Orient Calendar Swimmer

Many of the watches we offer here at analog/shift represent moments in time, pages out of the index of timepiece history, and we get no greater thrill than revitalizing them and sharing their history with enthusiast and collectors.  

This watch is no exception.

In the modern watch market, Orient is one of the most famous affordable watch brands out there. That said, the story of Orient is much older than many realize. The watch we have here plays an important role in that story. 

In the 1950s, Orient wanted to distinguish itself in the Japanese watch market by globalizing its reach beyond Japan, specifically, targeting the Chinese and US market. One of the natural ways of doing this coincided with he 1964 Olympics, hosted in Japan. It made sense to create a watch that recognized Orient and Japan at the largest international sports event in the world, and the result was the Orient Swimmer. 

The Orient Swimmer went on to become one of the symbols of the Orient brand in the 1960s, and played a role in the brand's ascent to the top of its market segment. 

The Olympic Calendar Swimmer we have here is an excellent representation of the model, showcasing the unique floating dial, black subtly sun-rayed finish, and lovely 39mm case that made this piece a fan favorite in the 60s. 

This piece also has a really cool inverted cyclops that sits below the crystal rather than above it. 

If you are a fan of Japanese watchmaking, love 60s design, or are simply looking for a watch with a story, this is one of the coolest out there!