released?
The Mako (model EM65) was introduced in 2004 with the calibre 46943 automatic.

What is the difference between the Orient Mako and Ray?
They share their essential construction and 200m rating; they differ mainly in dial and hand design.

What changed with the Mako II and Ray II?
In 2016 they adopted the F6922 movement, adding hand-winding and hacking and removing the secondary day-setting control.

How big is the Orient Mako II?
About 41.5mm across and 12.9mm thick, with a 47mm lug-to-lug.

What is the Mako III?
The Mako III is another name for the Orient Kamasu, which adds a sapphire crystal.

Related Reading

• Orient: Brand History
• Orient Kamasu
• Seiko SKX