When I first met Nick Harris, the watchmaker behind Orion Watches, I told him the watch he was holding reminded me of a watch I already owned. This is a rude thing to say to any brand owner, much less someone as meticulous with and as proud of their watches as Nick. Sorry, Nick.
You may have read my review of the excellent Hellcat, the brand’s third watch, and I had the chance to handle his first run of Orion 1’s. But until now, I’ve never had proper time with Orion’s second watch (and only diver), the Calamity. Nick has recently brought the Calamity back with a few updates (we reviewed the original here), so I decided it was finally time to get my hands on one.
The Calamity’s hallmark is its curved caseback–which predates that of the Hellcat–but the watch is far more than just a comfortable case. And the case isn’t what catches you at a glance. It’s the long triangles of both the cardinal indices and the second hand, plus–on the Void black model–the deep shine of the bezel and the dial. Not to mention the jumbo crown.
Orion Calamity Specs | |||
Case Diameter: | 39.5mm | Crystal: | Sapphire |
Case Thickness: | 10.5-11.3mm (taper) | Lume: | Super-LumiNova BGW9 |
Lug-to-Lug: | 48mm | Strap/Bracelet: | Bracelet |
Lug Width: | 20mm | Movement: | Sellita SW300 |
Water Resistance: | ~200m | Price: | $1,495 |
While the overall case shape isn’t breaking the mold, the finishing and lines are just perfect. I love the way the polished chamfer curves back at the end of lugs and continues along the underside. The matching knurl on the bezel and the crown is tops, and the pinched crown guards are beautiful. The crown’s jumbo size makes it incredibly easy to operate, and with this latest edition of the Calamity, the no-date option will omit the date position on the crown–a much appreciated upgrade from the original model.
The bezel has a bit of tightness and the grippable area is limited by its low profile, but it turns satisfyingly and neither issue is a dealbreaker. Depending on which version you choose, the bezel will be ceramic (like here) or steel (12hr or dive in various colors). And if this photo isn’t proof of the slimness of the case and the benefit of the curved caseback, I don’t know what is. The bracelet fits perfectly and allows for a seamless flow from the case and everything seems engineered to be slim and wearable. I have no problem saying that the Calamity is one of the most comfortable watches I’ve ever worn. Ever.
The main changes made to the Orion Calamity are refinements made to the dial and hands. Everything is a bit sharper, a bit cleaner. But the form factors remain the same. In the case of the Void black model, the dial has been made glossy black, which adds a rich deepness that lacked in the prior model. I’m a fan of the long triangle markers and the complimentary second hand with its pop of color and lumed outer end.
The double marker at 12 o’clock on the lumed bezel is unique and a nice flourish. The lume overall is adequately bright and doesn’t disappoint, but it is slightly uneven with the hands and bezel outshining the dial markers. Legibility, though, is just as good in the dark as it is outside on a bright summer day.
Above, you can catch the gentle curve of the caseback, which accentuates the existing curve of the case itself. On display is the Swiss Sellita SW300, the slimmed-down version of the SW200 (similar to the ETA 2892 vs the ETA 2824). The 25-jewel movement beats at 28,800 vbh and should be easily serviced by any competent watchmaker (like, say, Nick Harris).
The bracelet fits nearly as well as the case and looks just as pretty with its polished chamfers (top and bottom). The clasp isn’t anything special, but it’s sturdy, and in addition to six micro adjustment positions, it features a pop-out diver’s extension, as you can see above.
As is plain to see, and thanks in part to its slim profile, the Orion Calamity is easy to pair with just about any strap. While some of the other dials (blue sunburst, matte white, or matte ecru) may be less flexible, they’ll no doubt offer plenty of options for pairing. Or you can just wear it on the awesome bracelet and be done with it.
Exacting. That’s the best word for how Nick Harris approaches his design. And it’s reinforced here in his first model he’s returned to, with the Calamity’s added refinement. There’s little to nitpick here: slightly better lume, or may I would’ve liked the bracelet to have quick-release pins? Neither is a deal-breaker. I’ve done about 100 reviews at this point–less than some, more than others–and when I say this is one of the most comfortable watches I’ve ever worn, I’m not exaggerating. I’ll let you decide if it’s worth your money, but I can definitely tell you it’s worth your time. You can pick yours up over at the Orion website.
