Orient GM Automatic 25 Jewels - Turquoise Dial - 1970s

A turquoise color that simply wasn't found in European watchmaking of those years – and proof of how fearlessly Japanese manufacturers used color in the 1970s.

The case back features the Orient crest with lions and a crown, the ORIENT lettering in a laurel wreath, as well as the inscriptions ALL STAINLESS STEEL and WATER RESISTANT along with the case number 6269114-C7.

Orient and the Automatic Movement of the 1970s

After Seiko and Citizen, Orient was the third major Japanese manufacturer with its own movement production. Unlike the two larger brands, Orient never sold on prestige, but on solid in-house designs at accessible prices – and on dials that other brands didn't dare to use.

The watch is powered by an automatic movement with 25 jewels and day-date display. Twenty-five jewels was not a top figure in the range at the time, but significantly more than a simple utilitarian movement required; the number represents the brand's higher-quality calendar automatics.

Design

The dial is a rich turquoise with a vertical stripe pattern that breaks the light into channels: The central stripe appears lighter or darker than the side surfaces depending on the viewing angle, so that the color literally shifts as you turn your wrist.

Robust, polished applied indices sit on top, each with a luminous dot on the outside – a combination that emphasizes the watch's sporty character without overpowering the dial. At 3 o'clock is the framed double window for day and date, here in English.

The stainless steel case features a faceted bezel, whose edges reflect light in narrow glints. The watch measures approximately 37 millimeters without the crown and 39.7 millimeters lug-to-lug, making it exceptionally compact. It comes with the original steel bracelet.

Dating

The case back bears the case number 6269114-C7, but no serial number that can be dated according to a publicly documented system. The case shape, faceted bezel, dial design, and movement execution place the watch in the 1970s.

Condition and Service

The watch comes from a Japanese watch specialist store and was inspected and serviced by a Japanese watchmaker before sale.

The dial is very well preserved: The turquoise is even and unbleached, the stripe pattern complete, with no spots or detachments. The applied indices are firmly attached, and the luminous dots are all present. Day and date are cleanly displayed in the window.

The crystal shows light scratches in the upper left area. The case shows age-appropriate signs of wear; there are more pronounced scratches on the lugs, and the polished surfaces show signs of use expected from a watch over fifty years old. The case back is scratched but the engraving is fully legible; the Orient crest is clearly preserved. The crown is firm and operates smoothly.

The actual condition is shown unretouched in the product photos.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Orient
• Model: GM
• Case number: 6269114-C7
• Movement: Automatic
• Jewels: 25 Jewels
• Functions: Hour, Minute, Central Seconds, Day, Date
• Case: Stainless steel with faceted bezel
• Diameter without crown: approx. 37 mm
• Height: 11.9 mm
• Lug-to-Lug: 39.7 mm
• Lug width: 18 mm
• Weight including strap: 91 g
• Dial: turquoise, vertically striped, with applied indices and luminous dots
• Strap: original Orient steel bracelet
• Dating: 1970s
• Origin: Japan
• Service: serviced in Japan before sale

For whom?

For anyone looking for a vintage automatic with a color you don't see every day. For collectors of Japanese calendar automatics beyond the two major brands. And for narrower wrists, for whom 37 millimeters is more suitable than today's usual sizes.

Warranty (used)

This is a used item. The limitation period for defect claims under the statutory warranty is 12 months from delivery.

Note on Water Resistance

The original "Water Resistant" marking refers to the watch's new condition. Due to its age, no current water resistance is guaranteed. To protect the movement, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.